Pivotal Vote Looms on Immigration

Jun 26, 9:57 AM (ET)

By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush encouraged the Senate on Tuesday to put aside bitter differences and pass a bill that would legalize millions of illegal immigrants.

Bush appeared optimistic about winning a test vote Tuesday and the Senate's passage of the bill by week's end.

"We'll be moving our attention to the House after the Senate passes this comprehensive piece of legislation," Bush told business leaders and representatives of religious, Hispanic and agricultural communities. "I think this is an historic opportunity for Congress to act."

Joel Kaplan, Bush's deputy chief of staff, also was optimistic. "Our intelligence suggests that there will be the votes there," he said.

Conservative critics who paint the measure as amnesty for lawbreakers, however, said their efforts to stop the legislation were gaining momentum. Bush's team is predicting victory Tuesday on the effort to allow the bill - among the president's top domestic priorities - to go forward.