The Senate’s parliamentarian on Sunday night rejected a proposal by Democrats to include a pathway for millions of immigrants to become US citizens in the party’s $3.5 trillion spending plan.
Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate’s nonpartisan interpreter of its rules, said that the immigration proposal’s budget impact was outweighed by the policy impact it would have.
Language in legislation that’s presented under a special process that blocks a filibuster attempt should be removed if its budget impact is “merely incidental” to the provision’s overall policies, according to Senate rules.
The language blocked by MacDonough would have given “Dreamers” — undocumented immigrants brought into the country as minors — a chance at becoming citizens.
It also would have opened a doorway for citizenship for immigrants with Temporary Protected Status who’ve fled countries stricken by natural disasters or extreme violence; essential workers; and farm workers.
With Post wires