Ending a tumultuous national debate — at least temporarily — senators Thursday rejected the controversial immigration reform bill.
Senators voted 46-53 to move the legislation on to final passage, 14 votes short of the 60 needed to end debate. The legislation would have provided a path to legal status for some 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. It likely will not re-emerge until after the 2008 elections, proponents and opponents believe.
Nursing home providers favored an aspect of the legislation that would have allowed temporary guest workers to enter the country. This measure would likely help alleviate a severe shortage of frontline workers, they reason.
