Republican to Lead Immigration Revolt Against Bush

Reuters ^ | Jan 12, 2005 | Alan Elsner

[GOPXtreme20]

Republican to Lead Immigration Revolt Against Bush

By Alan Elsner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican member of the House of Representatives vowed on Wednesday to lead a revolt against President Bush (news - web sites)'s immigration reform proposals and predicted that up to 180 party members would support him.

Bush in an interview with the Washington Times published on Wednesday said he plans to force a debate in Congress this year on his proposal that would allow some illegal immigrants to obtain legal work permits in the United States.

Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, who heads the House Immigration Reform Caucus, said he was determined to block the legislation. The caucus, which had 71 members in the last Congress, argues for stronger action to stop illegal immigration and a reduction of legal migration.

"Why is this so important to the president?" Tancredo said. "Is it just the corporate interests who benefit from cheap labor? Do they have such a strong grip on our president so that he is actually willing to put our nation at risk, because open borders do put our nation at risk?

"Is it petulance, because we were able to stop it in the last Congress? Why is it so important to give amnesty to people who have broken the law?" Tancredo said.

"I'm willing to lead a fight against this and I would say there are at least 180 members of our Republican caucus who are willing at least to stop amnesty for illegal immigrants," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

Bush has repeatedly said he views immigration reform as an important issue for his second term. In the Washington Times interview, he said it was near the top of his agenda.

"Look, whether or not you agree with the solution or not, we have a problem in America when you've got 8 million undocumented workers here," he said.

BUSH CONFIDENCE

Bush expressed confidence he could win over opponents, as he did in passing tax reform during his first term. "Initially out of the box, some people said, over my dead body would they pass tax relief ... If I listened to all that, I'd just quit, you know. But that's not the way I think."

But analysts agree that immigration reform could be much more divisive for Republicans since growing numbers of rank-and-file voters are becoming concerned at the continued influx of illegal immigrants across the Mexican border.

"No issue, not one, threatens to do more damage to the Republican coalition than immigration," said David Frum, a former White House speech writer in Bush's first term.

"There's no issue where the beliefs and interests of the party rank-and-file diverge more radically from the beliefs and interests of the party's leaders," he wrote in the National Review last month.

Bush insists he is not offering amnesty to illegal immigrants but Tancredo said that was a "manipulation of language, the kind of thing (former President) Bill Clinton would have done. There is an issue of integrity here and an issue of honesty," he said.

[johnb838]

Seen any anglos driving heavy equipment lately? I haven't. And I been looking.

[rolling_stone]

I also notice that you didn't make being a janitor a career.

And what makes you think illegals make a career out of being a janitor? Are you saying they are too stupid or ignorant to do anything else?

[newgeezer]

And, nobody will buy the service or product from those Americans.

In that case, I guess we'll have to clean our own toilets, pick our own vegetables, etc.

[adam_az]

T 08!

[Barlowmaker]

Well, that's what is going to happen if American agriculture is reliant on American born union labor demanding $15.00/hour to produce $8.00/hour of output. Much of the agricultural and service economy of the Southwest is going to disappear. And that "commodity" economy employs a helluva lot of American born natives in high paying administrative, transportation, manufacturing and financial industries. This is a far more encompassing economic issue than just those illegally resident Mexicans picking melons for $7.50 an hour or pounding roof shingles in 100 degree heat for $9.50/hour.

[RKV]

There are lots of reasons why illegals come - running away from criminal prosecution in Mexico (and elsewhere) is one.

[adam_az]

"Under the Bush program, any employers who use these guest workers will have to prove that they cannot find any American workers to do the jobs."

...and it would be illegal to do otherwise.

Of course, it's illegal to hire them at all now. Whew, good thing nobody does that, huh?

[johnb838]

It is not necessary to deport 8 million, just put the employers in jail, get rid of the anchor babies, and don't give them welfare. They'll deport themselves. Why are you trotting out all of these talking points? You sound like a rat or an administration official.

[RKV]

If we do it right, much of our existing welfare rolls will cease to exist also. And yes there will be some changes. Better that than what we have now. Think of all the English as a Second Language teachers who will be out of work. Yeah!!!

[Southack]

"Our President wants to lead us down a path that we don't want to follow. I'm sure he's confident that he could get his proposal through if the GOP members in the House (forget the Senate) don't fight him on it."

There is very little difference between Tancredo's immigration plan from that of President Bush's immigration plan. Both plans strive to *register* existing illegal aliens and their employers with our federal government; those plans differ only slightly in how and where illegals can register themselves.

The President wants such registration; so does Rep Tancredo. It's *registration* with our government that is the key to turning the current immigration problem into a manageable issue. Thus, an Immigration Plan will be passed after the two Republican sides find and make amenable comprises.

In the meantime, what is going on is that the partisan news media is using buzzwords and innuendo to excite the most radical Republicans into behaving against their own interests and against our Party.

This is to be expected. The Old Media is desperate to find and exploit *any* chink in our current armor.

[rolling_stone]

Well, that's what is going to happen if American agriculture is reliant on American born union labor demanding $15.00/hour to produce $8.00/hour of output. Much of the agricultural and service economy of the Southwest is going to disappear. And that "commodity" economy employs a helluva lot of American born natives in high paying administrative, transportation, manufacturing and financial industries. This is a far more encompassing economic issue than just those illegally resident Mexicans picking melons for $7.50 an hour or pounding roof shingles in 100 degree heat for $9.50/hour.

Uh labor is a small part of agriculture...prices would rise very little with decent wages paid..and mechanization would become more available creating more productivity..

Besides that what about the hidden cost to taxpayers? I'd rather pay 5 cents more for a head of letuce and $200 more for my roof than pay $1500 a year in taxes going straight to illegals...add it up the only one who benefits is the employer, the tacpayers are subsidizing the low wages..

[Barlowmaker]

In that case, I guess we'll have to clean our own toilets, pick our own vegetables, etc.

You expect the 36 million annual visitors to Las Vegas to clean their own toilets in the 126,000 Hotel rooms they frequent? You expect 9 million folks in New York City to pick their own vegetables? Get real.

There is a huge labor market that is being filled by immigrants from Mexico and other third world nations. They are here as a result of inexorable market forces, and they benefit our economy. Las Vegas employs a great number of highly paid, native born professional and blue collar workers, but they would not have jobs if there were not people willing to clean up trashed hotel rooms and scrub casino restroom floors at 3 am.

[JesseJane]

*****

[Barlowmaker]

Uh labor is a small part of agriculture...prices would rise very little with decent wages paid..and mechanization would become more available creating more productivity

Labor is a small part of the cost of harvesting wheat or corn, but it is a large part of the cost of harvesting produce.

[RKV]

All the while you and I pay taxes to keep Americans on welfare, while immigrants work in jobs Americans could and would do. Why don't Americans work these jobs? Simple, they don't have to. We should eliminate welfare. That would help a lot. Basic economics are that if you subsidize a thing (e.g. subsidize poverty with welfare) you will have MORE of it than if you don't.

[LowOiL]

and they benefit our economy

How does sending your money to another country exactly benefit our economy?

Click "HERE" Illegals Cost us $10 Billion a Year;Amnesty Would Nearly Triple Cost

[Barlowmaker]

Let's reform welfare, I'm all for it. If you can politically work a plan that makes welfare recipients work the jobs currently filled by immigrant labor at the wages immigrant labor accepts, I'm 100 percent in your corner.

I'm not optimistic about those prospects in a 51-49 nation.

[Ron H.]

Bush insists he is not offering amnesty to illegal immigrants but Tancredo said that was a "manipulation of language, the kind of thing (former President) Bill Clinton would have done. There is an issue of integrity here and an issue of honesty," he said.

One way to tell if Bush is being honest in his assertions that his plan is not in any way an amnesty plan in disguise in any shape or form is to have Bush okay language in his proposed "guest worker" program to insure that any undocumented alien who entered this country illegally since the last amnesty plan enacted by President Reagan and applies under Bush's plan can never be eligible for citizenship nor (ever) have any access to any type public benefits or assistance and therefore must leave the country within 2 years or face imprisonment and deportation. The new provisions would only be available to those immigrants who enter our country legally and choose to assimilate into American culture.

[Sam the Sham]

There is no such thing as "jobs Americans won't do".

Just jobs Americans won't do for third world wages.