Kill Bill II: The Vampire Strikes Back (Fight the Senate Immigration Bill - Just say NO to cloture!)

various | June 17, 2007 | WOSG

[WOSG]

This is a links and activism-central thread to collect the information on the status and effort to defeat the Senate Immigration bill, especially the egregious Z visa amnesty program, in its second attempt at passage.

The Vampire Strikes Back

The nefarious back-room dealers in the US Senate announced on Thursday night that they were bringing the Senate Immigration bill, killed on a previous cloture vote, back from the dead. Senators are trolling for votes. The future of the UNITED STATES of AMERICA hangs in the balance as they try to drum up support for the sellout of the century. WILL GRASSROOTS AMERICA STOP THE TIDE? You decide!

"The immigration system is not "broken," the only thing that is broken is the will to uphold the law. Your administration's lack of will to meet its obligations regarding immigration enforcement is disrespectful toward all American citizens and legal immigrants." - Costa Mesa City council, letter to the President on immigration.

1) SENATE BILL IS UNPOPULAR: Low support for Senate immigration bill. The Senate immigration bill is opposed by a more than 2 to 1 margin (Rasmussen poll): Favor 23%, Oppose 50%. "Sixty-nine percent (69%) of voters would favor an approach that focuses “exclusively on securing the border and reducing illegal immigration.” Support for the enforcement only approach comes from 84% of Republicans, 55% of Democrats, and 69% of those not affiliated with either major party." And why not? Working Americans are not stupid about immigration. Not to mention the politics of Blacks vs immigrants.

2) THE GOP BASE REJECTS THE BILL: Conservative bloggers revolt over immigration - Gee, no kidding. Bush flunkies bashing the base doesn't help any. Ingraham smokes Tony Snow on borders. And Bush's emotions are no way to lead on immigration policy. Bush at all-time low in approval on heels of his support for 'comprehensive' immigration amnesty. Now we see Operation Payback underway. Heather MacDonald on the GOP's Hispanic Delusion. Gerson recites the pro-amensty talking points, and talks down to the right.

3) THE DEALMAKERS PLANS AND THE PROCESS STINKS: NRO: Harry Reid's plan to pass the immigration bill. Bush's $4 billion border bribe tries to buy votes. The key vote is cloture and Sentor Lott pre-announces the plan to sellout America by stripping amendments in conference. The process is an outrage and the product is a monstrosity. Bush's clout is 'all used up' on immigration. Latest update. Good news: It can be stopped.Public pressure has to stop the Senators from getting pulled by the insider-lobbying.

4) SENATE BILL HAS HUGE LOOPHOLES: 20 Loopholes in the Senate immigration bill. Z Visa: Z IS FOR ZERO. ZERO ENFORCEMENT. ZERO DEPORTATIONS. Krauthammer talks sense - why not do the one thing we all agree on? Secure the border first. Micheal Steele says it too; this man should have been our RNC chair, instead of Martinez! Immigration bill is a fraud. Verification issues: Too Much Federal Meddling in verification. Verification that can work. The sham of Jobs Americans won't do.

5) BUSH WHITE HOUSE - Z is for ZERO CREDIBILITY ON IMMIGRATION: What the White House said about the fence - last October. Bush's Top 5 Reason for doing immigration reform. Malkin: Clear the backlogs first and Rules of engagement on why we don't deport criminal aliens.

6) WHAT TO SAY - my communications to Senators:

People want the legal immigration system to work;
we want the border secured and immigration laws enforced, and we do NOT want unlimited
immigration, legal or illegal. The Z visa amnesty/legalization will undercut these pillars, and
voters do not trust the Congress and Government to keep promises on enforcement
that were broken by the 1986 amnesty. To repeat that travesty is a terrible and flawed idea.

The American people no longer trust Washington on this issue; we know 'triggers' are a
hoax, especially since making the triggers more real (Coburn Amendment) was not passed.
The border fence bill was passed (over 80 Senate votes) and signed last year; so why now is
the border fence completion hostage to this wider immigration bill?
The Senate bill is opposed strongly because it pretends to uphold border security
and enforcing the law, but it actually undermines them completely with
the Z visa amnesty/legalization program and its many 'gotchas'.

This Z visa legalization is indeed amnesty, it forgives the real punishment (deportation). The 'fine' is less than
H1B lawyers and fees cost (I work with H1B immigrants in high-tech), so it is more of a processing fee than a fine;
the program is set up for fraud, with pathetic documentation requirements, just as in 1986;  Cornyn's
amendment to close off amnesty to absconders and all criminals was denied;  this bill allows permanent
(since Z visa is renewable until green card) residency instantly to 12 million illegal immigrants,
majority of them without High School degrees, massively shifting our immigration patterns to the
least skilled and most likely to be dependent; there are no language requirements for 10 years into
a visa that leads to permanent residency. Senator Sessions has compiled 20 loopholes in the

bill, most related to failures in the Z visa program.

This amnesty repeats the mistakes of 1986 on a grand scale, as Senators Cornyn and Hutchison have warned.
It undermines rule of law in immigration, invites huge fraud in amnesty applications and further illegal
immigration via weak document requirements and a mere 24-hour turnaround on provisional acceptance;
crowds out higher-skill legal immigrants; creates a massive increased burden on taxpayers
($2.5 Trillion estimate from Heritage) along with unfunded mandates on states and local Governments.
And for what, exactly? CBO has indicated that illegal immigration in the next 10 years
will still be significant with this bill - a huge amnesty, but more illegal immigration. Pathetic!

The Z visa legalization/amnesty is a slap in the face to legal immigrants, taxpayers,
and anyone who cares about the rule of law.

[WOSG]

Thanks fro the list.

The way I see it there are 45 ‘lost cause’ Senators, mostly Democrats but adding in McCain, Graham and a few others. They need to be called just so they know voter hate this bill.

Thereh there are the 35 stalwarts who said ‘no’ to cloture yesterday. They need to be THANKED and encouraged.

And we are left with the 17 who voted ‘yes’ for debate but who might be fencesitters.

“Bennett. Bingaman, Bond, Boxer, Burr, Coleman, Collins, Domenici, Ensign, Gregg, Lott, McConnell, Murkowski, Snowe, Stevens, Warner, Webb”

We need 5 of the above to become no votes on Thursday -
Bingaman, Bond, Burr, Coleman, Domenici, Ensign, Gregg, Lott, McConnell, Murkowski, Stevens, Webb
are the best bets.

[TampaDude]

MY bill would call for mining the borders and shooting anyone who tries to sneak across. Simple and effective.

[WOSG]

DEM list:

Ben Nelson leaning against cloture:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1857182/posts

Webb amendment killed, will lean against cloture.

[Lions Gate]

We have a different Supreme Court than what we had 10 years ago. Hopefully they will revisit this issue of Congressional Term Limits.

[WOSG]

ANOTHER OUTRAGE ANOTHER REASON TO CALL

http://corner.nationalreview.com/

Nice Timing [Kathryn Jean Lopez]

Criminals are ready for Senate action:

The head of a Mexican forgery ring was convinced he could make phony documents that illegal aliens could use to indicate fraudulently that they were eligible for a new amnesty, says a government affidavit recounting wiretapped phone calls the man made.

Julio Leija-Sanchez, who ran a $3 million-a-year forgery operation before he was arrested in April, was expecting Congress to pass a legalization program, which he called “amnesty,” and said he could forge documents to fool the U.S. government into believing illegal aliens were in the country in time to qualify for amnesty, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent said in the affidavit.

In recounting a wiretapped telephone conversation, ICE agent Jason E. Medica said he heard Mr. Leija-Sanchez tell an associate the forgery ring could “fix his papers” to meet the requirements of a legalization program such as the bill the Senate is debating today.

“When Leija-Sanchez said ‘if there’s an amnesty, he can fix his papers,’ Leija-Sanchez was referring to the possibility of pending legislation which would allow a certain class of illegal aliens to remain in the United States, as long as they can prove a term of residency in the United States with no convictions,” agent Medica wrote.

“When Leija-Sanchez said ‘he can fix his papers,’ he was referring to the fact that the organization could fraudulently create or alter documents to falsely prove the requisite residency period,” the agent wrote.

Mr. Leija-Sanchez also used his forgery ring to help smuggle illegal aliens into the country on the understanding they would work for his criminal enterprise. He was arrested on charges of forgery and conspiracy to commit murder

[nicmarlo]

“When Leija-Sanchez said ‘if there’s an amnesty, he can fix his papers,’ Leija-Sanchez was referring to the possibility of pending legislation which would allow a certain class of illegal aliens to remain in the United States, as long as they can prove a term of residency in the United States with no convictions,” agent Medica wrote.

“When Leija-Sanchez said ‘he can fix his papers,’ he was referring to the fact that the organization could fraudulently create or alter documents to falsely prove the requisite residency period,” the agent wrote.

But of course they can "fix their papers." The globalists are COUNTING on them fixing their papers....so they can all stay here. Disgusting!

[California Patriot]

Possible, but I doubt it.

[California Patriot]

Ben Nelson against, Webb leaning against. Good.

[California Patriot]

I generally agree with your target list.

Two friendly amendments, as I see it.

Lott — It’s hard to believe he might vote against cloture. He seems to be strongly for the bill, and openly unconcerned with public opinion, especially from the Republican base. “Vacant Lott.”

Domenici — one of his Hill staffers told me two hours ago that Domenici has issued a statement on this. He’ll vote against the bill AND cloture!!!

I agree that we should thank key senators now for opposing it, if we’re sure of their opposition. Encouragement is always a good idea. As for the senators we know are against us, I say we can always express our anger later, after we’ve won or lost.

[California Patriot]

Oh, Ben Nelson “leaning” against. Well, better than leaning for. He’s one of the guys I called today.

I got through to almost all the targeted senators you mention here, and a few others. McConnell’s phone has been consistently busy for a week or more. Couldn’t get through to Warner, as usual. Bond’s office picked up once in maybe 10 calls, but I was put on hold for too long. The others I reached, sometimes on first try, sometimes after a few tries. It’s really not that hard.

[WOSG]

From another thread ...

“Domenici — one of his Hill staffers told me two hours ago that Domenici has issued a statement on this. He’ll vote against the bill AND cloture!!!”

EXCELLENT NEWS. If he is against it, then a very good chance its going down.

[California Patriot]

Oh, I didn’t get through to Vacant Lott, either. What a surprise.

I’d add two Dems to your list: Pryor and Ben Nelson.

[California Patriot]

Yes. Domenici is one of the most senior members of the Senate and is a moderate Republican. He’s also from a border state. If he’s genuinely against the bill, or against the tyrannical process Harry Reid and Kennedy are using for it, Domenici could bring a couple of senators with him. Even if he’s just worried about re-election next year, one new vote is a very good thing in this tight situation.

[caphillbabe]

Here is a list of the key staff contacts of the “Amnesty 8” Senators that are most likely to be persuaded to vote no on Thursday and derail amnesty. Many offices are putting calls straight to voicemail and they can just trash faxes (and letters take weeks to get through due to security). Hit Hill staff where they are so codependent - their Blackberries! Send email directly to staff - not just the generic Senate office mailbox. Contact their Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, and Press Secretary. Make your voice heard!!

For the Democrats, I would strongly suggest taking a pro-union/anti-illegal alien stance (i.e. “they are taking our jobs”) rather than using the conservative national security angle.

Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Chief of Staff
tim_becker@bennelson.senate.gov

Legislative Director
christiana_gallagher@bennelson.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
david_dimartino@bennelson.senate.gov

Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR)
Chief of Staff
bob_russell@pryor.senate.gov

Legislative Director
andy_york@pryor.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
michael_teague@pryor.senate.gov
lisa_ackerman@pryor.senate.gov

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA)
Chief of Staff
paul_reagan@webb.senate.gov

Legislative Director
mike_sozan@webb.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
jessica_smith@webb.senate.gov

Senator Kit Bond (R-MO)
Chief of Staff
brian_klippenstein@bond.senate.gov

Legislative Director
kara_smith@bond.senate.gov

Communications Director
shana_marchio@bond.senate.gov

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Chief of Staff
glen_chambers@brownback.senate.gov

Domestic Policy Advisor
brian_robertson@brownback.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
john_rankin@brownback.senate.gov
brian_hart@brownback.senate.gov

Senator Richard Burr (R-NC)
Chief of Staff
alicia_peterson-clark@burr.senate.gov
alicia_peterson-petersonclark@burr.senate.gov

Legislative Director
natasha_hickman@burr.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
laura_caudell@burr.senate.gov
mark_williams@burr.senate.gov

Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Chief of Staff
jennifer_lowe@coleman.senate.gov

Deputy Chief of Staff
lucia_lebens@coleman.senate.gov

Legislative Director
lorianne_moss@coleman.senate.gov

Communications Director
tom_steward@coleman.senate.gov
tom_stewart@coleman.senate.gov

Press Secretary
leroy_coleman@coleman.senate.gov

Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
Chief of Staff
john_lopez@ensign.senate.gov

Legislative Director
pam_thiessen@ensign.senate.gov

Press Secretary/Communications Director
tory_mazzola@ensign.senate.gov
jack_finn@ensign.senate.gov
don_tatro@ensign.senate.gov

[SUHU]

Alexander (R-TN) 202-224-4944 Bennett (R-UT) 202-224-5444 Cochran (R-MS) 202-224-5054 Coleman (R-MN) 202-224-5641 Collins (R-ME) 202-224-2523 Cornyn (R-TX) 202-224-2934 Craig (R-ID) 202-224-2752 Domenici (R-NM) 202-224-6621 Gregg (R-NH) 202-224-3324 Hatch (R-UT) 202-224-5251 Hutchison (R-TX) 202-224-5922 Kyl (R-AZ) 202-224-4521 Lott (R-MS) 202-224-6253 McConnell (R-KY) 202-224-2541 Murkowski (R-AK) 202-224-6665 Smith (R-OR) 202-224-3753 Snowe (R-ME) 202-224-5344 Stevens (R-AK) 202-224-3004 Warner (R-VA) 202-224-2023

[Czar]

"But of course they can "fix their papers." The globalists are COUNTING on them fixing their papers....so they can all stay here. Disgusting!"

More evidence demonstrating why the federal government cannot be trusted.

[SUHU]

Their Re-election: REMEMBER .... McConnell (R-KY) 2008 Craig (R-ID 2008 Collins (R-ME) 2008 Domenici (R-NM) 2008 Murkowski (R-AK) 2010 Stevens (R-AK) 2008 Smith (R-OR) 2008 Alexander (R-TN) 2008 Gregg (R-NH)2010 Bennett (R-UT) 2010 Cochran (R-MS) 2008 Warner (R-VA) 2008 Coleman (R-MN) 2008 Isakson (R-GA) 2010 Chambliss (R-GA) 2008 Cornyn (R-TX) 2008 DeMint (R-SC) 2010 Bunning (R-KY) 2010 Burr (R-NC) 2010 Sessions (R-AL) 2008 Shelby (R-AL) 2010 Sununu (R-NH) 2008 Crapo (R-ID) 2010 Dole (R-NC) 2008 Vitter (R-LA) 2010 Grassley (R-IA) 2010 Thune (R-SD) 2010 Allard (R-CO) 2008 Inhofe (R-OK) 2008 Enzi (R-WY) 2008 Brownback (R-KS) 2010 Coburn (R-OK) 2010 ..... could any of them be RINOS in the making ???

[spectre]

"Domenici — one of his Hill staffers told me two hours ago that Domenici has issued a statement on this. He'll vote against the bill AND cloture!!!"

Bump!!

sw

[California Patriot]

I’ve continued to call and e-mail. I think our voices are being heard!

[AMERICANZULU]

I feel that Congressional Members have engaged the policies and agendas of the lobbyists and big business interests for too many years. Our public servants have not been serving the general population or their constituents for such a period of time they have lost touch with us “the people.”

This express form of trying to stuff this Senate Bill (1693) down our throats is the last straw and the silent majority has come to life and the arrogant Senators do not want to hear it.
This I believe was inevitable and this Amnesty Bill is just the issue that finally brought the reality of the “will of the people” to the Congressional Members.
Therefore I call for term limits as a wake up call for Senators and Representatives and a discovery of the process of how to change the constitution to allow for term limits on Congressional Members. Our life long elected officials historically have not considered the common man after a period of tenure in each house of congress. Term limits should be explored.