Democratic leader to use rare 'clay pigeon' maneuver to revive immigration bill
By: JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS - Associated Press | ∞
WASHINGTON -- Only in the arcane world of the U.S. Senate could a quirky gambit known as a "clay pigeon" make the difference between passage of an important immigration measure and its death at the hands of opponents.
Democratic leaders hope the complex maneuver -- which makes use of the Senate's labyrinthine rules to insist on votes on amendments -- will frustrate conservatives' attempts to derail the embattled immigration bill, instead putting it on a fast track to passage next week.
Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he would revive the bill to legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants late this week. To do so, though, he needs backing from 60 senators, and a way to guarantee votes on a tentative list of 22 Republican and Democratic amendments whose consideration is seen as vital to satisfying key waverers.
The so-called clay pigeon is how he's expected to do it, under a strategy that was still taking shape Monday.
The tactic gets its name from the target used in skeet shooting, which explodes into bits as it is hit. In the Senate, an amendment is the target, and any one senator can demand that it be divided into separate fragments to be voted on piecemeal.
Under the tentative plan, Reid as early as Friday would launch his target -- an amendment encompassing all 22 proposals -- and shoot it into its component pieces. The Senate would then vote on ending debate on the immigration measure, which would take 60 votes and limit discussion of the bill to 30 more hours. After that interval, all 22 amendments would have to be voted on, with little opportunity for foes to interfere.
Ironically, the move is usually used by mavericks -- not leaders -- to slow down legislation, not free it from a procedural thicket.
Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., used it last year to protest a bill he complained included excessive spending. By offering and then dividing an amendment that targeted 19 items he deemed offensive, Coburn was able to insist on votes on individual projects.
"It's a brilliant way to gum up the works," said Robert B. Dove, a Senate rules expert who was the chamber's referee for 36 years.
The maneuver appears to be a relatively modern innovation; Dove said he first became aware of it in the early 1970s, when then-Sen. Jim Allen, D-Ala., a master of parliamentary procedures, used it against a bill pushed by the then- majority leader, Sen. Mike Mansfield, D-Mont.
"I remember people being dazzled when he did this," Dove said.
Reid's plan has its risks, chief among them further inflaming the vocal conservative opponents who have vowed to do whatever they can to kill the immigration measure.
Wesley Denton, a spokesman for Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., called the plan a "stunning" effort by Reid "to choke off debate and handpick amendments." He threatened that Republicans would unleash the same tactic on the majority in the future.
"I've seen ideas like this really backfire. You pay a price for this kind of thing," Dove said, noting that the Senate functions almost entirely on consensus. "It can be done -- I've seen it done -- but it's a difficult maneuver."
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Juanita wrote on Jun 18, 2007 8:24 PM:This just shows how much the Dems/Bush/Kennedy want the invasion to be complete. They will risk having chaos in the Senate to get their precious illegal workers.
True American wrote on Jun 18, 2007 9:41 PM:Why isn't there one Senator in that rotten pumpkin patch, step up and do a clay pigeon with one amendment. That is an Amendment for Border Enforcement/Protection.
No Amnesty! No Free Legalization! No Z Visas! wrote on Jun 18, 2007 11:17 PM:The publis has been misimformed by the mainstream media. The Senate bill establishes 3 levels of residency: 1) the Z Visa granted to illegal immigrants in the US on 1/1/2007 and employed on their application date (and family members); 2) permanent residency (often called a Green Card); and 3) US Citizenship. The $5,000 fine and touchback provisions only apply to persons applying for permanent residency. The fine and touchback provisions are not required to get a Z Visa. Although the Z Visa is called a temporary visa, but it can be renewed for many 4-year terms. Once an illegal immigrant obtains a Z Visa, they are legalized to work in the United States, and are eligible for many benefits such as in-state tuition, a benefit that is denied to US citizens residing in other states. A holder of a Z Visa can freely travel across the border. The only incentive for a Z Visa holder to apply for Permanent Residency (and incur the penalty provisions) is to obtain US Citizenship (after a wait of several years). THE Z VISA IS AMNESTY!!! The Z Visa legalizes illegal immigrants. To obtain a Z Visa, the illegal immigrant does not have to pay a penalties, return to their country of origin, pay back taxes, etc. The Z visa rewards lawbreakers and removes any consequence for having broken the law. How can anyone believe that the Senate bill does not grant amnesty to 12+ million illegal aliens?
Who cares? wrote on Jun 19, 2007 3:54 AM:A new 'quirky gambit' heretofore to be called 'skeet-shooting' needs to be invented to slap down the nasty 'clay pigeon.'
From Democrat-Robert wrote on Jun 19, 2007 5:50 AM:This liberal move to open the borders is horrid and I can only feel for those like Rep Bilbray and Hunter having to sit on the sidelines and watch these subversive moves. To all those who handed the liberals control of congress.. I sure hope your happy now for you have encouraged the invasion like never before. For Shame!
The Democrats are wrote on Jun 19, 2007 6:49 AM:just as bad as the Republicans. NONE of them listen to the people and the fact we do not want this AMNESTY bill.
fedup wrote on Jun 19, 2007 7:12 AM:........leave it to these idiots that are supposed to be representing American citizens to cram this bill down our throats! what is the big deal wanting to support CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS? Vote anyone who supports this out!
Patriot wrote on Jun 19, 2007 8:30 AM:This maneuver should come as no surprise given that this bill was crafted behind closed doors by a handful of Senators. The less debate, the less need to convince Americans they need to give their country away.
Michael M. wrote on Jun 19, 2007 10:07 AM:It is very apparent that being elected "for the people, by the people" is quickly forgotten by the majority of the politicians of today. It is utterly disgusting to me to see these so called political leaders doing whatever crafty and underhanded things they can to get their agenda passed regardless of what the people that elected them want. George Orwell warned us of this 40 years ago in "Animal Farm".
Madam Patriot wrote on Jun 19, 2007 10:42 AM:Desperate aren’t they? Why? You will have forthcoming amendments to this already bad bill cast off for what reason? Why even have a discussion if they already have made up their ‘minds?’ Why are our ‘leaders’ working so hard at destroying what our founding fathers created? What is the real reason they are thumbing their noses at the American people? Is the North American Union (NAU) so precious to the world’s business interests and their ‘pocketed’ legislators that they’re willing to sacrifice sovereignty for dollars? The American people need to start asking a lot more of the Who, What, When, Where and Why’s!
o2cool1 wrote on Jun 19, 2007 11:08 AM:Good gawd people wake up and smell the coffee (hand picked by Juan Valdez)this bill is about the only solution there is. My preference would be out and out amnesty but I doubt that will happen. Look you CAN NOT deport 12million people,period end of story. Get some perspective would you,that's equivalent to deporting 1/3 of the ENTIRE population of the State of California. That's like saying you're deporting every sigle person from Long Beach down to National City, get real.
Can you boys and wrote on Jun 19, 2007 12:33 PM:girls in washington spell TREASON? As in capital punishment?
Some people are stupid wrote on Jun 19, 2007 2:05 PM:like our politicans. How do you deport 20 million people? Stop all welfare, medical, schools and employment. No jobs, no apartments. No jobs, no food. Sick? no medical. What is so hard about that, I know it takes some education to understand, but maybe the politicans and others can go back to 3rd grade.
Toss the democrats wrote on Jun 19, 2007 4:39 PM:we are voting REPUBLICAN! At least they are starting to listen to the people!
4uo2cool12c wrote on Jun 19, 2007 5:17 PM:You would deport yourself if jobs were truly only available to legal immigrants and citizens as required by existing law. You would deport yourself if the privilege of legally living and working in this country in the future required you to return to your home country first. The Senate bill hands out an indefinitely renewable Z visa that allows almost everyone here illegally to remain here legally, keep their jobs, and not have to return to their home country. That IS out and out amnesty.
fedup wrote on Jun 19, 2007 5:49 PM:to o2cool1.....what do you mean that this is the only solutin?take away the criminal ILLEGALS jobs, housing and benefits and they will self-deport, more than likely back to where they came from! so simple!
Curtissss wrote on Jun 19, 2007 7:59 PM:The border is a line drawn on a piece of paper; it has been a long time since I took history, but I seem to recall that much of the SW USA used to belong to Mexico until we took it from them by force. Now many of you don't want to let them pick your produce. Who do you think is going to pick it if you deport them? I think the richest country in the world can afford to let them stay.
Reardon wrote on Jun 19, 2007 8:47 PM:Your history is correct, but limited. We took land from Mexico after a war, but PAID them for the land. Mexico, on the other hand took their land from the French, and that is celebrated on the Cinco de Mayo holiday. The French seized the area from the Spanish, who of course took it from an indigenous people who descended from Ice Age Asians. So, Curtisssss, exactly whom among the Mexicans, French, Spanish, Indigenous People, and Asians do we permit to come across the “line drawn on a piece of paper”?
Enough wrote on Jun 19, 2007 9:45 PM:of this nonsense. Demand that our elected representatives close the border and deport. Don't say we can't deport, we can do whatever needed if we have the will. We won't have to deport all twelve/twenty million illegal aliens if we stop the jobs, schools, housing, and medical care. If we can go thousands of miles away and spend a trillion dollars in Iraq surely we can uphold our laws here.
Curtissss wrote on Jun 20, 2007 8:59 PM:Well, I don't know the background of us paying for it so you may have me there, but it seems to me as hard as they work, they have at least earned the right to be here. Besides, it really is only a line someone drew on a piece of paper. Who can ever really own the land? We are here only for a short while and then we are gone.
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