Specter has new immigration Package.

[bobsmith]

Any comment?
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/...007-07-27.html

Specter has new immigration package
By Elana Schor
July 27, 2007
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s senior Republican said on Thursday that he is on the verge of offering a new immigration reform package, making significant changes that could win over recalcitrant members from both parties.

Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.), who accompanied President Bush Thursday on his visit to Pennsylvania, said he has spoken to Bush and the two Cabinet members who have led immigration talks about his new bill. Specter also told reporters that he has spoken to most senators involved in this spring’s failed “grand bargain,” outlining his plan and appealing for a restart to the arduous immigration debate.

“I’m ready to unveil it now,” Specter said. “I’ve got letters to the 100 senators on my desk.”

Specter explained the new measure would omit the controversial “Z visa” program, which would have given the nation’s 12 million illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. Removing the Z visa would offer conservatives less opening to tag the bill as “amnesty.” But he would leave intact the family reunification standard that this spring’s defunct immigration bill partially replaced with a skills-based system.

The lone change in the status of the 12 million, Specter said, would be removing their status as fugitives from justice, an attempt to diminish their incentive to remain outside the system and in fear of deportation.

Specter added that he already has met with “stakeholders” from outside groups involved in the complex immigration debate, and he plans to hold more sit-downs next week. Offering green cards to immigrants seeking employment in the high-tech industry is under consideration, he said.

[Jaime]

Hey man, there are like 2 other threads on this, but I'm glad that you brought it up, because this subject seems to have fallen by the wayside. I think that we should take this initiative by Senator Specter into consideration as part of our September 13 rally efforts, thoughts?

[vallabhu]

this spring’s defunct immigration bill partially replaced with a skills-based system.

This statement is confusing between SKILL BILL and Point based system bill.

I cannot make which one he has in mind for us, can you guys comment.

[smc]

This guy has a new immigration bill on the anvil; may be worth asking him what he has in store for EB immigrants.

SPECTER TO TOUR PENNSYLVANIA IN AUGUST
Will Hold Open House Town Meetings throughout the Commonwealth

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, the longest-serving senator from Pennsylvania, will visit all regions of Pennsylvania during the U.S. Senate’s August recess. His visits will include Open House Town Meetings in which constituents are invited to discuss issues important to the region, the state, and the nation. Senator Specter will address the audience briefly and devote the remainder of the hour to responding to residents’ questions and concerns.

Members of the media are invited to attend the events listed below, including the open house town meetings. Following the events, Senator Specter will be available to field questions from the media on a variety of topics.

Below is list of the Senator’s public August events:

DATE/TIME EVENT/LOCATION
Monday, Aug. 6
9:00 am Address the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania
York Expo Center, York

10:15 am Open House Town Meeting
Gettysburg College, Gettysburg

2:15 pm Open House Town Meeting
Wilson College, Chambersburg

5:55 pm Huntingdon County Fair
Fairgrounds Access Road, Huntingdon

Tuesday, Aug. 7
7:30 am Breakfast with Rotary, Kiwanis, and Chamber of Commerce
Lewistown Community Center, Lewistown

9:45 am Open House Town Meeting
Susquehanna University, Selingsgrove

1:30 pm Receive award from Geisinger Health Systems
Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

3:20 pm Open House Town Meeting
Lock Haven University, Lock Haven

Wednesday, Aug. 8
8:00 am Open House Town Meeting
Courtyard Family Restaurant, Smethport

10:30 am Open House Town Meeting
Antlers Inn, Gaines

1:30 pm Open House Town Meeting
FWM Volunteer Fire Company, Mehoopany

3:45 pm Open House Town Meeting
Wayne County Courthouse, Honesdale

Thursday, Aug. 9
8:30 am Open House Town Meeting
Monroe County Administration Bldg., Stroudsburg

10:30 am Open House Town Meeting
Forks Township Community Center, Easton

Monday, Aug. 13
11:15 am Open House Town Meeting
The Harmony Museum, Harmony

3:00 pm Open House Town Meeting
Thiel College, Greenville

Tuesday, Aug. 14
8:00 am Eggs and Issues with Manufacturers’ Assoc. of NW PA
2171 W. 38th St., Erie

11:00 am Open House Town Meeting
U. of Pittsburgh – Titusville Campus, Titusville

3:20 pm Open House Town Meeting
New Bethlehem Fire Hall, New Bethlehem

Wednesday, Aug. 15
8:30 am Open House Town Meeting
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana

11:40 am Ag Progress Days
Rockspring

2:00 pm Open House Town Meeting
Devorris Downtown Center, Altoona

3:45 pm Open House Town Meeting
St. Francis University, Loretto

Thursday, Aug. 16

11:00 am Open House Town Meeting
Seton Hill University, Greensburg

2:15 pm Open House Town Meeting
California University, California

[Karthikthiru]

There is new posting about this bill on Matthew Oh site. It gives more detail about this proposed bill. It says "Specter's Discussion Draft for New CIR" and he has given more deatils of it


Karthik