The Senate Revisits Immigration

The Immigration issue is back in the news as the Senate has come back from their break and is back on the issue, with the starting point being the bill by Chuck Hagel and Mel Martinez. President Bush got into the issue more than he has in the past as he met with Senators on the issue.

Sen. Chuck Hagel left a White House meeting with President Bush on Tuesday encouraged about the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform this year.

“I think this advanced the effort considerably,” Hagel said in a telephone interview after Bush discussed immigration legislation for more than an hour with 16 senators.

“This was the most engaging and direct exchange I’ve seen in my 10 years here between a president and members of Congress,” Hagel said.

Bush “really got into it,” the Nebraska Republican said. “He feels very passionately about this issue.”

From Hagel heartened by immigration meeting with Bush

Another good article discussed the potential 2008 Presidential candidates and the immigration issue.

Several potential 2008 GOP presidential candidates, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, and immigration hard-liner Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, have staked out the highest-profile positions on the issue.

From the Green Bay Press-Gazette