INDIANAPOLIS | With the legislative clock winding down, two state lawmakers offered a compromise Monday designed to move an illegal immigration bill "across the goal line."

Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, and Rep. Vern Tincher, D-Riley, said they spent the weekend melding House and Senate versions of legislation to penalize Indiana companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

But neither Delph nor Tincher has any control over the process this late in the game. House Speaker Pat Bauer, D-South Bend, has the ball.

Bauer said the Senate should yield to the changes made by the House. But the Senate rejected that version last week and appointed conferees to a House-Senate negotiating committee.

The General Assembly faces an adjournment deadline of midnight Friday, but Bauer has yet to appoint House members to the immigration committee. Delph said Hoosiers will be disappointed if nothing is accomplished this year.

"I don't think there's any question that the state of Indiana wants something done on illegal immigration," he said.