McConnell eyes 'bipartisan' illegals bill

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says Republicans are trying to craft a "bipartisan solution" to illegal immigration -- generating concern among party members who consider President Bush's goal to be amnesty.

Mr. McConnell, echoing Mr. Bush's optimism for overhauling immigration law to include citizenship opportunities for illegal aliens, said senators are trying to pull Republicans "together behind our proposal."

"There's a pretty broad desire to have an accomplishment, to do something, even among members who voted against final passage last year. There is still a lot of sentiment that a comprehensive bill would be the right thing to do," said Mr. McConnell, Kentucky Republican.

Mr. Bush last week told foreign leaders he sees reasons for optimism and said that "the mood in the Congress seems like it has changed" in favor of completing a broad bill that includes a path to citizenship -- the linchpin of an agreement he hopes to strike with congressional Democrats, who call it "earned legalization."

He said his goal is to have Senate Republicans settle on a "coherent" position first, then approach Senate Democrats, particularly Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, who likely will be the chief sponsor of the main Senate bill.

Mr. Kennedy said his bill will be based on the one the Senate passed last year when Republicans controlled Congress. That plan also provided for enhanced border security, a guest-worker program and a path to citizenship for illegal aliens.

House Republicans refused to vote on it, arguing that granting citizenship to illegals amounts to amnesty and a reward for law-breaking.

The House should be an easier sell for Mr. Bush this year, with Democrats now in control.

Some rank-and-file House Republicans worry their leaders will have a change of heart under pressure from the White House and support the Democrats.

"It is very disconcerting to me because I don't know where the leadership is on this," said Rep. Tom Tancredo, Colorado Republican and outspoken critic of amnesty for illegal aliens.