H-1B Increase Dealt Death Blow

The U.S. Senate voted controversial immigration reform bill, effectively killing the closely watched legislation and dashing the hopes of IT employers who'd hoped for an increase in the number of H-1B work visas this year.

President Bush called his top domestic priority for 2007, was effectively blocked when the Senate failed to invoke cloture and limit debate on the bill (S-1639) in a 46-53 vote.

The immigration bill included a provision to raise the yearly limit on H-1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000.

This was the second time in June that backers of the legislation were unable to muster the 60 votes needed to surmount conservative Republican and mixed-liberal opposition to the legislation. President Bush, scrambling to salvage the imperiled bill, had called Senators early in the morning to rally support before the crucial test vote.