It really is breathtaking how over the top and how much they overreached with that legislation. Tom Tancredo and Jim Sensenbrenner really kicked over a beehive with the legislation.

He's the best salesperson for this approach to immigration, because he's such a forceful person, because he's a border state Republican who clearly understands these issues.

Mel Martinez has been a key senator on this issue, and very energetic. He's negotiating with other Republicans and has to deal with strong disagreement from some members of his party.

It fits into his general framework of, 'I care less about the politics than in policy that makes sense'. I think that that's the image I have of him. That's the image he'd like voters to have of him.

Ultimately it's not serious in any way as proposed legislation, but it's very serious with regard to what the committee's real alternatives are, ... The chairman is actively working to make sure that it's ANWR -- and (the Arctic refuge) alone.

The introduction of this legislation has been delayed for a few years. We are going to try to push this forward.