Bush, Fox, promote plan to ease immigration laws

Knight Ridder Newspapers ^ | 6 March 2004 | Ron Hutcheson

[JackelopeBreeder]

Crawford, Texas - President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox joined forces Saturday to promote Bush's plan for easing immigration laws, as Bush acknowledged that the proposal faces a tough time in Congress.

Standing side-by-side in bright sunshine at Bush's Texas ranch, the two leaders said Bush's plan for a new temporary worker program would help both countries by eliminating the underground market for Mexican workers. The proposal would let an estimated 8 million workers who are in the United States illegally gain legal status as guest workers.

"The people who come to this country make a significant contribution to the American economy," Fox told reporters.

Bush's plan, announced in January, has raised expectations in Mexico and among illegal workers in this country, but it has little chance of passing Congress this year. Republican critics say the proposal would reward illegal immigrants; Democrats complain that it does not do enough to help foreign workers become U.S. citizens.

[Missouri]

Democrats complain that it does not do enough to help foreign workers become U.S. citizens.

and about 95% of them will be voting for Democrats. It obvious to me. Somehow, someway, this madness has to be ended.

[Missouri]

ping

[strongbow]

Easy now folks, don't you know that a third world invasion of felons doesn't really hurt us if it is done by a republican. Just think about how we are winning the war on terror, Bush isn't bad as Kerry, the democrats would be worse, yada yada yada. Oh yea and be prepared to face the accusation of having a single agenda, being too principled and willing to throw your vote away. It's coming soon, hang on it will not be long now.

[snippy_about_it]

Excellent rant! My sentiments exactly.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Screw this.

[Libertina]

Look Mr. President, here's the deal. I will support you and work hard for your re-election, but YOU have to start listening to your base and uphold the law!

[vanmorrison]

Because Bush keeps rubbing our noses in this immigration idiocy, I have to conclude that his handlers (Karl Rove) have factored in the loss of the anti-immigration voters. I think they believe they'll pick up these lost votes from the Hispanics (who else?) who'll become new Republicans. We'll see...

But the problem with this chicanery, as I see it, is that Bush has effectively betrayed other significant conservative voters who'll probably sit this one out, too. Such as fiscal conservatives, anti-free traders, neo-isolationists, and others whose votes won't be replaced by shifting "Independents" or Democrats.

I think he's overplaying his hand if he thinks that just being strong on the War trumps every other consideration under the sun. Big mistake...

[KevinDavis]

Is this how reliable is this news service?

[SouthernFreebird]

I think your right. His cockyness was what was needed in the war.

It's not good for getting re-elected when he's alienated so many supporters.

[Merdoug]

25 posts as of this post. 25 people who care about the future of this Country. A shame, isn't it? The rest will kiss Bush's a** and vote for him again,....and again,... What's the use of Bush being re-elected if this country is destroyed?

[Stu Cohen]

I'm not sure I realized that GWB was going to be the biyatch of Vicente Fox for his entire term.

Do I really want another four years of this?

I mean, I expect it from a Democrat ... but when a man abandons his party, are we still supposed to vote for him.

At least the socialist democrats follow their party line. You have to give them some respect to pretty much giving their voter base what the ask for (socialism). At least you know what you are getting.

Our candidates abandon us. I'm not sure we have the moral high ground here.

[JackelopeBreeder]

It's one of the major chains, just like Gannett. They own multiple major newspapers.

[txdoda]

Is this how reliable is this news service?>>>>>>>

I imagine the 'guest worker program' will get shoved down our throats right after the Nov. elections (no matter who wins).

Meanwhile we were 'blessed' with this *good* news today.....from this 'reliable source'

Bush allowed Fox to announce it was CONFIRMED today that mexicans w/visas would NOT be photographed/fingerprinted at the borders......

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/03/20040306-3.html

(snip)
FOX: "And that is why we welcome President Bush's proposal that he made in January. And that is why, in our meetings, we worked to advance this proposal, and that's what we have been doing today. We welcome the news that was confirmed today with regard to visitors to the U.S. from Mexico. We recognize the value to those who come to the United States to work, to study, to contribute. And we appreciate what this will do to the flow of visitors now that they will not have to be photographed or fingerprinted at the frontier for short visits to the United States. We appreciate what that will do the flow of people coming to this country."

"The other good news this year is the -- about the NAFTA visa for professionals, that allows professionals to come and work in either country and contribute to both."

(snip)
PRESIDENT BUSH: "Well, we just -- the President just discussed the border crossing cards, the issue of the border crossing cards. And he discussed the professional visas. And so we're making progress."

---

[Stu Cohen]

25 posts as of this post. 25 people who care about the future of this Country. A shame, isn't it? The rest will kiss Bush's a** and vote for him again,....and again,... What's the use of Bush being re-elected if this country is destroyed?

Well, they TELL us that the alternatives are worse. They tell us that the Democratic candidate is going to dramatically increase federal spending and open our borders to Mexico.

But, well, we kinda got that anyway.

I'm in a safe state anyway (Mexifornia). My vote won't matter. State is going Democrat. I think i'll just right myself in.

As a matter of fact, I would appreciate all of your votes.

I would restore all second ammendment rights, put the military on the border, deport everyone who is here illegally, drastically reform the IRS, cut all Federal Spending to only what is necessary to defend the country, and otherwise stay out of your damn business.

If this appeals to you, vote Stu Cohen in 2004.

[Missouri]

hospitals and health depts in my town.

Its costing all of us.

Check this article out

Link to FAIR's data on immigrants and sky-rocketing medical cost

(Snippet)

The Sinking Lifeboat: Uncontrolled Immigration and the U.S. Healthcare System

America's health care system is in crisis: Costs and insurance premiums are skyrocketing, the number of the uninsured is rising rapidly, providers are reducing staffing and services and increasing rates, and hospitals are closing or facing bankruptcy.

As states cut their health care budgets to try to make ends meet, high rates of immigration are straining the health care system to the breaking point.

One out of every four uninsured people in the United States is an immigrant.

When the 3.5 million immigrants receiving insurance through publicly funded Medicaid are factored in, almost half of immigrants have either no insurance or have it provided to them at taxpayers' expense.

In some hospitals, as much as two-thirds of total operating costs are for uncompensated care for illegal aliens.

Although a national total of annual unreimbursed medical expenses for illegal aliens is not available, it is clear that those costs are more than one billion dollars, given estimates for Texas ($393 million), Los Angeles ($350 million), Florida ($40 million), and U.S.-Mexico border counties ($300 million).

The problem is on the rise: Immigrants (legal and illegal) who arrived between 1994 and 1998 and their children accounted for 59 percent of the growth in the size of the uninsured population in the last ten years. Federal laws requiring hospitals to treat anyone who enters an emergency room regardless of ability to pay have created an unfunded mandate for states and localities to fund health care for non-U.S. citizens and illegal aliens. Yet at the same time, lack of enforcement of federal laws against illegal immigration has led to a pool of nine to eleven million illegal aliens in the U.S.—and state and local taxpayers are being forced to foot the bill. Although immigration law enforcement is a federal responsibility, most hospitals receive little or no reimbursement for the care to immigrants that the federal government mandates that they provide.

Lack of insurance leads many immigrants to use hospital emergency departments—the most expensive source of health care—as their primary care provider. Emergency room visits increased by 20 percent in the last decade. The problem has become so out of control that some Mexican ambulance companies are now instructing their drivers to drive uninsured patients across the border to the United States, where they will receive free treatment.

The increase in uncompensated care for immigrants has forced some hospitals to reduce staff, increase rates, cut back services, and close maternity wards and trauma centers. The escalating burden incurred by hospitals and other health facilities for the uncompensated treatment of aliens is driven by both rampant illegal immigration and a legal immigration system that allows large numbers of people to gain permanent residence despite the fact that they are unlikely to be working in jobs with health care coverage or have personal resources sufficient to pay for health services.

...............................................................

.............................................................

I like to keep a copy of this at work so when one of my pro-illegal/immigration co-workers tells me that these invaders are a boost to the economy I show them this article. They quite down pretty quick.

[joesnuffy]

Yep those methamphetamine labs are cooking night and day...and somebody has to bring the drugs into el Norte...

[ConservativeMan55]

bump

[CoolGuyVic]

I would restore all second ammendment rights, put the military on the border, deport everyone who is here illegally, drastically reform the IRS, cut all Federal Spending to only what is necessary to defend the country, and otherwise stay out of your damn business.

I'd vote for you. I'd vote for myself, but I'm not 35.

Where are all the math-challenged who state: "A vote for a third-party is a vote for Kerry!" They're always fun to kick around.

[joesnuffy]

That's why the two party cabal offers us the choice between GW and someone like Kerry or the Clintons

They Offer us somebody so unacceptable that we have to take the repubbies because the democrap's offer is just soooo much worse....
imo

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Well, it's not over yet. Keep the faith.