WASHINGTON – Illinois' U.S. Senator Mark Kirk was the only Republican to vote "No" on Louisiana Senator David Vitter's proposal known as "Kate's Law," earlier this week. Illinois' other Senator Dick Durbin also voted "No," effectively blocking the bill the 60 votes needed for the bill move forward.
One Democrat – Indiana's Senator Donnelly – voted with the Republicans to progress the bill.
The bill would impose a mandatory minimum jail sentence of five years for illegal immigrants convicted of re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony or have three strikes for trying to enter the country illegally.
Kirk's office did not issue a statement explaining his reasoning.
Senator Vitter addressed the need for the legislation on the Senate floor before the vote:
This is what one would expect.
Wonder where “amnesty Graham” was hiding?
Don’t you just love it when the Republican Establishment wants you to support “half-Republican” Mark Kirk, but they won’t back Trump?
Crazy! I received a message from Kirk claiming that he supported “Kate’s Law.” All of the roll call lists, however, indicate that he voted against it.
Does he even know what he is doing when he casts a vote?
I remain concerned with the number of repeat offenders of immigration law in the United States. In order to deter immigration offenders from subsequent reentry into the United States, I cosponsored and voted for Kate’s Law. This bill was written for Kate Steinle, who was shot and killed one year ago in San Francisco by an individual who was deported five times. The bill increases penalties for illegal reentry and creates a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for anyone who has previously been convicted of an aggravated felony or has been deported twice before.
The bill did not receive enough votes to overcome a filibuster in the Senate, but I will continue to advocate for this law and comprehensive reform to our immigration system.
Sincerely,
Senator Mark Kirk
Surely pandering to the illegal vote in Illinois.
Cannot wait for this embarrassment of a “Republican” to be gone this November. It’s better to have a Democrat that calls herself a Democrat than a RINO who stabs us in the back…
Completely agree.
The bright side, of course, is:
Once we retire him in November, Markie Kirkie and his BF Patty Brady will have much more free time to plan their big gay wedding.