The Grand Bargainers

Love it or hate it, the Senate immigration reform proposal has gotten the nation’s attention. In “Senate coalition crosses borders”, Nicole Gaouette of the L.A. Times writes about the “grand bargain” struck by a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators. The group includes

Republicans

Saxby Chambliss (Ga.): An opponent of last year’s immigration bill, Chambliss answered his front-office phones in May to explain the new legislation to angry callers.

Lindsey Graham (S.C.): Booed by home-state crowds for his immigration stance, Graham is unrepentant. Critics of the bill, he says, “have an obligation to tell us what to do next.”

Johnny Isakson (Ga.): Isakson provided the key to talks with his idea of “triggers,” security benchmarks that must be met before other reforms proceed. He says he explains the bill “on the plane, everywhere I go.”

Jon Kyl (Ariz.): The GOP’s team leader won a hard-fought 2006 election in which he said voters demanded action on immigration. But critics abound. “I have learned some new words from my constituents,” he said.

Mel Martinez (Fla.): The Senate’s sole immigrant, the Cuban-born Martinez was an essential link to Democrats early in the talks.

Arlen Specter (Pa.): Specter, who helped write the 2006 bill, said of the new measure: “No matter what we craft, it’s going to be attacked from the right and the left.”

and Democrats

Richard J. Durbin (Ill.): The No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Durbin has championed the Dream Act, which gives citizenship to illegal immigrant children.

Dianne Feinstein (Calif.): The only Californian, Feinstein advocated tougher border security and a guest-worker program for farmers. She’s known for her command of policy detail.

Edward M. Kennedy (Mass.): A force on immigration for decades, the 75-year-old Kennedy is aiming to make this bill a part of his legacy.

Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.): The chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which oversees immigration, Leahy has a keen interest in refugee and asylum issues.

Ken Salazar (Colo.): The former rancher has been the team’s peacemaker. “When people thought the talks would break apart, Ken would bring them back together,” Martinez said.

Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.): A key player in the 1986 immigration reform, now widely criticized as an “amnesty,” Schumer has had a smaller role in shaping this bill.

If you are interested in the process leading to the reform proposal, click here.

On a related note, the N.Y. Times (here) has an article today on how the President’s support for the immigration reform proposal is playing (or not) with the republican base.

KJ