Posted on 12/27/2004 9:23:23 AM PST by calcowgirl
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush faces a major rebellion within his own party if he follows through on a promise to push legislation that would offer millions of illegal immigrants a path to U.S. citizenship. Almost no issue divides Republicans as deeply.
To get the guest-worker initiative through Congress, Bush will need to go against the wishes of many Republicans and forge bipartisan alliances. That's what President Clinton did in 1993 to win approval for a free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada, over objections of a large bloc of congressional Democrats.
The chance seems slim for finding common ground between those in favor of liberalized immigration laws - Bush, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for example - and those who want fewer immigrants, tougher border controls and harsher penalties.
Opposition is strongest among House Republicans.
"In our party, this is a deep division that is growing deeper every minute," says Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. He heads a group of 70 lawmakers who are against easing immigration laws.
Tancredo said Bush's guest-worker proposal is "a pig with lipstick" and will not pass.
Bush asserts that he won valuable "political capital" in the election and intends to spend it. It is not clear how much of that he is willing to spend on the immigration measure.
Higher on his list of priorities is overhauling the Social Security system, rewriting the tax laws, limiting lawsuit judgments, and making his first-term tax cuts permanent.
An estimated 10 million immigrants live in the United States illegally; the vast majority are from Mexico, with an additional million arriving every year.
A hint of the trouble ahead for Bush on immigration came this month when proposals to tighten - not ease - border restrictions nearly undermined a bill to restructure U.S. intelligence agencies.
The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee wanted the measure to bar states from giving a driver's license to illegal immigrants. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said some of the Sept. 11 hijackers gained access to U.S. aircraft by using a driver's license as identification.
Sensenbrenner ultimately backed down, but only after House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill, promised that the chairman's proposal would be considered in separate legislation in 2005.
Hastert also indicated he would not move ahead on major legislation unless it was supported by a majority of Republicans in the GOP-controlled House - and that he would not rely on Democratic support to pass a bill.
Immigration overhaul is "an issue that splits both parties, and given the new Hastert rule, may never go anywhere," said William A. Niskanen, chairman of the libertarian Cato Institute. Niskanen was a member of President Reagan's Council of Economic Advisers.
The president's plan would grant temporary-worker status, for three years to six years, to millions of undocumented workers. It also would it easier for those workers to get permanent U.S. citizenship.
As governor of Texas, Bush was committed to immigration changes. As president, he came close to making a deal with Mexican President Vicente Fox in the days before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Those plans were put on hold as tighter borders took on a higher priority for the United States.
As a presidential candidate, both in 2000 and 2004, Bush eagerly courted Hispanics, the fastest-growing ethnic group in the electorate.
"We will keep working to make this nation a welcoming place for Hispanic people, a land of opportunity para todos (for all) who live here in America," Bush told the League of United Latin American Citizens last summer.
Bush claimed 35 percent of Hispanic voters in 2000 and at least 40 percent last Nov. 2, according to exit polls. That compares with the 21 percent won by Bob Dole in 1996 and the 25 percent that Bush's father got in 1992.
Republican consultants suggest Bush will not make a big push for his immigration bill until he has achieved his goals on Social Security and the tax laws. They also say the president may jettison the immigration bill if it would jeopardize other parts of his agenda.
Inside the administration, nobody is suggesting that passing the immigration plan would be anything other than extremely difficult.
"We don't want to overpromise," Secretary of State Colin Powell said during a visit last month to Mexico City.
EDITOR'S NOTE — Tom Raum has covered Washington for The Associated Press since 1973, including five presidencies.
Ummmm...I don't know where they are getting their information, but it is my understanding that those who are granted guest worker status under this program will not be given any advantage on the path to citizenship.
Excerpt:
Some temporary workers will make the decision to pursue American citizenship. Those who make this choice will be allowed to apply in the normal way. They will not be given unfair advantage over people who have followed legal procedures from the start. I oppose amnesty, placing undocumented workers on the automatic path to citizenship. Granting amnesty encourages the violation of our laws, and perpetuates illegal immigration. America is a welcoming country, but citizenship must not be the automatic reward for violating the laws of America.
if any
As I stated in my previous post.
As a direct descendent of Italian immigrants, my family refused to teach or speak Italian in the house, uncle fought in WWII against the Nazis, came here legally and learned English within 6 months, and instilled a pride in America that is second to no one, especially you.
Welfare and government assistance have always been a signal of disgrace and dishonor. They came here legally and did not make demands on the populace to meet their needs. They assimilated and became Americans.
Furthermore, Italy was never ever referred to as "my country" as many many many latinos widely do.
Finally, we were taught that Italy was not a good place and that is why they left. America, who was named after an Italian as you probably don't know, was always and will always be considered home.
So, you are wrong on all fronts. The immigrant of yesterday is not the same as the immigrant of today.
Uh what is exactly wrong with trying to document the appx. 8 million people her now since the dismantling of the guest worker program 40 years ago by LBJ, with the urging of the unions.
Get with the program. Its almost 2005.
Immigration Ping
Find a Guatemalan illegal alien and ask him. Mexico likes to shot what comes across their southern border.
Before anything whatsoever, we should deport criminal aliens who have been convicted of crimes. That would be a realistic good start.
Yeah - I think he was just commenting on the number of related articles about Illegal Immigration and W's proposal regarding same - Proposals which I think the posts on this thread well indicate, are unacceptable to many Americans no matter which party they identify with. IMO A real hot button issue that needs serious and effective attention from W and not more of the same failed policies of the past.
Fair and Meaningful Citizenship Process: Some temporary workers will want to remain in America and pursue citizenship. They should not receive an unfair advantage over those who have followed the law, and they will need to be placed in line for citizenship behind those who are already in line.
If she runs for President, she can kiss my big, white, hairy....
Huh, and "The Godfather" would have never been a popular movie since it's release in 1972, gumba, so fongul.
First of all, you are ignorant and engaging in debate like those over at DU.
Second, the Godfather is a movie. The overwhelming majority of Italian immigrants and later Americans of Italian heritage had and have nothing to do with the mob.
Finally, you failed to put forth a single refutation of how the immigrant of today is similar to that of 1906. You can't because they are different.
Immigrants of today are a far cry of those of yesterday.
Do you really need to use such language?
They sure as h**l don't give them drivers licenses, in state tuition at public universities, medical and other social benefits or (Not sure about this one) automatic citizenship to the offspring of Illegals that are born in Mexico.
By the same token I doubt they release them on their own recognizance to appear for an immigration hearing several months later. My understanding is they are locked up in Mexican jails and summarily deported. I'm sure the experience of jail is a significant deterrent to recidivism!
If she runs for President, she can kiss my big, white, hairy...
You're a self admitted govt. union worker on FR. The union bosses will make sure they put out the propaganda that she is tough on immigration(which she isn't, all one has to do is see her influence back in 92, welfare will end as we know it, middle class tax cut, being tough on China).
Of course you MI, will talk tough on FR, but in the union hall IMO MI, you would even make Smithers(the yes man character on the Simpsons) blush with your puppet speakings of "yes" on the issue when the union bosses say who is better for us(border guards) as a FED govt. union.
Soiling your trousers, as they say in the Ozarks.
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