The Washington Times reports:
The fate of the immigration bill comes down to Senate Republicans’ leader, Mitch McConnell, and whether he sides with President Bush and Democratic leaders or with rank-and-file members of his own party.
His choices: Accept Democrats’ demands to finish the bill this week without major changes, or rally with his Republicans who say the bill is bad and getting worse, and want more time to fight the proposal.
“The only thing that can save us now is if McConnell made an appeal to Republicans that this thing is out of control and we need to step back from it, and we’re not getting the amendments we want,” said Sen. Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican. “He could do that, but I’m not sure where he is right now.”
Debate on the bill resumes today, and Republican leaders will have to decide quickly whether to push for a drawn-out debate.Mr. McConnell, Kentucky Republican, has been on both sides of the immigration issue. He voted for last year’s bill and has said this year’s version is even better, but he also voted last week to strip out the central plank of the bargain: the legalization program for illegal aliens.