Jaime
09-20 03:38 AM
谢谢! A big xie-xie! To all Chinese IV members who attended the rally! Your participation and graciousness was invaluable and it was nice to meet you all! We look forward to us all working together for our next events, and for our ultimate common goal of receiving fairness from the law! Along with the beginning of our march towards auspicious victory we have also started a life-long friendship! Let's continue working together!!
wallpaper Tom Felton, Daniel Radcliffe
brick2006
11-30 12:03 PM
hello...
I was on H1.. but i quit my job and i am currently enrolled as a Full time student.
I need to go to Mexico as part of my Study program....
I have received the change of status from USCIS..but i need to get my passport stamped..
I have not been successful in getting an appointment in Canada....
>> Can i go to mexico and get the visa stamped during my stay there..is it risky???
>> i cam here on F1-h1-now back to F1.... do i have to go to my country of origin to get my visa stamped.
inputs Pleaseeeee..
I was on H1.. but i quit my job and i am currently enrolled as a Full time student.
I need to go to Mexico as part of my Study program....
I have received the change of status from USCIS..but i need to get my passport stamped..
I have not been successful in getting an appointment in Canada....
>> Can i go to mexico and get the visa stamped during my stay there..is it risky???
>> i cam here on F1-h1-now back to F1.... do i have to go to my country of origin to get my visa stamped.
inputs Pleaseeeee..
martinvisalaw
06-03 06:08 PM
You should change to H-4 (assuming you are eligible) if you are not working. You should be able to change back H-1B later and get the remainder of your 6 years, without being subject to the cap, if you find a new employer. It is important not to violate status now, and not working violates your H-1 status even if the lack of work is not your choice.
2011 Tom Felton#39;s girlfriend
bigariyawatgul
08-22 06:47 AM
hi kirupa, back to use your service again :-)
I'd like to know what command to use for a button that when click, it automatically download the zip.file to the user's computer.
thanks for your help :-)
I'd like to know what command to use for a button that when click, it automatically download the zip.file to the user's computer.
thanks for your help :-)
more...
admin
04-07 12:31 PM
no news yet, i m kinda breaking ........
See here - http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=521
See here - http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=521
chayadevi
03-22 04:40 PM
hello
Is any one there who changed their status form h4-h1 status using amendment process.please let me know.I am in tough situation now.
Is any one there who changed their status form h4-h1 status using amendment process.please let me know.I am in tough situation now.
more...
Phoenixpals
04-11 03:02 PM
Hi,
I am applying for Citizenship after completing 4 years and 9 months as a Permanent Resident in US.
Can any one please let me know as what is the processing time to get the Citizenship after I apply?
Also I have planned to move to a different State after I apply for Citizenship.
Please let me know whether it fine to move to a different address after applying for Citizenship? Else is this move not advisable?
Does this address change delay my Citizenship processing time?
Appreciate your guidance.
Thanks.
I am applying for Citizenship after completing 4 years and 9 months as a Permanent Resident in US.
Can any one please let me know as what is the processing time to get the Citizenship after I apply?
Also I have planned to move to a different State after I apply for Citizenship.
Please let me know whether it fine to move to a different address after applying for Citizenship? Else is this move not advisable?
Does this address change delay my Citizenship processing time?
Appreciate your guidance.
Thanks.
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Macaca
10-06 05:25 PM
Lott Looking to Form New �Gang� (http://rollcall.com/issues/53_38/news/20338-1.html) By Erin P. Billings | Roll Call Staff, October 4, 2007
In what could be a new incarnation of the successful bipartisan �Gang of 14,� Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) hosted a meeting this week with a handful of the Senate�s most notable compromisers to figure out how to unclog the gridlock that has slowed the chamber�s progress this year.
About half a dozen moderate and independent-minded Republicans and at least one Democrat � Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) � participated in the Members-only huddle, which was held quietly in Lott�s Capitol office Tuesday morning. Afterward, few Senators offered much detail, but several said there�s a feeling among them that the narrowly divided chamber no longer can operate at an impasse and they want to find ways to avoid the growing number of filibusters sidelining Senate legislation this year.
�We�re seeing if there�s a way to bring some people together to bring some more comity to this place,� Nelson said.
Lott declined to discuss the meeting or its goals, saying only: �I think I ought not say anything. Others are going to say too much, so I am not going to say anything.�
According to other Senators, however, the discussion focused on how the deal-minded group could help avert the growing number of standoffs in trying to clear bills through the Senate this Congress. Most particularly, Senators said they vetted ways to work through upcoming fights on such issues as appropriations bills and stalled judicial nominations such as that of Leslie Southwick, Lott�s home-state pick for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Southwick narrowly cleared the Judiciary Committee last summer but has yet to come up for full Senate consideration. The White House and Republican Senators have been trying to corral 60 votes to advance his confirmation, but are still shy of meeting that mark against powerful Democratic opposition.
�It�s about creating a better environment to get things done for the country,� said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who participated in the meeting. �We need to get back to being a deliberative body.�
�We�re going to see if we can work beyond the logjam,� said Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who also was there and described it as the �beginning of a process.�
Graham, Nelson and Snowe were members of the previous Congress� bipartisan Gang of 14, a group of seven Democrats and seven Republicans who assembled in the face of a bitter partisan Senate standoff over movement of President Bush�s judicial nominees. The group brokered a historic deal to allow for votes on certain stalled Bush picks in exchange for keeping the minority�s option to use the filibuster intact.
That group didn�t formally involve Lott as one of its members, but the then-rank-and-file Mississippi Senator was a primary force behind the scenes leading to its creation. Lott stepped away after the gang officially formed.
Nelson wouldn�t say this week whether Tuesday�s meeting was a step toward
re-creating a similar bipartisan coalition, calling the Gang of 14 �unique.� But the Nebraska Democrat did suggest there are clear parallels in terms of the two groups� goals.
�It�s just a conversation at this point,� Nelson said. �We�re trying to see if there�s an interest in building support for moving legislation and to avoid having as many cloture votes as we�ve had and moving legislation along.�
So far this year, the Democratic majority has called to invoke cloture, a lengthy procedural roadblock that has markedly slowed down Senate action on a whole host of bills, some 56 times. Democrats have argued they are forced to do so against an intransigent 49-seat GOP minority, while Republicans have insisted it shows that Democrats are trying to ram through legislation without their input.
Although not all showed up, sources indicated that about 10 Senators were asked to take part in Tuesday�s meeting. In addition to Lott, Nelson, Graham and Snowe, GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Bob Corker (Tenn.), John Warner (Va.), John McCain (Ariz.), Gordon Smith (Ore.) and Norm Coleman (Minn.) were invitees.
Although not in attendance Tuesday, Coleman said discussions abound among rank-and-file Senators about how to �fix things� and break some of the legislative stalemate. He added that it�s not a surprise that Lott � one of the Senate�s most notorious deal-makers � would lead the charge.
�It�s a legitimate concern,� Coleman said of the gridlock. �We�re all impacted by the failure of being able to do the things that people sent us here to do.�
In what could be a new incarnation of the successful bipartisan �Gang of 14,� Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) hosted a meeting this week with a handful of the Senate�s most notable compromisers to figure out how to unclog the gridlock that has slowed the chamber�s progress this year.
About half a dozen moderate and independent-minded Republicans and at least one Democrat � Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) � participated in the Members-only huddle, which was held quietly in Lott�s Capitol office Tuesday morning. Afterward, few Senators offered much detail, but several said there�s a feeling among them that the narrowly divided chamber no longer can operate at an impasse and they want to find ways to avoid the growing number of filibusters sidelining Senate legislation this year.
�We�re seeing if there�s a way to bring some people together to bring some more comity to this place,� Nelson said.
Lott declined to discuss the meeting or its goals, saying only: �I think I ought not say anything. Others are going to say too much, so I am not going to say anything.�
According to other Senators, however, the discussion focused on how the deal-minded group could help avert the growing number of standoffs in trying to clear bills through the Senate this Congress. Most particularly, Senators said they vetted ways to work through upcoming fights on such issues as appropriations bills and stalled judicial nominations such as that of Leslie Southwick, Lott�s home-state pick for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Southwick narrowly cleared the Judiciary Committee last summer but has yet to come up for full Senate consideration. The White House and Republican Senators have been trying to corral 60 votes to advance his confirmation, but are still shy of meeting that mark against powerful Democratic opposition.
�It�s about creating a better environment to get things done for the country,� said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who participated in the meeting. �We need to get back to being a deliberative body.�
�We�re going to see if we can work beyond the logjam,� said Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), who also was there and described it as the �beginning of a process.�
Graham, Nelson and Snowe were members of the previous Congress� bipartisan Gang of 14, a group of seven Democrats and seven Republicans who assembled in the face of a bitter partisan Senate standoff over movement of President Bush�s judicial nominees. The group brokered a historic deal to allow for votes on certain stalled Bush picks in exchange for keeping the minority�s option to use the filibuster intact.
That group didn�t formally involve Lott as one of its members, but the then-rank-and-file Mississippi Senator was a primary force behind the scenes leading to its creation. Lott stepped away after the gang officially formed.
Nelson wouldn�t say this week whether Tuesday�s meeting was a step toward
re-creating a similar bipartisan coalition, calling the Gang of 14 �unique.� But the Nebraska Democrat did suggest there are clear parallels in terms of the two groups� goals.
�It�s just a conversation at this point,� Nelson said. �We�re trying to see if there�s an interest in building support for moving legislation and to avoid having as many cloture votes as we�ve had and moving legislation along.�
So far this year, the Democratic majority has called to invoke cloture, a lengthy procedural roadblock that has markedly slowed down Senate action on a whole host of bills, some 56 times. Democrats have argued they are forced to do so against an intransigent 49-seat GOP minority, while Republicans have insisted it shows that Democrats are trying to ram through legislation without their input.
Although not all showed up, sources indicated that about 10 Senators were asked to take part in Tuesday�s meeting. In addition to Lott, Nelson, Graham and Snowe, GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Bob Corker (Tenn.), John Warner (Va.), John McCain (Ariz.), Gordon Smith (Ore.) and Norm Coleman (Minn.) were invitees.
Although not in attendance Tuesday, Coleman said discussions abound among rank-and-file Senators about how to �fix things� and break some of the legislative stalemate. He added that it�s not a surprise that Lott � one of the Senate�s most notorious deal-makers � would lead the charge.
�It�s a legitimate concern,� Coleman said of the gridlock. �We�re all impacted by the failure of being able to do the things that people sent us here to do.�
more...
StuckInTheMuck
07-16 11:53 AM
There are several threads dealing with your question (for example here (http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18737) is a popular thread), all you need to do is spend a few minutes browsing the forums.
hair girlfriend Tom Felton @ MTV
tabletpc
01-25 06:22 PM
Guys ,
Here is my situation. greatly aprecite if you could give some suggestions.
I am presently on Non-cap H1b(which is not counted under cap). I am planning to file for H1b thru an employer in april under MS quota with a start date of octber 2008.
My concerns are...
1. How should the new employer file H1b so that I can join at my wish after oct 2008...??
2. My present H1b is valid untill 2010. SHould I be in US while filing and untill my new H1b is approved..??? I ahve plans of visisitng india in March/aprial. So wondering If i need to visit and be back before april or is it ok to travel while my new H1b is filed using the presnet i-94..?? that is trvelling sometime In april/May..???
greatly apprecite any inputs...
Here is my situation. greatly aprecite if you could give some suggestions.
I am presently on Non-cap H1b(which is not counted under cap). I am planning to file for H1b thru an employer in april under MS quota with a start date of octber 2008.
My concerns are...
1. How should the new employer file H1b so that I can join at my wish after oct 2008...??
2. My present H1b is valid untill 2010. SHould I be in US while filing and untill my new H1b is approved..??? I ahve plans of visisitng india in March/aprial. So wondering If i need to visit and be back before april or is it ok to travel while my new H1b is filed using the presnet i-94..?? that is trvelling sometime In april/May..???
greatly apprecite any inputs...
more...
gc2
09-29 07:20 AM
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=13697
hot tom felton relationships
gcfriend65
03-22 11:57 PM
Don't worry. Arlene Specter is coming up with his bill.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/03/22/kennedy_mccain_partnership_falters/
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/03/22/kennedy_mccain_partnership_falters/
more...
house Weasley) and Tom Felton
Pyronos
05-24 05:57 PM
My first stamp, and definately not my last.
Stamps are fun. :beam:
EDiT: Bugger, it won't show! I've tried reattaching it etc. but I can't get it to work. Any suggestions?
Stamps are fun. :beam:
EDiT: Bugger, it won't show! I've tried reattaching it etc. but I can't get it to work. Any suggestions?
tattoo Tom felton information: tom
newtoh1
04-29 11:47 AM
Hi,
My H1visa expirs on Aug 2009.I am travelling to india this month and be back at the end of May09.I have EAD and AP in my hand and valid till next year.
After I come back I want to change my employer using EAD in the month of July09.
1.While return back which one I have to show at POE? H1 or EAD?
2.If I show H1 I will get I94 card only till Aug09.So later If Ichange to EAD will it be problem?
3.If I show AP at the POE, my status legally changes to Parole.So can I continue till Jun09 with my current employer on H1? Because I don't want to change to EAD with my current employer as I am getting offer in July09 from new employer.
4.I am planning to add my spouse to my GC status after I come back.He is on H1B right now.What are the impacts if I migrate to EAD?
Can you please respond back immediately.Thanks a lot.
My H1visa expirs on Aug 2009.I am travelling to india this month and be back at the end of May09.I have EAD and AP in my hand and valid till next year.
After I come back I want to change my employer using EAD in the month of July09.
1.While return back which one I have to show at POE? H1 or EAD?
2.If I show H1 I will get I94 card only till Aug09.So later If Ichange to EAD will it be problem?
3.If I show AP at the POE, my status legally changes to Parole.So can I continue till Jun09 with my current employer on H1? Because I don't want to change to EAD with my current employer as I am getting offer in July09 from new employer.
4.I am planning to add my spouse to my GC status after I come back.He is on H1B right now.What are the impacts if I migrate to EAD?
Can you please respond back immediately.Thanks a lot.
more...
pictures Potter star Tom Felton and
chanduv23
05-15 05:11 PM
Hi, I recently relocated to Las Vegas from NJ. Just wanted to find out if this forum is active and members would like to get together.
Thanks.
Change the title to "meet, greet and gamble" - :) :)
I used to go there every week for an year on a consulting implementation back in 2004, 2005.
Thanks.
Change the title to "meet, greet and gamble" - :) :)
I used to go there every week for an year on a consulting implementation back in 2004, 2005.
dresses (Tom felton girlfriend) gt;gt; (shirtless tom felton)
WFGC2006
02-20 08:41 PM
Got laid off two months ago. After some painful job search, I accepted an offer with paid relocation. Then that idiot in my head starts murmuring that I will have trouble with the "Same or Similar" requirement for using AC21.
Did anyone here ever get an RFE for employment verification after invoking AC21? How did it go?
I always think it's very difficult evaluating the similarity of two jobs by reading their job descriptions.
Thanks,
Did anyone here ever get an RFE for employment verification after invoking AC21? How did it go?
I always think it's very difficult evaluating the similarity of two jobs by reading their job descriptions.
Thanks,
more...
makeup its good hands daniel radcliffe and romance which Tom+felton+and+jade
dressking
10-09 09:06 PM
Is it a warning to Americans that they will loose their land if they let more immigrants in?
Anyway, my guess is that native Americans must have been a lot more friendly to White people when they just came to this land. Hospitality is the nature of people in less advanced society. The more advanced a society is, the less hospitable the people are because people in more advanced society have a stronger sense of ownership.
Anyway, my guess is that native Americans must have been a lot more friendly to White people when they just came to this land. Hospitality is the nature of people in less advanced society. The more advanced a society is, the less hospitable the people are because people in more advanced society have a stronger sense of ownership.
girlfriend Tom Felton aka Draco Malfoy is
nomorehope
05-12 03:44 PM
Mine was filed in august 2007. It took 45 days for it to get audited and it has ever since been in process, that is close to 7 months after audit response.
hope for the best
hope for the best
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dval_dpal
07-26 02:22 PM
If USCIS consider this 10 area for improvement then what is left?
USCIS - USCIS Announces First Ten Areas of Focus for Agency-wide Policy Review</br><i> Public Survey Informs Selection</i></br>News Release (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3205d06dcebf9210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCR D&vgnextchannel=a2dd6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190a RCRD)
USCIS - USCIS Announces First Ten Areas of Focus for Agency-wide Policy Review</br><i> Public Survey Informs Selection</i></br>News Release (http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=3205d06dcebf9210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCR D&vgnextchannel=a2dd6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190a RCRD)
Macaca
07-22 05:49 PM
Senate Comity Slips Away (http://www.rollcall.com/issues/53_9/news/19453-1.html) By Emily Pierce and Erin P. Billings, ROLL CALL STAFF, July 19, 2007
Though tensions between Democrats and Republicans have been festering since the beginning of the 110th Congress, this week�s Senate debate on the Iraq War has pushed the chamber to a new level of partisan acrimony, where even the most seasoned and collegial of Senate elders have abandoned traditional acts of decorum.
�The Senate is spiraling into the ground to a degree that I have never seen before, and I�ve been here a long time,� Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said. �All modicum of courtesy has gone out the window.�
That statement came after a highly charged, all-night debate on a Democratic amendment to refocus the U.S. mission in Iraq and complete a troop drawdown by April 30, 2008. The amendment failed, 52-47, to get the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster, and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) cited the Republicans� �obstructionist� tactics in his decision to scrap the entire debate on the Defense Department authorization bill.
Reid�s insistence not only on having repeated votes this year on pulling out of Iraq but also on having the overnight session contributed to the explosion of partisan tensions, some Senators said.
�I do think 36 hours with no sleep and the orchestration of a repeat debate of what we just got through two months ago weighed heavily on everybody,� Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said. �It was what it was, but there�s a lot of frustration. It�s a good time for a four-week break.�
Senate Republicans said the clearest evidence that the chamber�s traditional comity has evaporated is in Reid�s repeated decisions to prohibit GOP Senators from giving short speeches when they object to his unanimous consent requests. Reid first began using the tactic against a handful of GOP conservatives during last month�s bitterly fought immigration reform debate.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the most recent victim of that tactic, gave an indignant speech on the floor Wednesday to protest what he said was Reid�s lack of respect for fellow Senators.
Though Specter acknowledged that Senate rules do not afford lawmakers the right to give speeches following unanimous consent requests, the veteran Pennsylvania moderate said, �It has been common practice in this body to allow a Senator who reserves the right to object to make a statement as to why the objection is being lodged.�
Specter went on to ominously state that Reid�s insistence on the rules could come back to haunt him.
�Those practices I think are not only rude, but dictatorial,� he said. �And if those technical rules are applied � and any one of us can do it � this body will cease to function.�
Republican sources said that beyond Specter, both Lott and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) were taken aback this week when they were denied recognition typically afforded the minority. Lott and Specter � Senators who often work with Reid and Democrats on the floor and on legislation � were particularly incensed with what they viewed as Reid�s disregard of Senate decorum and protocol.
Specter said that Lott declined Reid�s offer to publicly apologize.
One senior Republican aide said Reid � by refusing to allow GOP Senators the opportunity to answer him when addressed � sent a clear signal to the minority of, �To heck with you, your views don�t matter.�
�Not only is violating common courtesy unlike him, it�s not conducive to running the Senate in an effective manner,� the aide said of Reid.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who led the GOP debate on the Defense measure, said what occurred over the course of the past two days � and the past two weeks � demonstrated that the �climate here is very bad� and is �part of the whole environment� of the Senate these days. The Iraq War is just one factor contributing to the heightened partisanship in the chamber, McCain added.
But it isn�t just Republicans who are complaining about the breakdown of the chamber�s otherwise civil atmosphere. Senate Democrats countered that they also have been on the receiving end of what they consider ungracious behavior by their GOP colleagues.
In what appeared to be a slap at Democrats on Wednesday, McConnell turned his back on Reid and the Democratic side of the chamber while speaking about the Democratic amendment to refocus the U.S. mission in Iraq.
McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said the Minority Leader was simply addressing his fellow Republicans as he often does when many are gathered in the chamber. More than 70 Senators � roughly half Republicans, half Democrats � were present for the post-vote debate.
But Senate Democrats have said repeatedly that they are being forced to use heavy-handed tactics because the minority refuses to adhere to the traditional courtesy of allowing the Majority Leader to conduct the bulk of the Senate�s business without first having to file procedural motions to limit debate. Republicans have objected to a little more than half of Reid�s requests to begin debate on both controversial and bipartisan bills, resulting in Reid having to file time-consuming cloture motions to cut off prospective filibusters.
�Who�s been asking for these cloture votes?� asked an exasperated Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). �Republicans.�
McConnell has �lost control of his caucus on this matter,� Durbin said of what he believes is McConnell�s inability to convince conservatives in the Republican Conference to pick their battles.
Reid spokesman Jim Manley declined to comment specifically on why Reid has been prohibiting GOP Senators from making short objection speeches, but he indicated that Democrats need to fight back against the GOP�s blocking strategy.
�It�s become pretty evident in recent weeks that there�s been a decision by the Republican leadership to block the Senate from doing all but the most routine and noncontroversial legislation,� Manley said.
Meanwhile, debate on the Defense bill has stopped for the time being, with Reid saying he would bring it back up once it is possible to �pass a Defense authorization bill, but with a deadline dealing with Iraq.�
For the moment, Democrats have been able to put a lock on the Republicans� procedural objections by bringing up a higher education reconciliation bill that is privileged under the rules and cannot be filibustered. But that measure was taken up only after Republicans blocked Reid from quickly beginning debate on a Homeland Security spending bill.
Reid has tasked Durbin with negotiating a deal with Lott, McCain and Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) on how to resume consideration of the Defense measure.
However, McCain questioned whether the DOD bill would rear its head again in the next two weeks: �Without a certain level of cooperation it�s almost impossible. It will be difficult to make it out in time, make it out by August. And the fiscal year ends the first of October.�
Though tensions between Democrats and Republicans have been festering since the beginning of the 110th Congress, this week�s Senate debate on the Iraq War has pushed the chamber to a new level of partisan acrimony, where even the most seasoned and collegial of Senate elders have abandoned traditional acts of decorum.
�The Senate is spiraling into the ground to a degree that I have never seen before, and I�ve been here a long time,� Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-Miss.) said. �All modicum of courtesy has gone out the window.�
That statement came after a highly charged, all-night debate on a Democratic amendment to refocus the U.S. mission in Iraq and complete a troop drawdown by April 30, 2008. The amendment failed, 52-47, to get the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster, and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) cited the Republicans� �obstructionist� tactics in his decision to scrap the entire debate on the Defense Department authorization bill.
Reid�s insistence not only on having repeated votes this year on pulling out of Iraq but also on having the overnight session contributed to the explosion of partisan tensions, some Senators said.
�I do think 36 hours with no sleep and the orchestration of a repeat debate of what we just got through two months ago weighed heavily on everybody,� Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said. �It was what it was, but there�s a lot of frustration. It�s a good time for a four-week break.�
Senate Republicans said the clearest evidence that the chamber�s traditional comity has evaporated is in Reid�s repeated decisions to prohibit GOP Senators from giving short speeches when they object to his unanimous consent requests. Reid first began using the tactic against a handful of GOP conservatives during last month�s bitterly fought immigration reform debate.
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the most recent victim of that tactic, gave an indignant speech on the floor Wednesday to protest what he said was Reid�s lack of respect for fellow Senators.
Though Specter acknowledged that Senate rules do not afford lawmakers the right to give speeches following unanimous consent requests, the veteran Pennsylvania moderate said, �It has been common practice in this body to allow a Senator who reserves the right to object to make a statement as to why the objection is being lodged.�
Specter went on to ominously state that Reid�s insistence on the rules could come back to haunt him.
�Those practices I think are not only rude, but dictatorial,� he said. �And if those technical rules are applied � and any one of us can do it � this body will cease to function.�
Republican sources said that beyond Specter, both Lott and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) were taken aback this week when they were denied recognition typically afforded the minority. Lott and Specter � Senators who often work with Reid and Democrats on the floor and on legislation � were particularly incensed with what they viewed as Reid�s disregard of Senate decorum and protocol.
Specter said that Lott declined Reid�s offer to publicly apologize.
One senior Republican aide said Reid � by refusing to allow GOP Senators the opportunity to answer him when addressed � sent a clear signal to the minority of, �To heck with you, your views don�t matter.�
�Not only is violating common courtesy unlike him, it�s not conducive to running the Senate in an effective manner,� the aide said of Reid.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who led the GOP debate on the Defense measure, said what occurred over the course of the past two days � and the past two weeks � demonstrated that the �climate here is very bad� and is �part of the whole environment� of the Senate these days. The Iraq War is just one factor contributing to the heightened partisanship in the chamber, McCain added.
But it isn�t just Republicans who are complaining about the breakdown of the chamber�s otherwise civil atmosphere. Senate Democrats countered that they also have been on the receiving end of what they consider ungracious behavior by their GOP colleagues.
In what appeared to be a slap at Democrats on Wednesday, McConnell turned his back on Reid and the Democratic side of the chamber while speaking about the Democratic amendment to refocus the U.S. mission in Iraq.
McConnell spokesman Don Stewart said the Minority Leader was simply addressing his fellow Republicans as he often does when many are gathered in the chamber. More than 70 Senators � roughly half Republicans, half Democrats � were present for the post-vote debate.
But Senate Democrats have said repeatedly that they are being forced to use heavy-handed tactics because the minority refuses to adhere to the traditional courtesy of allowing the Majority Leader to conduct the bulk of the Senate�s business without first having to file procedural motions to limit debate. Republicans have objected to a little more than half of Reid�s requests to begin debate on both controversial and bipartisan bills, resulting in Reid having to file time-consuming cloture motions to cut off prospective filibusters.
�Who�s been asking for these cloture votes?� asked an exasperated Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). �Republicans.�
McConnell has �lost control of his caucus on this matter,� Durbin said of what he believes is McConnell�s inability to convince conservatives in the Republican Conference to pick their battles.
Reid spokesman Jim Manley declined to comment specifically on why Reid has been prohibiting GOP Senators from making short objection speeches, but he indicated that Democrats need to fight back against the GOP�s blocking strategy.
�It�s become pretty evident in recent weeks that there�s been a decision by the Republican leadership to block the Senate from doing all but the most routine and noncontroversial legislation,� Manley said.
Meanwhile, debate on the Defense bill has stopped for the time being, with Reid saying he would bring it back up once it is possible to �pass a Defense authorization bill, but with a deadline dealing with Iraq.�
For the moment, Democrats have been able to put a lock on the Republicans� procedural objections by bringing up a higher education reconciliation bill that is privileged under the rules and cannot be filibustered. But that measure was taken up only after Republicans blocked Reid from quickly beginning debate on a Homeland Security spending bill.
Reid has tasked Durbin with negotiating a deal with Lott, McCain and Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) on how to resume consideration of the Defense measure.
However, McCain questioned whether the DOD bill would rear its head again in the next two weeks: �Without a certain level of cooperation it�s almost impossible. It will be difficult to make it out in time, make it out by August. And the fiscal year ends the first of October.�
upuaut8
10-11 12:24 AM
It will import Adobe Illustrator files. I know that for sure.. that and as mentioned about 3ds files. I really don't know if it will do any others.
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