Revived immigration bill faces key procedural vote

WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Wednesday turned back a series of amendments aimed at substantially altering controversial immigration legislation, but backers remained concerned about its prospects.

The bill faces a make-or-break vote this morning when senators will decide whether to cut off debate and move to a final vote Friday. If it does not get the 60 votes necessary, hopes for meaningful legislation will be all but dashed. Top aides in both parties predicted today's vote would fall short.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., a key opponent, crowed Wednesday night: "They tried to railroad this through today, but we derailed the train."

Key Democrats also raised questions. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said the failure of his amendment to bolster family reunification visas "makes it more difficult to vote in favor" of ending debate.

Earlier Wednesday, the defeat of provisions intended to toughen the bill or soften its restrictions suggested that the core of the "grand bargain" was holding in the Senate's second bid to pass an immigration bill supported by the White House.

One key amendment rejected was a Republican proposal to require all adult illegal immigrants to return to their countries temporarily to qualify for a special new visa. The provision, offered by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, was defeated 53-45.

The defeated amendments were among at least 26 measures up for consideration.

The overall bill would create a path to U.S. citizenship for the nation's 12 million illegal immigrants and establish a guest-worker program. It also would pour billions of dollars into border security.

A number of Republican senators have bucked the White House, vowing to kill the bill because its legalization provisions amount to "amnesty," a deeply unpopular concept among many conservatives. The bill also has come under attack from liberals and immigrants' advocates who oppose some of its restrictions and its emphasis on awarding visas based more on skills than on the family connections.

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Spending bill: The House approved a bill to increase spending for the environment, national parks and global-warming research. The measure, approved 272-155, would allocate $27.6 billion for various agencies.