June 8 (Bloomberg) -- The Senate shelved a proposed historic rewrite of U.S. immigration law, deadlocking late yesterday over legislation to give lawful status to 12 million illegal aliens.
Democrats and Republicans traded accusations over who was to blame for the stalemate over a plan that had the support of President George W. Bush. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said Bush failed to muster enough support from Republicans.
``Where were the president's men?'' Reid said last night. ``I hope the president understands it's only going to be 16 months'' to the 2008 presidential election. ``He has a relatively short period of time to help us with this.''
The measure's future was left in doubt as the Senate failed to cut off a debate that lasted nine days. In addition to creating a path toward citizenship for undocumented aliens, the legislation would tighten the U.S. border with Mexico and create a guest-worker program Bush championed to help U.S. businesses fill jobs Americans won't take.
``This bill is on life support and its future depends on the president getting his own party behind comprehensive reform,'' New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez said in a statement. Republicans said Reid should have allowed more time to debate proposed changes to the measure.
Another Try
As the Senate fell short of mustering the 60 votes needed to limit debate, Reid vowed to bring up the legislation again if Republicans would agree on a limited set of proposed amendments. Democrats control the Senate with 51 votes to 48 for Republicans and one vacancy.
``This bill is something that the country needs,'' Reid said. ``I hope that we can figure out a way to do it.''
White House Counselor Dan Bartlett, with Bush at the Group of Eight summit in Germany, said the administration will continue pressing for a vote.
``Obviously, we're disappointed by the setback but based on the latest information we have, there is still is a good chance that this will move forward,'' Bartlett said.
Two members of Bush's Cabinet who helped craft the legislation, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, worked the hallways on Capitol Hill yesterday in a futile attempt to rescue the measure.
Two Attempts
Reid yanked the bill off the Senate floor after failing on two attempts to limit debate and move the measure toward final passage. The Senate fell 15 votes short of the required 60 votes in a roll call last night as 38 Democrats and seven Republicans voted to curtail debate. Senators voting to allow unlimited debate included 38 Republicans, 11 Democrats and an independent, Vermont's Bernie Sanders.
Earlier in the day, Reid fell 27 votes short of 60 when senators voted 47-33 against curtailing debate.
``For me, this is a very sad day,'' said California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, among a dozen senators of both parties who negotiated the compromise legislation.
Outside groups supporting the legislation also said they hoped the Senate would return to the issue and pledged to increase pressure on lawmakers.
``Unless our leaders have the courage to lead, the country will wait and suffer through the continued dithering and political posturing of those few who oppose reform,'' said Frank Sharry, executive director of the National Immigration Forum.
Democratic Bill
House Democrats, meanwhile, plan to press ahead with their own bill, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland said. The House Judiciary Committee will begin drafting legislation later this month and the House will debate it in July, he said.
Republicans accused Reid of trying to ram the legislation through the Senate without giving them adequate opportunity to amend it.
``We have not had sufficient time to debate this bill,'' said Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions, who had opposed the legislation. He said Reid ``wanted to get rid of this bill.''
Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said he had urged Reid not to seek to cut off debate because ``it doesn't produce results.''
``This is a complicated bill, but the key to passage is not complicated,'' McConnell said. Republicans wanted the chance to advance the same number of amendments -- about 10 --as they had last year, he said.
Illinois Senator Richard Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, disputed that. ``We were more than fair,'' he said, accusing Republicans who opposed the measure of proposing a stream of ``poison-pill'' amendments to kill it.
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