Bush pushes bipartisan immigration talks - Yahoo! News

Bush pushes bipartisan immigration talks - Yahoo! News: "Bush pushes bipartisan immigration talks " By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer Sat May 12, 4:41 PM ET WASHINGTON - President Bush, promoting bipartisan immigration talks as they reach a critical stage, said Saturday that Republicans and Democrats are building consensus that could produce a bill this year. "I am optimistic we can pass a comprehensive immigration bill and get this problem solved for the American people this year," Bush said in his weekly radio address. Bush used the address to put pressure on senators as they prepare to hold a vote on the contentious issue next week. Signing an overhaul into law would be viewed as a marquee domestic achievement for the president. He has dispatched two members of his Cabinet, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, to Capitol Hill for almost daily closed-door meetings with a handful of Republicans and Democrats to cut an immigration deal. The group is eyeing a Tuesday deadline for a compromise.