Orrin Hatch: “Second, we should expedite INS review of petitions by family members of citizens. Let's face it, the INS is in a mess…”

“Second, we should expedite INS review of petitions by family members of citizens. Let's face it, the INS is in a mess right now, and it could be reformed to expedite the processing of legal immigrants. Third, we should restore the right of persons allowed amnesty back in 1986 to have their claims adjudicated. These three changes in law, in contrast to what is proposed today by our friends on the other side, would be real Latino fairness. It would reward those who have followed the law and played by the rules. So this is where we are. The vote we are about to have on suspending the rules is a 'have it both ways' vote. My colleagues voted overwhelmingly for cloture yesterday--including almost all Democrats and all Republicans. The last time I looked, cloture meant the inability to consider nongermane amendments. Today, many of these same persons who voted for cloture are voting to suspend the results of that vote and allow debate on this unrelated measure. Tomorrow, they will probably vote for cloture again. So on Tuesday, the high-tech community gets its vote. On Wednesday, many of the same group vote to undo their vote, and on Thursday they vote with high tech again. Oh, it is confusing when you are trying to have it both ways. I hope no one will be fooled by what is happening. I urge my colleagues to oppose suspending the rules, which is an extraordinary procedural move aimed at playing politics.”