On Capitol Hill, the focus is now the Senate. Republican and Democratic leaders there struck a deal May 11 that they hope will revive efforts to pass a bill before Memorial Day. The agreement, which allows for open debate on a number of amendments, is a turnabout for Democrats, who previously blocked action on numerous Republican riders.
The agreement requires that seven Judiciary Committee Republicans will be on the panel to work out differences with the House if the Senate can pass a bill. That provision was a key to the deal, says Jack Martin, special projects director for the Federation for Immigration Reform. He says supporters of compromise bills do not want the moderate provisions stripped by conferees who back the enforcement-oriented bill the House passed in December.