Title: Democratic Senate debate: Immigration laws

" Should the president says he's gonna take up immigration laws next year so presumably the next senator from Massachusetts would vote on an immigration law. Should illegal immigrants be given driver's license should illegal immigrants be covered by universal healthcare should illegal immigrants be covered by universal."

" Health care Peter let me tell you first and I believe I think that it is a disgrace. For that so long this country has let people come in to our cities and towns across the country. I paid taxes on be productive citizens send their kids to school and yet still cannot find a pathway to citizenship for those people I think that we have the moral. Obligation to do that it makes sense on every level. And my job as district attorney and his attorney general was to make sure that people were treated fairly regardless of what their citizenship status was. Until and unless we do that we are gonna continue to have. People in the shadows. Unable to opted. Bring their children not to be citizens we have not done our job there I think that's where the effort should be in the meantime. If people are by you know our victims. Employers. Who treat them unfairly we don't care what their citizenship as we stand up. For their rights we don't want people exploit -- we don't want people victimized we need a path to citizenship and I think that's where my efforts would be in the Senate as I believe senator Kennedy's would have been."

" Driver's license coverage of healthcare by -- for illegal immigrants and for illegal immigrants."

" These immigrants we have been covered now the governor has made every effort to do that. I believe that's appropriate to do so I am not in favor at this time because. Of giving it licenses to those who are undocumented I don't think that's the solution."

" It is this is personal for me my mother's side of the family similarly in my father's an immigrant from Iran. And I believe that we need to provide a path for citizenship for the undocumented workers that are in this country. I don't think and I think as we do that there are eleven million people on document in this country it's not feasible -- makes any sense try to send them home. So we have to provide them a path to citizenship we should provide health care for illegal immigrants. As they're on the path to citizenship then they can get access to these writes I don't think we should provide services to people who were here on document. But we need to bring them out of the -- we need to have better enforcement employers and we need to bring these people into our society."

" I think senator -- had it exactly right. We can't just handle one portion of the immigration issue we need eight thoughtful immigration. Policy and build from that. Including a path to citizenship including strong -- you need all three legs of that stool to having thoughtful intelligent immigration policy it is good. Put this country in lives up to law moral obligations of the world I know why am. I'm half Irish half Italian I'm very thankful on a regular basis that my ancestors -- Out of you'll luck getting to this country I know that I respect that I also don't -- the ladder up behind me for the next people coming. This country needs immigrants on a regular basis as we need them we should allow the mean and welcome. At the same time we should have strong borders so we keep we just can't absorb all the so we needed three legged stool on immigration Senator Kennedy had it exactly right. And we should get to this so and I wish we were doing it this year and not next. Driver's license coverage for illegal immigrants and legal immigrants -- false choices. Those -- the false choices that everybody wants to talk about those of the divisive issues in truth the truth is is that he's a thoughtful policy. Not piecemeal one step at a time reactionary commentary or reactionary actions the real answer is pro active involvement aggressive involvement. Getting to the table working on immigration policy that works -- this country so we can move one stop blaming immigrants all of our problems. As has been done the generations but what I but it's this -- if it's part of the package is being proposed to either outlaw Carlyle. It's time -- this package being -- if it is it's not it won't be because a package being proposed would deal with that. Thoughtful immigration policy and you we guarantee it has no senator's gonna do them like I can guarantee you won't pass. I can guarantee you I wouldn't I was curious about how you vote on its Judd it's you we wouldn't have to have that vote be it wouldn't come up. It's just like any else the only thought votes -- in congress. I want full blown immigration policies and the only thing that happened they're Republican Party decided to move to as a divisive issues and blame immigrants for all our problems it didn't pass it won't pass again. And I'm bleeding I'm anxiously waiting for a president to make a proposal so we can get to work and thoughtful policy. Which -- forward to working on."

" Let me try to ask the question. First you got -- segment the problem we've got over ten million illegal immigrants here they've been here for a long time. I agree senator -- they need to get a path for citizenship. I don't think that means getting a driver's license unless we determine the comprehensive policy to get to the path for citizenship. We have people illegally coming into the country right now the reason we have the ten million. It's a segment we attending that are here there's people who try to get it illegally. We've got to crack down on employers. The reason attend later here's employers employ these people. They don't check the documentation. We have laws and rules to stop that and so we need a policy where the ones here we got to recognize it. Let the right path to citizenship. The was are not here we need strong borders and we need employers to crack -- President Bush they don't increase the problem. I come from an immigrant family as well the legal they were family and so we've got to treat treat them with respect we got to give them a path for citizenship. And and I think we should cover the -- risk for health care. And you live events need to get a path to citizenship before they get health care benefits or a license."

" It's likely that during president Obama's first term there may be another opening in the US Supreme Court -- members of the president's party usually votes for nominees for example all the -- and Democrats -- the judge Sotomayor. What would it take for you to vote against one of president Obama's Supreme Court nominee."

" if they want to repeal Roe vs. Wade we cannot turn the clock back. On a woman's right shoes I would vote against them and be strong on that and that would be the thing that would prevent me from voting for one of president Obama's nominees."

" Michael. Any number of things including Roe vs. Wade is one of many I cannot imagine it. President Obama would submitted name. Victim wouldn't pass all of the tests that I would have at the same time. That I'm the only one here who has actually voted against something that -- popular at the time namely the Patriot Act. If necessary which I can't imagine it would happen but if necessary I'd be more than happy to lead the charge against a bad appointee. I just honestly would find that almost impossible to believe the President Obama would submit such --"

" Yes I have three issues one the judge that. Promoted equality equality cornerstone of America secondly privacy that means the right to choose. And I would not reverse that. And that's under privacy and we would that we've we've crossed we cross that bridge should never go back on that. And third is the judge there's empathetic. To the American people that understands the struggles the American people and makes the right decision here so those would be by three issues it's like it's -- just."

" I'd like -- congressmen have trouble believing that President Obama would nominate someone that we would have a prominent that I would have a prominent. And on all of those issues obviously choice on that the government. I'm should never be discriminating illegally the one thing that I would look for in a candidate in addition to what you always expect is the competence. The background. The legal ability to make the right choices the understanding that may be the constitution sometimes is a living document. And isn't frozen in time in the eighteenth century. I would look for. A candidate who has some common sense who understand that for all the majesty of the law and the case and president. They've what the Supreme Court is about is deciding laws that relate to people's. Health and safety how businesses operate whatever the issue is I think common sense is incredibly important because I know prison Obama will -- good. Competent folks I would look for batter of the character."