Morning Examiner: The heat isn’t on

Opponents of the Schumer-Rubio immigration reform bill could have delayed a vote on final passage of the legislation until late today if they wanted. But since everyone knew the outcome was predetermined, Republicans agreed to allow a vote yesterday afternoon, thus allowing senators and staff to get an early jump on the July 4th recess.

In the end, just 68 Senators, including 14 Republicans, voted for the bill, two votes short of the 70-vote goal amnesty proponents had set for themselves earlier this month. That 68 total is higher than the 62 votes a similar amnesty bill won in the Senate in 2006 before it later died in the House. There is little reason to believe this time will be any different.