Hagel (R-Ne) expects an OK on immigration bill

Reg req: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2277693

Published Friday
November 10, 2006

Hagel expects an OK on immigration bill

BY CHRISTOPHER BURBACH

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Sen. Chuck Hagel predicted Wednesday that the new Congress will pass a comprehensive immigration overhaul bill in the next session.

The Nebraska Republican had strongly criticized his fellow GOP lawmakers in September for failing to update immigration law. He said then that it would cost them in the midterm elections.

Congress later passed legislation to build a fence along 700 miles of the 2,100-mile U.S. border with Mexico. President Bush signed the bill, but Congress has not funded it.


Sen. Chuck Hagel

A more extensive bill - influenced by Hagel and favored by Bush - had passed the Senate 62-36, with bipartisan support. But it stalled when a handful of House Republicans blocked negotiations with the Senate.

FULL story at link above.