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Immigration: It's Alive
June 26, 2007The immigration reform bill came back to life officially at 12:16 p.m. today.
Senators voted 64-35 to proceed with considering the bill.
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., trumpeted success.
"I’ve been in Congress for more than 40 years and immigration reforms are always controversial," Kennedy said in a media release. "But Congress is expected to muster the political will to get it done. And today, I’m proud to say that we did. Today’s vote is a major step forward for Congress, and for the country. "
Kennedy is one of the bill's main architects.
One of the bill's main opponents, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, seemed to be prepping for a fight this afternoon.
Both he and his senior counterpart, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, voted against moving forward with the bill.
"We're going to offer some amendments and see what happens," Cornyn said.
What amendments?
"Well, there's 24 on the list that the grand bargainers have apparently agreed upon," he said. "It's 361 pages long, and no one has read it yet. So I think that's where we ought to start. We need to read it to understand what's in it."
He hopes amendments will improve the bill.
As is, the "flawed" bill has "serious loopholes," that "strike at the heart of America’s national security," he said in a media statement.
Hutchison will offer an amendment right off the bat that would be an improvement, Cornyn said.
Her “return home” amendment is co-sponsored by Tennessee Republicans Sen. Bob Corker and Sen. Lamar Alexander, she said in a media release. It would require adult illegal immigrants to go back to their country within two years of receiving a secure identification, also known as a temporary “Z” visa.
Will Hutchison's amendment be enough to win his vote?
"There's other concerns I have besides that," he said.
A vote on cutting off debate to go ahead and vote on the bill itself is expected Thursday.
Posted by Trish Choate at 04:39 PM | Permalink
Jefferson Awards laud hard-working volunteers
June 19, 2007Petrolia resident Jena Fleming will be among the 81 "unsung heros" honored tonight in big ol' Washington, D.C., for their volunteer efforts.
How's this small-town girl and her husband Marty handling the big city?
Check Wednesday's Times Record News in print or online to find out.
Fleming is the local winner of the Jefferson Award, an honor for volunteerism and public service.
She has volunteered more than 14 years in Petrolia schools, raising money for band trips and scholarships, serving on the Parent Teacher Organization and generally gettin' 'er done.
She and husband Marty will go to a fancy fala dinner at the East Hall in Union Station.
They'll have the chance to rub elbows with luminaries such as Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, Katheleen Kennedy Townsend -- daughter of Robert and Ethel Kennedy, and "Guiding Light" stars Michelle Ray Smith (aka Ava Peralta) and Elizabeth Keifer (aka C. Blake Thorpe Marler).
Posted by Trish Choate at 11:39 AM | Permalink
Salsa Verde: El Conejo
June 15, 2007Salsa superman Mike gave me a quick lesson early in the evening at La Tabaq.
What did I learn?
I stink up the place when it comes to salsa, but Mike's a good teacher.
"Don't hop!" he said sternly. "Your upper body should not move."
I wasn't sure what was moving, but I knew my feet weren't moving like they should be.
He showed me how to do some hip arm movements and patiently worked with me for one song.
It wouldn't be long until I met a rabbit that far out-hopped me.
Posted by Trish Choate at 11:41 AM | Permalink
Salsa Verde
June 12, 2007It seemed like a good idea. Go learn to salsa dance.
How easy could it be?
Well, it could be real hard and real embarrassing, especially on D.C.'s salsa dance scene.
My first excursion was an eye-opening experience.
I was to hoof it with co-worker "W" and a few of her guy friends who were salsa types.
It was the opening night for La Tabaq, a tapas-leaning restaurant on U Street.
But for a small fee, I could gain entrance with W as part of the DC Salsa Meetup Group. See http://salsa.meetup.com/162/
Over dinner at another restaurant with a more reasonably-priced menu, her friend Mike explained that he was well-schooled in salsa and had danced professionally.
Over on the dance floor, I got a good idea of just what that meant.
Mike morphed from a nice-looking, nice-seeming guy to salsa superman right before my eyes.
I watched him and W twist, turn, do some fancy footwork and generally show off successfully.
Ay caramba!
My turn couldn't come slow enough.
Posted by Trish Choate at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
