Senators reject biometric tracking in immigration reform

A traveler uses a biometric scanner at the George H.W. Bush Intercontinental Airport in 2008. (Dave Einsel/Getty …

A bipartisan group of senators voted against adding a biometric system to the sweeping immigration reform bill that would ensure people on tourist, student and other temporary visas leave the country when they are supposed to. The failed amendment was one of the most controversial additions to the bill considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee at Tuesday's hearing.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, a Republican from Alabama, backed the amendment that would have required the government to use fingerprints and other biometric data to track visitors when they leave the country at airports and other ports of exit. Democrats, including Sens. Chuck Schumer and Dick Durbin, argued the system would be too expensive to implement. It was voted down 6-12, with two Republicans joining the 10 Democrats in opposing it. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina who helped draft the original bill, said he opposed the amendment because the government hasn't shown "the will or the desire" to implement the system, and he doubted including it in the bill would change that.

Despite some conservative opposition to the immigration bill, attempts to significantly alter the bill have failed in the committee mark-up process so far.

The current immigration reform bill seeks to legalize most of the 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the country and prevent future illegal immigration though an employment verification system and more border security measures. About 40 percent of the unauthorized immigrants currently in the country entered legally and then overstayed their visas, which Sessions argued raises national security concerns.

After the Sept. 11 attacks, Congress passed a bill mandating that the government institute a biometric tracking system for people on temporary, nonimmigrant visas such as for tourism. Twelve years later, the system still hasn't been implemented due to cost and other complications.

The Department of Homeland Security estimated it would cost up to $6.4 billion to implement a biometric tracking system in the nation's airports, according to a report in USA Today. It's unclear how much it would cost to install similar technology in the country's land ports, where nearly 80 percent of people enter the United States.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., said at the hearing that he was concerned that requiring the biometric system would delay the citizenship process for the 11 million unauthorized immigrants who will benefit from the bill. The amendment said none of those immigrants would be able to apply for citizenship before the biometric system was put in place. The current bill lays out a 10-year waiting period for citizenship for the group.

A spokesman for Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida and a member of the "Gang of Eight" that drafted the bill, told The Hill he was "disappointed" with the vote, and that he would try to reintroduce it once senators begin debating the bill on the Senate floor.

Another rejected amendment, introduced by Sessions on Tuesday, sought to significantly reduce future legal immigration. Sessions argued it would help the American economy to keep legal immigration numbers down. All of Sessions' colleagues on the committee, Republican and Democrat, voted against the measure.

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Hole-in-one as Obama golfs with 3 senators

WASHINGTON (AP) — So much for overshadowing your rivals, Mr. President.

Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss didn't seem fazed by a rare congressional invitation to golf with President Barack Obama Monday, sinking a hole-in-one on the par-three 11th hole. The ace shot helped lead Chambliss and GOP teammate Sen. Bob Corker or Tennessee to victory over the Democratic duo of Obama and Colorado Sen. Mark Udall on an outing meant to strengthen ties between the president and Congress.

Chambliss told reporters upon his triumphant return to Capitol Hill that "everyone went crazy" when he made the shot and there were high-fives all around. The president retrieved the Chambliss' ball from the hole, while Corker took a picture.

"I told him since I made the hole-in-one, he ought to give us everything we want on entitlement reform," Chambliss said with a smile. That's Washington speak for legislation to change benefits like Social Security and Medicare.

Obama took the senators to a favorite course at Maryland's Andrews Air Force Base, where he frequently plays on weekends with aides and friends. He once took along House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and has also included Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., but this was his first outing with any lawmaker in his second term.

The afternoon game added a recreational twist to Obama's months-long effort to strengthen ties with lawmakers, hoping some quality face time now can lay the groundwork for compromise on pressing issues down the road.

The foursome played under overcast skies that seemed to threaten rain that never came. Their game was cut short on the 15th hole so the senators could get back for a vote to allow states to tax Internet sales. The casually-dressed lawmakers had to rush in and shout their votes from the Senate's cloakroom since they did not have time to put on ties that are required in the chamber.

Corker said they agreed not to say much about what happened on the course, other than Chambliss' ace shot. "We talked a little business but mostly enjoyed just being out there," Corker said.

The White House noted that the president was the weakest golfer in the group, with the highest handicap, and paired with fellow Democrat Udall, who had to the lowest handicap. All three of the senators were ranked among the top 40 on Golf Digest's 2011 list of "Washington's Top 150 Golfers."

Obama, wearing a windbreaker and cap, chatted casually with the lawmakers in view of the reporters on the first green. The White House said the talk centered on their game and not the latest legislative negotiations.

The White House and Democrats are working to secure support for an immigration overhaul — especially from Republicans. They're hoping that a strong bipartisan showing in the Senate will strengthen the bill's prospects for passing the Republican-controlled House. Obama is also hoping to find common ground with lawmakers that could lead to a broad budget deal.

Corker and Chambliss figure prominently on fiscal issues and also are being eyed as possible supporters on an immigration bill. Udall has a reputation for working across party lines and could be a player in bipartisan negotiations.

In recent weeks Obama has entertained senators from both parties at the White House, held dinners at a nearby hotel, traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and made countless phone calls.

"He's willing to try anything," said White House press secretary Jay Carney. "Whether it's a conversation on the phone or a meeting at the Oval Office, or dinner at a restaurant or dinner at the residence, he's going to have the same kinds of conversations."

Chambliss, who says he golfs 30 to 40 times a year, said he made another hole-in-one more than 20 years ago, but "this one's pretty special." He said he used a 5-iron and choked up on his club but couldn't tell if he sunk it.

Once Chambliss confirmed it was in the hole, there were high-fives all around, he said. The players all signed the flag for him.

Chambliss, who plans to retire next year, said he will frame the ball and the flag. "If my children want it one of these days, they can get it. Otherwise it will probably be in the nursing home with my wife and me," he said.

___

Associated Press writers Josh Lederman, Andrew Miga and Henry C. Jackson contributed to this report.

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10 senators to watch in the background check debate

Constitution Daily looks at the possible Senate swing votes on the contentious issue of background checks for some gun purchases, and the key players in the floor debate.

The Senate might start the debate over a background check compromise proposed last week by two senators, Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey, on Tuesday. That will mark the start of the official public debate over an issue that many see as the most meaningful change in a series of measures proposed after the Sandy Hook shootings.

Three other measures are currently seen as having a good chance of passing in the Senate: tougher measures against “straw” purchasers of guns used in crimes; more efforts to divert resources to mental health programs; and more funding for security for schools.

Currently, the Democrats have 53 votes in the Senate and two independent senators who usually vote with the Democrats. Most likely, 60 votes will be needed for any amendment to be added to legislation.

Two factors complicate the process: Some Democrats could split from the caucus, based on how they feel the issue affects their constituents, and any bill passed by the Senate still needs to be approved by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

Three Democrats, Mark Begich, Heidi Heitkamp, and Mark Pryor, may not vote in favor of the Manchin-Toomey amendment. So the Democrats would need to get eight GOP senators to make up the difference.

Based on the reports coming out of Washington, here are the senators to watch as this very public discussion over the Second Amendment unravels this week.

1. Majority Leader Harry Reid. It will be up to Reid to manage the amendment process in the House and how (and when) votes are taken. With a filibuster and numerous other amendments possible, Reid will have the final say on how key parts of the debate proceed.

2. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The Republican from Kentucky doesn’t support background checks in their current form. If McConnell changes his stance, possibly from the introduction of a rival background check proposed by a GOP senator, it could present some Democrats with a dilemma.

3. Max Baucus. The Democratic senator from Montana didn’t vote to block the gun control bill from going to the full Senate, but said he wouldn’t support it in the end. He didn’t comment on the Manchin-Toomey amendment.

4. Mary Landrieu. The Louisiana Democrat is expected to have a tough re-election battle. She told CNN recently that she supported background checks in theory but would vote to reflect her constituents’ wishes.

5. Susan Collins. The Maine Republican said over the weekend that she will vote to support the Manchin-Toomey background check amendment.

6. John McCain. The former presidential candidate from Arizona is on the fence and has supported background checks in the past. If McCain endorses the Manchin-Toomey amendment, he could bring several other Republicans with him.

7. Tom Coburn. The senator from Oklahoma has proposed an alternative amendment that would greatly limit record-keeping and give states the option to expand enforcement. Senator John Thune is rumored to be the lawmaker who will introduce the Coburn amendment.

8. Mark Kirk. The Illinois Republican publicly supported the Manchin-Toomey amendment last week, giving the bill another GOP vote.

9. Kay Hagan. The first-term North Carolina Democrat is being targeted in an ad campaign from Michael Bloomberg’s anti-gun group. She has publicly supported background checks, but she also comes from a state that went to Mitt Romney in the 2012 election.

10. Pat Toomey. The Pennsylvania senator’s late entrance into bipartisan negotiations over background checks helped craft a compromise with Joe Manchin. Toomey is also making the rounds on news talk shows to discuss the amendment.

To be sure, other senators will have a public, vocal role in the debate process, from Democrat Chuck Schumer to Republicans Rand Paul and Ted Cruz. But the vote could come down to a bipartisan effort to influence some of the GOP members who opposed a filibuster, including Kelly Ayotte, Jeff Flake, and Dean Heller.

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The 6 ways senators say 'I now support gay marriage' (interactive)

Since Joe Biden blurted out his support for same-sex marriage nearly a year ago, 23 U.S. Senators have formally endorsed it in statements or interviews.

These "I now support same-sex marriage" statements have a certain mechanical poetry. The speaker is admitting that at some previous point, he or she did not. I think the penal implications of flip-flopping have been sufficiently lamented, but let's at least acknowledge the point: These are politicians going out of their way to emphasize that they have changed their minds.

Some go further than others. Claire McCaskill wrote a four-paragraph blog post that meditated on the difficulties of the decision and called on Corinthians for an assist. When South Dakota Democrat Tim Johnson issued his reversal on Monday, he did so in 37 words that begin: "After lengthy consideration, my views have evolved sufficiently to support marriage equality legislation."

It's easy to find common themes running through these messages. McCaskill, Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and Tom Carper, D-Del., all cite the influence of conversations with their families and friends. Hagan and a few others cite their religion.

I found six themes in reading through all the statements. They are as follows, with examples:

Love is all you need. See Tom Udall, D-N.M.:

"Two people, who are committed to one another, who love one another, should not be denied the fundamental right of marriage, or the legal rights that marriage includes."

Marriage is a civil right. See Biden:

"I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties."

I've evolved. See Mark Warner, D-Va.:

"Like many Virginians and Americans, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and this is the inevitable extension of my efforts to promote equality and opportunity for everyone."

My faith supports it. See Hagan:

"But after much thought and prayer on my part, this is   where I am today."

It's right for Democracy. Udall again:

"Our Constitution enshrines the principle of equality – equal rights for all."

Some of my best friends… Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.:

"In talking with my children and grandchildren, it has become clear to me they take marriage equality as a given."

What follows is a list of every statement made since Biden's, including President Barack Obama's and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's, coded by which of the six major themes I found. This list does not include the 34 current senators who had already confirmed their support by the time Biden did, since they typically did so with less fanfare.

 

The "I've evolved" category is interesting not only because of the flip-flop implications. Many people are changing their minds on this subject, as pollsters discover again and again. It is not only the handful of Democratic senators who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act who seem to feel the need to emphasize that this is a phase shift. The implication, I think, is that—unlike war, health care, abortion, deficit reduction, tax hikes, a chained-CPI model of social security, Gitmo, immigration reform, assault weapon bans and climate change—unlike virtually everything else, gay marriage is one topic on which it's politically acceptable to change your mind.

View the original article here

The 6 ways senators say 'I now support gay marriage' (interactive)

Since Joe Biden blurted out his support for same-sex marriage last May, 23 U.S. Senators have formally endorsed it in statements or interviews.

These "I now support same-sex marriage" statements have a certain mechanical poetry. The speaker is admitting that at some previous point, he or she did not. I think the penal implications of flip-flopping have been sufficiently lamented, but let's at least acknowledge the point: These are politicians going out of their way to emphasize that they have changed their minds.

Some go further than others. Claire McCaskill wrote a four-paragraph blog post that meditated on the difficulties of the decision and called on Corinthians for an assist. When South Dakota Democrat Tim Johnson issued his reversal on Monday, he did so in 37 words that begin: "After lengthy consideration, my views have evolved sufficiently to support marriage equality legislation."

It's easy to find common themes running through these messages. McCaskill, Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and Tom Carper, D-Del., all cite the influence of conversations with their families and friends. Hagan and a few others cite their religion.

I found six themes in reading through all the statements. They are as follows, with examples:

Love is all you need. See Tom Udall, D-N.M.:

"Two people, who are committed to one another, who love one another, should not be denied the fundamental right of marriage, or the legal rights that marriage includes."

Marriage is a civil right. See Biden:

"I am absolutely comfortable with the fact that men marrying men, women marrying women, and heterosexual men and women marrying another are entitled to the same exact rights, all the civil rights, all the civil liberties."

I've evolved. See Mark Warner, D-Va.:

"Like many Virginians and Americans, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and this is the inevitable extension of my efforts to promote equality and opportunity for everyone."

My faith supports it. See Hagan:

"But after much thought and prayer on my part, this is   where I am today."

It's right for Democracy. Udall again:

"Our Constitution enshrines the principle of equality – equal rights for all."

Some of my best friends… Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV):

"In talking with my children and grandchildren, it has become clear to me they take marriage equality as a given."

What follows is a list of every statement made since Biden's, including President Barack Obama's and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's, coded by which of the six major themes I found. This list does not include the 34 current senators who had already confirmed their support by the time Biden did, since they typically did so with less fanfare.

 

The "I've evolved" category is interesting not only because of the flip-flop implications. Many people are changing their minds on this subject, as pollsters discover again and again. It is not only those handful of Democratic senators who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act who seem to feel the need to emphasize that this is a phase shift. The implication, I think, is that—unlike war, health care, abortion, deficit reduction, tax hikes, a chained-CPI model of social security, Gitmo, immigration reform, assault weapon bans and climate change—unlike virtually everything else, gay marriage is one topic on which it's politically acceptable to change your mind.

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Dem, GOP senators work on background check deal

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate aides say a Democratic and a Republican senator are working on a compromise expanding required federal background checks to gun shows and to online firearms sales.

If an agreement could be completed, it could represent a significant breakthrough in the effort by President Barack Obama and his allies to restrict guns in the wake of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., that killed 26 first-graders and staff last December.

The aides said the potential deal is being worked on by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Manchin is a moderate with an A rating from the National Rifle Association, while Toomey has solid conservative credentials.

The aides spoke on condition of anonymity to disclose private negotiations.

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Immigration bill expected this week, senators say

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill to overhaul the immigration system would likely be completed by the end of this week, two senior senators said on Sunday.

Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York said that senators in the bipartisan "Group of Eight" have resolved all major issues in a pending deal and that their staffs are putting the bill into legislative language.

"All of us have said that they'll be no deal until the eight of us agree to a big, specific bill, but hopefully we can get that done by the end of the week," he said on CBS's "Face the Nation" program.

"There have been kerfuffles along the way, but each one of those thus far has been settled," said Schumer, a member of the group, which has four Democrats and four Republicans.

All eight members must then review the legislative language, he said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the biggest U.S. business group, and the AFL-CIO, the largest labor federation, reached an elusive agreement on a guest-worker program late last month, clearing the way for the writing of a full bill.

The legislation will include an earned pathway to U.S. citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants, bolstered border security and ways for business to meet the need for both high-skilled and low-skilled workers.

Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, appearing with Schumer, agreed that a bill would be ready soon and said the legislation would address the needs of both business and labor with a guest-worker program.

"We need to have a path to citizenship, and we need to have secure borders .... And we also have to have a robust guest-worker program so people will not hire someone who is here illegally," McCain said.

A bipartisan group from the Republican-led House of Representatives is working on its own version of immigration reform.

If the Senate and House bills pass their respective chambers, they would have to be reconciled before a final version is voted on and then sent to President Barack Obama for signing into law.

The Gang of Eight in the Democratic-led Senate had initially planned to have a bill by the end of March.

(Writing by Philip Barbara; Editing by Eric Beech)

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Mayors Against Illegal Guns To Deliver 1.75 Million Petitions Demanding Action On Gun Violence To U.S. Senators Tomorrow; 43,634 Petitions Will Be Hand-Delivered in Ohio

43,634 Petitions Will Be Hand-Delivered to Senator Portman; Survivors and Advocates to Call on Senators to Support Commonsense Reforms When They Return to Washington Next Week; www.DemandAction.org

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

NEW YORK, April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 1.75 million petitions demanding political leaders take action to prevent gun violence will be delivered to Senators in all 50 states tomorrow.  Tens of thousands of these petitions – including 43,634 to Senator Portman – will be hand-delivered at petition drop-off events across the country where gun violence survivors, law enforcement officials faith leaders and others will urge Senators to support commonsense gun reforms when they return to Washington next week.  The petition can be viewed here: www.DemandAction.org/Petition

As national lawmakers have been back in their home states and districts on recess the past two weeks, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has continued its push for sensible gun laws by airing ads in key states featuring a gun owner, Newtown families and highlighting the disturbing link between weak gun laws and violence against women.  The coalition also organized more than 140 events across the country featuring mayors, faith leaders, moms, law enforcement officials, gun violence survivors and family members of victims who spoke out about the need for comprehensive and enforceable background checks.  These activities are part of the largest field campaign in U.S. history to address gun violence.  The coalition recently announced that it has hired organizers and opened campaign offices in ten key states. 

List of petition delivery events happening in Ohio on Friday, April 5:

Cincinnati
What:   Petition Delivery to Senator Portman (43,634 Petitions)
Who:    Moms Demand Action, faith leaders and community members
When:  Thursday, April 4, 11:00 AM
Where: Senator Portman's Office, 520 Vine Street

Columbus
What:   Petition Delivery to Senator Brown (43,634 Petitions)
Who:    Moms Demand Action and community members
When:  3:30 PM
Where: Senator Brown's Office, Sensenbrenner Park, 261 N. High Street

About Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Since its creation in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 members to more than 900 mayors from across the country. We have more than 1.5 million grassroots supporters, making us the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country.  The bipartisan coalition, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, has united the nation's mayors around these common goals: protecting communities by holding gun offenders accountable; demanding access to crime gun trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat gun trafficking; and working with legislators to fix weaknesses and loopholes in the law that make it far too easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get guns.  Learn more at www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org

CONTACTS
Erika Soto Lamb: esotolamb@rabengroup.com or 646-580-5281
Alex Katz: akatz1@cityhall.nyc.gov or 617-721-3779

SOURCE Mayors Against Illegal Guns

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Mayors Against Illegal Guns To Deliver 1.75 Million Petitions Demanding Action On Gun Violence To U.S. Senators Tomorrow; 6,391 Petitions Will Be Hand-Delivered in Maine

6,391 Petitions Will Be Hand-Delivered to Senator King; Survivors and Advocates to Call on Senators to Support Commonsense Reforms When They Return to Washington Next Week; www.DemandAction.org

***MEDIA ADVISORY***

NEW YORK, April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 1.75 million petitions demanding political leaders take action to prevent gun violence will be delivered to Senators in all 50 states tomorrow.  Tens of thousands of these petitions – including 6,391 to Senator King – will be hand-delivered at petition drop-off events across the country where gun violence survivors, law enforcement officials faith leaders and others will urge Senators to support commonsense gun reforms when they return to Washington next week.   The petition can be viewed here: www.DemandAction.org/Petition

As national lawmakers have been back in their home states and districts on recess the past two weeks, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has continued its push for sensible gun laws by airing ads in key states featuring a gun owner, Newtown families and highlighting the disturbing link between weak gun laws and violence against women.  The coalition also organized more than 140 events across the country featuring mayors, faith leaders, moms, law enforcement officials, gun violence survivors and family members of victims who spoke out about the need for comprehensive and enforceable background checks.  These activities are part of the largest field campaign in U.S. history to address gun violence.  The coalition recently announced that it has hired organizers and opened campaign offices in ten key states. 

Petition delivery event happening in Maine on Friday, April 5:

Portland
What:   Petition Delivery to Senator King (6,391 Petitions)
Who:    Judi and Wayne Richardson, parents of Darien Richardson
When:  2:30 PM
Where: Senator King's Office, 2 Canal Plaza

About Mayors Against Illegal Guns

Since its creation in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 members to more than 900 mayors from across the country. We have more than 1.5 million grassroots supporters, making us the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country.  The bipartisan coalition, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, has united the nation's mayors around these common goals: protecting communities by holding gun offenders accountable; demanding access to crime gun trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat gun trafficking; and working with legislators to fix weaknesses and loopholes in the law that make it far too easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get guns.  Learn more at www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org

CONTACTS
Erika Soto Lamb: esotolamb@rabengroup.com or 646-580-5281
Alex Katz: akatz1@cityhall.nyc.gov or 617-721-3779

SOURCE Mayors Against Illegal Guns

View the original article here

Mayors Against Illegal Guns To Deliver 1.75 Million Petitions Demanding Action On Gun Violence To U.S. Senators Tomorrow; 25,988 Petitions Will Be Hand-Delivered in Arizona

25,988 Petitions Will Be Hand-Delivered to Senator Flake and Senator McCain; Survivors and Advocates to Call on Senators to Support Commonsense Reforms When They Return to Washington Next Week; www.DemandAction.org

NEW YORK, April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 1.75 million petitions demanding political leaders take action to prevent gun violence will be delivered to Senators in all 50 states tomorrow.  Tens of thousands of these petitions – including 25,988 to Senators Flake and McCain – will be hand-delivered at petition drop-off events across the country where gun violence survivors, law enforcement officials faith leaders and others will urge Senators to support commonsense gun reforms when they return to Washington next week.   The petition can be viewed here: www.DemandAction.org/Petition

As national lawmakers have been back in their home states and districts on recess the past two weeks, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has continued its push for sensible gun laws by airing ads in key states featuring a gun owner, Newtown families and highlighting the disturbing link between weak gun laws and violence against women.  The coalition also organized more than 140 events across the country featuring mayors, faith leaders, moms, law enforcement officials, gun violence survivors and family members of victims who spoke out about the need for comprehensive and enforceable background checks.  These activities are part of the largest field campaign in U.S. history to address gun violence.  The coalition recently announced that it has hired organizers and opened campaign offices in ten key states. 

List of petition delivery events happening in Arizona on Friday, April 5 (all times local):

Phoenix
What:   Petition Delivery to Senator Flake (25,988 Petitions)
Who:    Alex Teves, father of son Alex Teves who was gunned down in Aurora theater shooting
Pat Maisch, Tucson shooting survivor
Morgan Abraham, University of Arizona Student Body President
Chris Kitaeff, licensed firearms dealer, Arizonians for Gun Safety board member
Ellen Davis, concerned Arizonan
When:  10:00 AM
Where: Outside of Senator Flake's office, 2200 E. Camelback Road, Suite 120

Tucson
What:   Petition Delivery to Senator McCain (25,988 Petitions)
Who:    Ken Dorushka, Tucson shooting survivor
Nancy Bowman, Tucson shooting survivor
Daniel Hernandez, Jr., Tucson shooting survivor
When: 10:00 AM
Where: Outside of Senator McCain's office, 407 W Congress St. #103

Tucson
What:   Petition Delivery to Senator Flake (25,988 Petitions)
Who:    Ken Dorushka, Tucson shooting survivor
Nancy Bowman, Tucson shooting survivor
Daniel Hernandez, Jr., Tucson shooting survivor
When:  3:30 PM
Where: Outside of Senator Flakes's office, 6840 Oracle Road, Suite 150

About Mayors Against Illegal Guns
Since its creation in April 2006, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has grown from 15 members to more than 900 mayors from across the country. We have more than 1.5 million grassroots supporters, making us the largest gun violence prevention advocacy organization in the country.  The bipartisan coalition, co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, has united the nation's mayors around these common goals: protecting communities by holding gun offenders accountable; demanding access to crime gun trace data that is critical to law enforcement efforts to combat gun trafficking; and working with legislators to fix weaknesses and loopholes in the law that make it far too easy for criminals and other dangerous people to get guns.  Learn more at www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org

CONTACTS
Erika Soto Lamb: esotolamb@rabengroup.com or 646-580-5281
Alex Katz: akatz1@cityhall.nyc.gov or 617-721-3779

SOURCE Mayors Against Illegal Guns

View the original article here

Mayors Against Illegal Guns To Deliver 1.75 Million Petitions Demanding Action On Gun Violence To U.S. Senators Tomorrow; 39,259 Petitions Will Be Hand-Delivered in North Carolina

Obama, GOP senators plan a second dinner

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is keeping up his congressional charm offensive, with a second dinner with Senate Republicans planned for next month.

Obama dined with a dozen GOP senators earlier this month at a hotel near the White House. The dinner was aimed in part at seeing whether the parties could restart talks on a grand budget bargain that has eluded them throughout Obama's presidency.

The president arranged next month's dinner during a phone call with Georgia's Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson. The senator is putting together the guest list for the April 10 outing.

Obama followed up his first dinner with three straight days of visits to Capitol Hill for separate meetings with Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate.

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Next step in Obama charm offensive: Dinner with Republican senators

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will launch a new round of schmoozing with his political opponents when he sits down to dinner with a dozen Republican senators on April 10.

Obama has been trying to gain Republican cooperation on a host of items on his second-term agenda including a deficit-reduction package, an overhaul of U.S. immigration laws and a tightening of gun regulations.

Criticized in his first term for keeping his opponents at arms-length, Obama is taking a different tack in the early months of his second term.

He and a group of Republican senators had dinner at a Washington hotel earlier this month and the president then visited Capitol Hill to talk to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

The April 10 dinner is being organized by Republican Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia, according to Isakson's office and a White House official.

(Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Paul Simao)

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Senators Abandon 'Discriminatory' DOMA Before Supreme Court Arguments

Three Democratic senators have reversed their stance on the Defense of Marriage Act in the past three days before the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the law that limits marriage to one man and one woman.

Sens. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., John "Jay" Rockefeller, D-W.V., and Mark Warner, D-Va., said today and Sunday that they no longer support a federal law banning gay marriage. The Supreme Court plans to hear oral arguments in a case challenging that law Wednesday, after it considers a law banning same-sex marriage in California Tuesday.

McCaskill made the announcement on her Tumblr blog Sunday.

"I have come to the conclusion that our government should not limit the right to marry based on who you love. While churches should never be required to conduct marriages outside of their religious beliefs, neither should the government tell people who they have a right to marry," McCaskill wrote. "Good people disagree with me. On the other hand, my children have a hard time understanding why this is even controversial. I think history will agree with my children."

McCaskill refused to take a hard stance on the issue in response to President Obama's coming out in favor of gay marriage in May, according to the Springfield, Mo.-based News Leader. The paper reported that she supported civil unions but had expressed opposition to same-sex marriage.

She was in good company. Only two Democrats in competitive Senate races publicly supported the president after his announcement.

Rockefeller was not facing re-election in 2012, but he would be next year if he were running again. The senator from West Virginia said in January that he plans to retire at the end of his term, leaving him just shy of three decades in office.

His statement today largely echoed McCaskill's.

"Like so many of my generation, my views on allowing gay couples to marry have been challenged in recent years by a new, more open generation. Churches and ministers should never have to perform marriages that violate their religious beliefs, but the government shouldn't discriminate against people who want to marry just because of their gender," Rockefeller said in a statement emailed to ABC News today.

"Younger people in West Virginia and even my own children have grown up in a much more equal society and they rightly push us to question old assumptions - to think deeply about what it means for all Americans to be created equal. This has been a process for me, but at this point I think it's clear that DOMA is discriminatory. I'm against discrimination in all its forms, and I think we can move forward in our progress toward true equality by repealing DOMA."

Rockefeller voted for DOMA when it passed under President Clinton in 1996. But in 2004, he voted against an amendment to the Constitution banning same-sex marriage, saying both his state and federal government already had laws limiting marriage to one man and one woman.

"I have heard from many West Virginians who are worried about morality in America," Rockefeller wrote after that vote. "They want to be sure that marriage is protected for themselves and for their children. I myself am not comfortable with same-sex marriage, and I want to assure every West Virginian that our definition of marriage - and our right to define marriage as we believe it - is not in jeopardy."

Sen. Warner announced his change of heart in a statement on his Facebook page.

"I support marriage equality because it is the fair and right thing to do," he reportedly wrote. "Like many Virginians and Americans, my views on gay marriage have evolved, and this is the inevitable extension of my efforts to promote equality and opportunity for everyone.

"I believe we should continue working to expand equal rights and opportunities for all Americans."

The three Senate Democrats join a long list of Republicans who have changed their minds about DOMA, many of whom now embrace the concept of gay marriage.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, announced that he supports gay marriage, which followed his son's saying that he is gay. Several other politicians have referenced personal encounters with gay and lesbian family members as leading them to rethink their stances on the issue.

More than 80 upper-level Republicans also signed their support for same-sex marriage in an amicus brief for the Supreme Court last month.

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