Graham: Still hang-ups to immigration deal

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. Lindsey Graham says disagreement over a new low-skilled worker program is still hanging up an immigration deal -- even after an agreement a week ago between the AFL-CIO and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The South Carolina Republican, a member of a bipartisan Senate negotiating group working on sweeping immigration legislation to offer eventual citizenship to the estimated 11 million people living here illegally, says they're revisiting the low-skilled worker deal.

He didn't offer details, but his comments suggested senators may be encountering last-minute difficulties finalizing their bill, which they hoped to roll out as early as this week.

Nonetheless Graham sounded optimistic overall saying senators hope to complete their deal in the next couple weeks. He predicted it will pass the 100-member Senate with 70 votes in favor.

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