Over 150 conservative leaders, groups sign letter opposing Gang of 8 bill

Daily Caller ^ | 05/21/2013 | Caroline May

[SeekAndFind]

Over 150 conservative leaders, groups and grassroots activists have signed an open letter opposing the Senate immigration reform bill.

“We write to express our serious concerns regarding the Gang of Eight’s immigration bill, S. 744. We oppose this bill and urge you to vote against it when it comes to the Senate floor,” the letter to be released Tuesday and obtained by The Daily Caller reads. ”No matter how well intentioned, the Schumer-Rubio bill suffers from fundamental design flaws that make it unsalvageable. Many of us support various parts of the legislation, but the overall package is so unsatisfactory that the Senate would do better to start over from scratch.”

Signed by conservatives leaders and group representatives including radio host Laura Ingraham, Fox News personality Monica Crowley, Red State’s Erick Erickson, radio host Mark Levin, Hoover Institution’s Victor Davis Hanson, and The Daily Caller’s Mickey Kaus, the letter highlights a number of issues the signers have with the legislation including their concerns that the bill:

* Is bloated and unwieldy along the lines of Obamacare or Dodd-Frank;

* Cedes excessive control over immigration law to an administration that has repeatedly proven itself to be untrustworthy, even duplicitous;

* Legalizes millions of illegal immigrants before securing the borders, thus ensuring future illegal immigration;

* Rewards law breakers and punishes law enforcement, undermining the rule of law;

* Hurts American job-seekers, especially those with less education;

* Threatens to bankrupt our already strained entitlement system;

* Expands government by creating new bureaucracies, authorizing new spending, and calling for endless regulations;

* Contains dangerous loopholes that threaten national security;

* Is shot through with earmarks for politically connected interest groups;

* Overwhelms our immigration bureaucracy, guaranteeing widespread fraud.

The letter also argues that while immigration reform is important, the Senate’s immigration reform bill will only make matters worse.

“Reforming our immigration system is an important priority. But S.744 is such a defective measure that it would do more harm than good. We urge you to vote against it and against any cloture vote to bring up the bill. Only then can a constructive, measured debate take place on how to improve America’s immigration policy,” the letter reads.

Ingraham, one of the letter’s signers, elaborated on her decision to sign the letter in an email to TheDC, noting that she read the entire bill and has seen most of the amendments to close loopholes and improve enforcement be discarded in mark-up. According to her, the “heroes of battle for our sovereignty” have been Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley and Alabama Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions “who are fighting every day in the Senate to expose the glaring inadequacies of this legislation, which affords huge and unreviewable discretion to DHS to waive admissibility and deportation rules.”

“The Republicans who parrot the mindless ‘we must do something’ mantra might wish to review how the Democrats responded to Obamacare criticism in 2010. I recall the liberal cries of ‘We must do something…the health care system is broken….’” Ingraham continued in her email to TheDC. “What is broken is our system of government whereby the elites in both parties consistently ignore the will of the people on an issue as important as border enforcement. This bill will make life more difficult for middle class Americans and legal immigrants who are already struggling to find decent-paying jobs that cover the bills. Some Republicans are desperate to agree to anything in hopes of winning the Latino vote. They are on a fools errand, will infuriate their grass roots supporters, and will compromise their remaining credibility as a ‘law and order’ party.”

Tuesday’s open missive comes on the heels of a letter to all Members of Congress from immigration enforcement unions and law enforcement officials warning that the legislation will act as a barrier to a safe legal immigration system.

[chris37]

I wish I knew.

Sadly I have been had. Gonna do my best to make him a one term senator.

[stephenjohnbanker]

That’s all you can do.

[Sam Clements]

I don’t think illegals should ever qualify for citizenship. I agree that it is unpalatable to send them home. What is to be done then? Identify them and legalize their ability to stay here. Consider allowing some type of work permit process without eventual citizenship. Do not allow access to welfare benefit programs. To cover these types of needs, these identified illegals could rely on family, charity, or return to their country of origin. Upon completion of sentencing for any crimes, convicted illegals should be deported to their country of citizenship.

[SeminoleCounty]

Thanks for posting the list. Taking note of who and WHO DID NOT sign this.

Amnesty Liberalism will be the death of the GOP

[OddLane]

Schumer makes everything worse.

[txrangerette]

Not everyone who has already announced their opposition to the bill has signed this letter. If someone has made it clear, individually, they oppose this bill, I take nothing from their signature not being on this letter.

[esoxmagnum]

Well.... that would make sense, but it would also diminish the D vote.

We can’t have that. The D’s wont allow it through the courts, and the R’s are so afraid of being called racist, that they will go along with anything Sharpton, Jackons, and MSNBC says.

3rd party is needed.

Oh and btw, my tax bill was levied today, and we owe about 12k more than CPA for 24 years figured. Taking to our accountant tomorrow.

So, I am guessing this post will cost me another 2-3 k.

Don’t think for a second the R’s ain’t involved in this crap either, they hate the tea party just as much as the rats do.

[Colorado Buckeye]

Bump to help stop this nation destroying travesty.