Don't Put Down Your Lance. . .

...until they cry for mercy.

Senate Refuses to Limit Debate on Immigration Plan (Update3)
By James Rowley and Nicholas Johnston

June 7 (Bloomberg) -- The Senate refused to limit debate on overhauling U.S. immigration law as Democrats urged President George W. Bush to rally Republicans to rescue the legislation.

The 33 votes to shut off debate were 27 short of the 60 needed by Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada to bring to a conclusion debate on legislation to grant legal status to 12 million undocumented aliens. He said he would seek another vote later today. If it fails, ``the bill's gone,'' Reid said. ``What else can I do?''

Reid appealed to Bush to twist the arms of Republicans who voted against limiting debate, saying an inability to pass the legislation would produce headlines that the ``president fails again.''

``This is the president's bill. He has worked long and hard,'' Reid said. ``This bill that's on the floor is not a Democratic bill, it is a bill that was worked on by Democrats and Republicans in cooperation with the president.''

Since he took office six years ago, Bush has championed an overhaul of immigration law, including a guest-worker program in the legislation to help U.S. employers fill jobs Americans won't take. The Senate imperiled the legislation earlier today when it voted 49-48 to force expiration of the guest-worker plan in five years unless Congress renews it.

No Republicans voted to limit debate, and 15 Democrats voted with the Republicans to continue debate on the measure.