And that is a fact of life in modern American politics when you need millions of dollars to get elected to Congress.
If I were Emperor of the United States, all campaign contributions would be considered bribery and 10 local cable channels would be set aside so that political candidates could talk themselves blue in the face free of charge.
The lobbyists now bribe Congress-critters to ignore illegal immigration because they need a certain number of workers in certain occupations that they just can't get in the U.S.
Bush's guest worker program addresses that economic need and illuminates the lobbyist need to bribe Congress to ignore illegal immigration.
I like the British system where all candidates get the exact same amount of government paid air time, period. They can't buy anymore. Personally I'd set a max and let them pay for it, but the limit would be low. They want to reach the people? Get on a bus/train/plain and go meet the people. This alone would greatly reduce the bribery levels.