Posted on 08/05/2005 1:04:32 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
The president, in a wide-ranging talk, gives a hint at how he'll pitch reform measures
GRAPEVINE - President Bush told a crowd of state legislators Wednesday that he will push immigration reform as beneficial for U.S. employers as well as foreigners looking for work.
He also made an impassioned pitch for Americans to stay behind the war in Iraq.
"Immigration reform is going to be an interesting subject when we get back to Washington" in September, said Bush, who plans to spend this month at his Crawford ranch.
He argued that his proposal for a "guest worker" program is good for employers and illegal immigrants who want a mutually beneficial relationship.
"If you are a willing employer (and) you have somebody looking for work and you can't find an American, there ought to be a legal way for you to employ that person," he said. "We'd rather have people coming in with a card that said, 'I'm a legal worker,' than trying to sneak across the border."
The president has proposed a system under which immigrants would be granted worker temporary worker status, after which they would have to leave the United States. Critics have called it a thinly veiled amnesty program. Immigration reform plans have stalled in Congress so far this year, and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist recently suggested a GOP push on the issue was more likely to happen next year.
Talking hours after the first reports that 14 U.S. Marines were killed in Iraq, Bush said, "The violence in recent days in Iraq is a grim reminder of the enemies we face. These terrorists and insurgents will use brutal tactics because they're trying to shake the will of the United States of America."
With polls showing that public support for continued military involvement in Iraq is eroding in the face of steady casualties, Bush relied on a familiar linkage of the war with the larger struggle against terrorism. He said Americans who died in Iraq and Afghanistan "lost their lives in a noble cause."
Speaking to 1,800 people at the American Legislative Exchange Council conference, Bush basked in recent legislative victories delivered by a GOP majority in Congress, including the Central American Free Trade Agreement and energy and highways legislation.
Bush said his priorities when Congress reconvenes after Labor Day will be immigration reform, making his tax cuts permanent, getting Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts confirmed and resurrecting his Social Security reform initiative.
Bush drew loud cheers by saying he strongly believed in private retirement accounts for workers under 55. "Now is the time to permanently fix Social Security," he said.
The event was held at a mammoth convention center where visiting legislators were introduced to Texas pride, including a large replica of the Alamo, a 10-foot-long space shuttle model and other state symbols.
that's exactly why the term "race to the bottom" is applicable to what is going on with regards to current trade and open borders policy.
Not finding an American employees is the biggest lie ever. It all is ABOUT BURDENING WITH PROOF THE AMERICAN WORKERS AND REMOVING OF ANY BURDEN THE GUEST WORKER... NOT TO MENTION THEIR DOUBLE FREEDOM TO WORK HERE AND THERE IS NOT RECIPROCATED FOR OUR FREEDOM TO WORK WHERE THEY COME FROM!!!!
THAT MAKES US INFLEXIBLE LOSERS FROM THE GET GO.
Maybe Bush agrees with Gloria Steinmen, men (American) are just bicycle, with no blood or allegiance to care for, just dump them out and keep the flexible ones
I hope Dane and Bayourod see that picture and invite those wonderful guests to date their daughters.
I get the feeling they already have millions of cards printed up.
How is it a help that 340,000 pounds of drugs were confiscated in one month alone by border control agents a help considering that most of the drugs gets into the country?
How is it a help that Mexican gangs are committing violent crimes in this country?
Just the price of doing business.
Privatize the profits and socialize the costs.
Sad to say, but I like the gridlock of 1995-1999 better than the nonsense of this administration now. At least Newt had some gusto to stall Clinton on his agenda.
The guest worker program I envision would be exactly what the name says.....a "GUEST" worker problem.
If an illegal immigrant wants to "upgrade" to legal status, he could apply for a guest worker permit but "amnesty" would not mean a Green Card. It would only mean he was now a legal "guest" for the time period specified.
At U.S. Naval Base, Guantanamo, we had Jamaican "guest workers". They did the jobs we needed done, they got paid and, when their contract period was over, they either signed up again or they went back home to Jamiaca.
Exactly. GWB is so ridiculous with this nonsense. He is delusional at best, although lying is probably a better term. There is no way the government will ever throw these people out after if they are not doing it now.
If they want to bring in more people while having less border agents authorized and deputized to deport people, who is kidding who Mr. President?
No NO NO, Mr. President!!!! ARE YOU LISTENING ????????????
I'm sure it will. That way, they won't have to hire real Americans.
It's like a black Republican told me. If you are brave and dont use your color for hiring preferences, none of the benefiting whites will lift a finger to support that stance and you will never get a job. Heck, if they hired you for this reason they would be accused of conspiracy of undermining quotas themselves and be sued... which means that a black going on his own performance record is also liable to be sued to conspire against quotas...
When the right supports their own policies or politics, it seems to be against the law or to be dangerous, it is how it has become. When the left blatantly discriminates, you cannot touch them.
Permanent citizenship is the only "LEGAL" way to work in this country! This is the only common sense way to solve the problem. This President knows this to be true yet he still to this late hour refuses to put this issue to rest. The border is pororus as a sive and getting more so each following day. When will we as a nation stop this madness and retire him permanently to the ranch? Impeach Bush NOW!!!
Tom Tancredo for President! as of now, and if he doesn't pan out Impeach him as well! Keep at it until We The People are heard loud and clear.
They are telling you and me that we are dirt, must accept them in our houses, and they they know the government is behind them, not us taxpayers.
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