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Groton Daily Independent
Saturday, June 09, 2018 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 330 ~ 49 of 59
sympathetic to Trump’s anti-immigrant outbursts.
Painfully aware of those divisions, leaders had seemed happy to sidestep the issue as they head into
campaign season for the fall midterm elections until the moderates’ rebellion forced their hand. If enough signatures are collected Tuesday, the House would be on track to have roll call votes on various proposals on June 25.
Ryan and GOP leaders are trying desperately to stop the moderates’ preferred bill from coming to the floor. It would draw widespread Democratic support and leaders say passage would damage the party’s electoral prospects by souring GOP voters.
McCarthy has taken a leading role in forging a compromise in what in many ways is an audition in his campaign to become speaker once Ryan retires, if Republicans keep majority control in the fall midterm election.
“There’s a whole lot more that we agree on than we disagree on,” said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., a leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, “and yet there’s still not a deal.”
Lawmakers said they were focusing on one of two options outlined for the young immigrants.
It would create a new visa category that combines permits for the “Dreamer” immigrants with those for immigrants who now use other programs, including the diversity lottery and family visas. There would be a new merit system to assess some of the new immigrants.
Details on the new visa system remain unclear, and lawmakers declined to disclose more as negotia- tions continued.
There’s uncertainty over what would happen after the end of the eight-year visa program, but Denham said participants have characterized the proposal as a bridge to the legal immigration system — which suggests a pathway to remaining in the U.S. permanently.
Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., another leader of the moderates, said the young immigrants would have immediate protection, “meaning you never again have to worry about deportation as long as you follow this country’s laws.”
Lawmakers are rushing to fix the situation for the young immigrants after Trump ended the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, called DACA, though it largely continues running pending a legal challenge. It gave nearly 700,000 of the young immigrants temporary permission to live and work in the U.S. The affected population of young immigrants is much larger.
Conservatives have been adamant about not providing a “special” process carving out a unique way for those young immigrants to gain legal status.
Trump has said that in exchange for providing possible citizenship for them, he wants full financing for his wall with Mexico. He’s also wanted to end a lottery that distributes about 50,000 visas annually to countries with few U.S. immigrants and to limit the relatives legal immigrants can bring to this country.
Democrats and many moderate Republicans have opposed curbs in legal immigration. Such a plan would seem to have no chance in the Senate, where Democrats have enough votes to block it.
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AP reporters Andrew Taylor, Kevin Freking and Padmananda Rama contributed.
Some like it not: Marilyn Monroe statue has church venting By DAVE COLLINS, Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Marilyn Monroe’s rear is getting some leers in Connecticut.
A 26-foot statue of the actress has been placed in a Stamford park across the street from a church, which is getting a full view of her behind. It depicts the famous scene from 1955’s “The Seven Year Itch” where Monroe holds down her white dress as air blows up from a subway grate.
The back of the statue showing her underwear is clearly visible from the front of the First Congregational Church of Stamford. Some passersby this week said it was disrespectful to the church.
Most church members have yet to see the statue because it was put up Monday as part of a citywide art display. But it is sure to spark conversation when they return for Sunday worship, said church member