Dems use deficit commission to push for amnesty [latest stalking horse]

Hot Air ^ | May 5, 2010 | Ed Morrissey

[ConjunctionJunction]

I’ve repeatedly predicted that the National Commission on Financial Responsibility and Reform (NCFRR) would serve mainly as a Trojan horse for massive, broad tax hikes. Who knew that the so-called “deficit commission” would also become a stalking horse for … immigration reform? The Hill reports on the latest Democratic mission statement from the NCFRR:

Democrats want immigration reform on the table as the White House fiscal commission examines ways to reduce deficits, saying there is a “credible connection” between the issue and the country’s fiscal situation.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Andy Stern and Rep. Xavier Becerra (Calif.), both Democrats on the bipartisan fiscal commission, said reforms giving the 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States a chance to stay in the U.S. legally could boost the economy and thereby help pay down the debt.

Uh, sure. Why not add amnesty to a debate over tax hikes and spending cuts? May as well toss religion and sports into the mix as well. Republicans responded with well-tempered disbelief:

Republicans expressed skepticism over adding immigration to the commission’s already substantial portfolio. The panel already is tasked with looking at tax, spending and entitlement policies to find a way to reduce deficits.

“The fiscal commission is supposed to focus on fiscal policy, which in my opinion is entitlement spending” but also involves discretionary spending and tax revenues, said Sen. Judd Gregg (N.H.), one of the panel’s six congressional Republican members.

Let’s parse this out a little. The immigration problem has existed for decades, during which time we have had deficits and surpluses. We now face annual budget deficits of over a trillion dollars this year and into the foreseeable future. Those came as Democrats increased federal spending by over a trillion dollars a year in a three-year span of controlling Congress. Under those circumstances, which correlates better to the deficit — illegal immigrants or Democratic spending?

Besides, doesn’t blaming deficits on illegal immigrants qualify as hatred? Who knew the Democrats on the NCFRR were such bigots? Someone call Contessa Brewer stat! I kid, I kid, but that’s no more ridiculous than insisting on back-dooring amnesty under the rubric of deficit reduction.

[Mr. K]

These bastards want to start some rioting, don’t they...

[apillar]

Maybe someone could explain how adding 20,000,000 new people to the welfare rolls, obamacare, and social security is going to REDUCE the deficit. They seem to want us to believe that these 20,000,000 are all going to become productive members of society with $50,000 a year salaries the minute they get amnesty.

[Venturer]

NCFRR is just a Satellite of SEIU.

[GeronL]

How many of them will be in prison?

[Claytonbridge]

People seem to forget that these illegal immigrants send most of their money home to help their families...thus they don’t spend the money earned here. That doesn’t help the economy.

[untrained skeptic]

I'm willing to comprimise on the issue, as long as it meets their stated goals of reducing deficits.

Grant legal status to every illegal immigrant that has broke no other laws, and earns enough that they actually pay federal income taxes which 50% of Americans do not.

If they are actually productive enough to contribute significantly, let them stay. If not, send them home. If the committee balks at this, disband them since they are obviously working to increase the deficit, not decrease it.

[HiJinx]

Ping!