Bush hopes to spur action

The senators left Tuesday's meeting without the main ingredient they'd sought.
DALLAS MORNING NEWS
WASHINGTON -- Seeking to jumpstart an immigration debate that stalled in the Senate three weeks ago, President Bush summoned senators from both parties to the White House on Tuesday to emphasize his support for a comprehensive reform.
"I strongly believe that we have a chance to get an immigration bill that is comprehensive in nature to my desk before the end of this year," Bush said after meeting with 17 senators immersed in the oft-contentious debate.
Not invited: Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and other conservatives who argue the plan pending in the Senate constitutes amnesty for those who entered the country illegally.
The senators at Tuesday's meeting left pleased but without the main ingredient they'd sought: a presidential endorsement for a pending compromise that would legalize millions of illegal immigrants, toughen border enforcement and create a guest worker program for future migrants.
Muscle
Some Republicans and Democrats have pressed Bush to flex his muscle in support of the compromise drafted by GOP Sens. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and Mel Martinez of Florida. Doing so, they say, would strengthen the Senate's hand when it faces off against House negotiators who laid down a tough marker last year with passage of an enforcement-only bill.
"The president needs to put some of his own political capital down on the table and make it very clear ... that he does not support the House's criminalization bill," said Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.
While Bush didn't endorse the compromise, Martinez said, "The principles of this bill are clearly what he is for."
Endorsements aside, compromise supporters proclaimed their cause for a comprehensive immigration overhaul was helped by the president's attention to the matter.
"The bottom line is it's doable," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
Roadblocks
Still, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., have yet to address the roadblocks that derailed the measure's passage three weeks ago. They haven't agreed how many amendments can be offered on the Senate floor, nor which Senate negotiators would face off with the House.
One of the most controversial pending amendments, offered by Cornyn and Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl, would deny legal status to people convicted of crimes. Democrats argue the amendment is a poison pill that would deny legalization to non-felons.
Frist has pledged to complete action on the immigration bill by Memorial Day, though the Senate now is turning its attention to an emergency spending bill and health care legislation.
As part of the emergency spending bill, Frist has said he will seek to add $2 billion for more Border Patrol agents and increased enforcement. Action on the border money could come as early as Wednesday.