SA.3961, an amendment to S.2611, the bill currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate, would have prioritized the government’s response to the illegal immigration crisis. Presented by Johnny Isakson (R-GA), the amendment would have prohibited the Department of Homeland Security from implementing any guestworker program or granting amnesty as proposed by S.2611 unless the agency had certified that the bill’s border security measures and increases in Federal detention space had first been completed and were fully operational.

The amendment was defeated, 40-55, five not voting. (Vote details)

The following Republicans voted against strengthening the Senate bill in this manner:

Bennett (R-UT)
Brownback (R-KS)
Chafee (R-RI)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Craig (R-ID)
DeWine (R-OH)
Graham (R-SC)
Hagel (R-NE)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)

You should keep the votes of these folks in mind in their next election cycle. As I watch the proceedings in the Senate today, some of these same Senators are consistently and repeatedly working against the efforts of conservatives to strengthen the Senate bill and reduce its negative impact on our economy and our communities. 

The following Republicans failed to vote:

Cochran (R-MS)
Gregg (R-NH)
Lott (R-MS)
McCain (R-AZ)

Although I expect no better from Democrats, the following supported Isakson’s amendment:

Byrd (D-WV)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Nelson (D-NE)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Wyden (D-OR)