Kay Bailey Hutchison and Arlen Spector may have reached a 'compromise' and one that will SOLVE our 'amnesty' woes.
Hutchinson, surprise, surprise, told Spector that she believes that outrage over the 'amnesty' issue, and a resolution to getting the Senate Bill passed, can be accomplished by simply changing the timing of the 'touch back', requiring it FIRST. Spector, surprise, surprise, agreed that they should discuss this compromise.
The above article was published back in '06. I clearly remember when Bush also had decided that Pence's plan was NOT an amnesty and was pushing it as a last ditch effort prior to the elections.
We may QUICKLY need to contact our Senators and let them know that this Pence TouchBack Scheme IS AMNESTY!!!
This sounds a lot better than what is on the table now.. as long as security comes first..
WASHINGTON — The following is a partial transcript of the May 27, 2007, edition of “FOX News Sunday With Chris Wallace”:
WALLACE: Senator Hutchison, under the compromise, illegal immigrants have to pay a fine. They have to go back to their home country to apply for permanent legal status. And this whole process is going to take up to 13 years. How is that amnesty?
HUTCHISON: Chris, it is because the vast number of the estimated 10 million to 12 million will never have to go home if they don’t want a green card.
And I think that is what is causing the amnesty outcry, that you can stay here, you will never have to go home, as long as you don’t want the permanent green card.
And I think we can fix this, Chris, and we are working with others who are trying to get a bill that will have more support, to take this amnesty portion out, by requiring that the touchback — the going home and applying — happens in the beginning for the temporary visa, rather than only if you want the permanent card.
WALLACE: Senator Specter, let’s talk about this, because it is something that the critics say is a big loophole in your plan.
As it now stands, illegal immigrants get probationary — not permanent, but probationary — legal status right away without paying a fine, without going home, and if they don’t want to apply for a green card, they can stay here indefinitely. Isn’t that amnesty?
SPECTER: I don’t think it is. The cry about amnesty comes up if you give them citizenship. But the program which would not require their going home would be one without citizenship.
Look here. We’ve got 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country, and we have to deal with them one way or another. And right now it is anarchy.
And a key part of the legislation to provide — handling the 12 million provides for tightening up our borders, fixing our broken borders, imposing very tough employer sanctions, and it’s an overall plan.
But I’m prepared to listen to what Senator Hutchison has to say, if we can find a modification which will get a stronger vote and get this plan through.
SPECTER: .....”I think you may have sort of a breakthrough on your program here on Fox News, Chris, between Senator Hutchison — Kay and myself. Kay says that the bill is better than the current system, which is a significant step forward for passage.
I’m prepared to negotiate with what Kay has to say on when the touchback occurs...... ....But as you see with what Kay and I have talked about here today, I think we can get enough Republican support in the Senate and that will give it a boost in the House.”....
Good insight, thanks.
I called Hutchison’s office and asked how this “touchback” thing would work, but nobody knows.
Since we don’t know if she has changed some of the details this time:
1) Do they have to get fingerprinted here before they return to their home countries? That alone would either cost a huge amount of money or cause excruciating delays for legals and illegals alike. probably both.
2) The 2006 plan: They are fingerprinted outside the US. Even more fraud.
Whether or not they are fingerprinted here: I’m sure they will claim that the “private companies operating ‘Ellis Island Centers’ outside the country” would not cost taxpayers a dime. (Riiiight. The private companies will pay for the applicants’ lawyers. Sure.)
Amnesty proponents will scream bloody murder, saying that they will not be able to gather their documents, etc. from outside the US. And it’s going to be hard for them to to maintain employment while outside the countries. I just don’t see how the amnesty special interests are going to let this pass in the Senate.
Found this posted on Daily Pundit. I’m just waiting for a pat each other on the back, breaking news presser that says “NO AMNESTY COMPROMISE REACHED”.
http://dailypundit.com/?p=25974
....”The other day Hutchison was in Bush’s office for a tete-a-tete. Perhaps they discussed how faux opposition could be used to conjure the impression that the Senate bill would be tested in the fires of debate and then subjected to crucial rewrites that protect America”