In Spanish and English, the Senate pushed contentious legislation over an early procedural hurdle with deceptive ease on Tuesday as President Barack Obama insisted the "moment is now" to give 11 million in the United States illegally a chance at citizenship.
Despite the lopsided, 82-15 vote, Republicans served notice they will seek to toughen the border security provisions and impose tougher terms on those seeking to gain legal status. "This has serious flaws," said their party leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell, one of several who noted pointedly that the 60-vote majority they will demand for passage is hardly assured.
Even before the first proposed changes were considered, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a potential 2016 Republican presidential contender, outlined the complicated state of play for a measure that he helped draft as a member of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators and now seeks to alter. With changes to tighten control of the U.S.-Mexican border, he said, about half of the Senate's 46 Republicans are prepared to vote to create the pathway to citizenship that is backed by most or all of the 54 lawmakers aligned with the Democratic majority.
At the White House, Obama said repeatedly the current system is broken, for the foreign-born who live in the United State legally and illegally alike. Obama didn't say so, but the legislation is likely his best hope of achieving a second-term landmark domestic accomplishment.
Referring to the 11 million currently in the country unlawfully, he said, "Yes, they broke the rules; they didn't wait their turn. They shouldn't be let off easy. They shouldn't be allowed to game the system. But at the same time, the vast majority of these individuals aren't looking for any trouble. They're just looking to provide for their families, contribute to their communities. "
At its core, the sets out a 13-year journey to citizenship for the millions of who arrived in the United States illegally through the end of 2011 or who overstayed their visas. That journey would include paying fines and back taxes and other measures. The also requires a tighter border to prevent future illegal .
Other key provisions would create a new program for low-skilled workers to enter the country and expand the number of visas for high-skilled who are particularly in demand in technology firms. The also jettisons a decades-old system that favors family ties over education, job skills and other factors in prioritizing prospective legal .
Numerous Republicans hope to the issue to repair their party's image among Hispanic voters, a growing portion of the electorate in key states, and a group that polls show gave Obama 71 percent of its votes last year. But Republicans are divided, with tea party-backed lawmakers and other conservatives resisting anything that smacks of amnesty or otherwise seems to permit legalization without assuring the long border with Mexico in particular is virtually closed to future unlawful .
"Of all of the issue swirling around this the path to citizenship for those who are here illegally is the single most divisive issue," said Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican from border state Texas who was elected to his first term last November. "And that is the issue on which the Obama White House and Senate Democrats insist, and by insisting on that division I believe they by design destine this to be voted down."
In the Capitol, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat, chose to deliver a speech on the measure in Spanish. He said it was appropriate to do so since the language "has been spoken in this country since Spanish missionaries founded St. Augustine, Florida in 1565. Spanish is also spoken by almost 40 million Americans who have a lot at stake in the outcome of this debate," he said in an English translation provided by his office.
As the Senate embarked on a debate expected to last for weeks, Speaker John Boehner said he hoped companion legislation could clear committee in the Republican-led House by the end of the month.
In an ABC interview, the Republican sidestepped when asked if he is prepared to support a pathway to citizenship for those living in the country illegally. "A lot of these big questions will be decided on the House floor," he said.