Senator Dianne Feinstein says the failure of the immigration bill is California's loss. Jodi Breisler reports from Capitol Hill.
Feinstein is one of the chief architects of the immigration reform package, and spent several months negotiating a compromise. When the Senate voted to kill the legislation Thursday, Feinstein said she felt sad, because lawmakers squandered an opportunity to solve many of California's problems.
Feinstein : We have probably three million people undocumented. We have the largest need of guest workers in America. We have major border problems that are only now getting solved.
Feinstein and the bipartisan group supporting comprehensive immigration reform say they are working to bring it back.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he would like to do so. But opponents -- including both Democrats and Republicans -- want to vote on amendments that supporters say will kill the overall plan.
From Capitol Hill, Jodi Breisler, KPBS News.
