Immigration votes tell about Grassley

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has an important role in the negotiations on an immigration reform bill.

Last month, the proposed bill was reported out of the Judiciary Committee on a 13-5 vote making it possible for the bill to move to the Senate. Four of the “no” votes were those of Grassley and Sens. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah - all Republicans. The next step was a vote in the Senate on June 11 to move the bill to the debate and amendment process. Sixty aye votes were needed to continue to move the bill. At this point, Grassley again voted no.

The vote was 82-15 to continue debate. Every Senate Democrat voted yes as did two-thirds of the Republicans. Some of the “yes” votes may become “no” votes as the process continues. But there is a debate and there will be a vote on an immigration reform bill.

It would seem that Grassley is dead set against any immigration reform bill when he would not even vote yes to allow a bill to come up and be subjected to debate and amendments. Furthermore, he called Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida “naive” on a certain aspect of the bill (“Grassley says Rubio ‘naive' over immigration,” June 13). Wonder what term

could be applied to Grassley?

Solveig Moore

Williamsburg