Sen. Ted Cruz calls immigration reform bill ‘almost utterly toothless’

http://twitter.com/#!/fshakir/status/336993242275008512

The Gang of Eight’s amnesty bill passed out of committee this evening by a vote of 13–5 after Sen. Patrick Leahy agreed to withdraw his amendment allowing American citizens in long-term same-sex relationships to sponsor their foreign partners or spouses for green cards.

http://twitter.com/#!/emilyprollcall/status/336977276145119232
http://twitter.com/#!/cphenicie/status/336977124177100800
http://twitter.com/#!/emilyprollcall/status/336977960064135169

Gang of Eight member Sen. Chuck Schumer also encouraged Leahy not to press the committee on the same-sex marriage amendment for fear of scuttling the bill in the full Senate.

http://twitter.com/#!/emilyprollcall/status/336980518165942272
http://twitter.com/#!/GabyPacheco1/status/336981131662602241
http://twitter.com/#!/emilyprollcall/status/336982116812345344

The bill is expected to head into debate on the Senate floor early next month.

http://twitter.com/#!/SenFeinstein/status/336996363910914048
http://twitter.com/#!/JeffFlake/status/336991974903119872
http://twitter.com/#!/SenJohnMcCain/status/336998572258123776

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz was one of the votes against the bill, claiming that it would incentivize future illegal immigration, calling it “almost utterly toothless with respect to the border.”

http://twitter.com/#!/stevebruskCNN/status/337001601640312832