July 2, 2007

ISSUE 1173

U.S. SENATE SHUTS DOWN IMMIGRATION REFORM

The Senate effectively shut down immigration reform legislation on June 28, voting to block a move to end debate on the bill. The vote fell 14 shy of the 60 needed to cut off an inevitable filibuster and move to a final vote.

Only 46 senators – 33 Democrats, 12 Republicans and 1 Independent – voted to advance the bill. A total of 15 Democrats, 37 Republicans and 1 Independent voted to block the legislation.

Senate leaders have said it would be difficult if not impossible to revive the bill again before the November 2008 presidential election.

“The effort to fix the immigration problem through a comprehensive bill is dead, and as a result nobody producing a labor-intense crop can be sure if they will have an adequate supply of workers during the harvest season, “ said Walter Kates, FFVA director, Labor Relations Division. “The danger now is that Congress may try to pass individual parts of the bill, such as increased interior enforcement, pre-employment document verification, and increased fines. And there’s also a high likelihood that the Department of Homeland Security will publish a rule on how employers should handle mismatched Social Security documents,” said Kates.

Supporters of the AGJobs portion of the package have indicated they may try to introduce that legislation as part of an upcoming appropriations bill.

U.S. SENATE SHUTS DOWN IMMIGRATION REFORM

GOVERNORS REMIND CONGRESS OF STATES’ FARM BILL PRIORITIES

TRADE COMMISSION DECISION FAVORS FLORIDA CITRUS GROWERS

SALES TAX EXEMPTION ON ELECTRICITY GOES INTO EFFECT

AGRITOURISM/ TRESPASS BILL SIGNED INTO LAW

AG INSTITUTE SEEKS CANDIDATES FOR “AG-VOCATE AWARD”

ONLINE CONVENTION REGISTRATION COMING