Mark Udall: “it's often said legislating is like making sausage--stuffing various ingredients into one product. But sometimes it's…”

“it's often said legislating is like making sausage--stuffing various ingredients into one product. But sometimes it's more like slicing salami--cutting something into pieces, to be swallowed one at a time. Today, the Republican leadership clearly has decided that sliced salami will be the blue plate special, and that there can be no changes or substitutions. They are saying they favor a piecemeal approach to immigration reform and are more interested in political posturing than in trying to enact legislation that will meet all the challenges involved in strengthening our borders, reducing illegal immigration, and addressing the status of illegal immigrants now in the United States. So they have cut three pieces off the immigration bill the House passed last year, and are bringing them to the floor under this rule which prohibits us from even debating any amendments or offering any additions to the menu. In other words, it's take it or leave it, and forget about trying to make any improvements--just like it was with last week's serving, the bill for 730 miles of high-price fencing along the border. I think that is wrong, and I cannot support that procedure. However, I will vote for the three separate bills covered by this rule, because while I have some concerns about some of their provisions, on balance I think they would improve current law and policies. That was why last year I voted for H.R.…”