Posted on 08/15/2005 4:37:18 PM PDT by Spiff
Majority Leader Signals Republican Establishment's Desire for Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO) praised Majority Leader Tom Delay's endorsement of key components of his immigration reform and border security bill, the REAL GUEST Act of 2005.
The Houston Chronicle reported today that Delay favored withholding federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities that do not cooperate with federal law enforcement in identifying and prosecuting illegal aliens. Tancredo has proposed amendments to the Commerce, Justice, Science, State appropriations bill and the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities in each of the past three sessions of Congress. The REAL GUEST Act requires the Attorney General to certify that localities do not have sanctuary policies before transmitting federal funds.
Delay told a gathering of Republicans in Fort Bend County that, "Before Congress takes any significant legislation, we must secure our nation's borders." The REAL GUEST Act requires measurable border security goals be met before any guest worker program is implemented, including the following: the absconder rate for illegal aliens is less than five percent, 80 percent of visa overstays are located and removed within one year of overstaying, all non-citizens are issued biometric travel documents, and 10,000 new border patrol agents are deployed.
Delay also said that he "would support legislation even stricter than Cornyn's." He said he is against guest workers bringing their families and that children born to illegal aliens should not automatically become U.S. citizens. Tancredo's REAL GUEST Act is the only bill of the big three (McCain-Kennedy, Cornyn-Kyl and Tancredo) that prohibits families coming with guest workers and blocks birthright citizenship.
"I'm encouraged by Tom Delay's remarks. It's good to hear my party's leadership paying attention to the base and getting serious about immigration reform," said Tancredo. "The President and now the majority leader have said that we need to address immigration and border security. Seven years after taking to the House floor night after night, I can say we've come a long way."
In the meantime, here's a link to an overview of the legislation:
http://tancredo.house.gov/pressers/071905Comprehensive%20Section-by-Section%20--%20final.htm
So, if Delay can put Tom's misinterpreted comments about the invented scandals surrounding the House Majority Leader, can't those FReepers who have been using them as a bludgeon to unfairly attack Tancredo? I mean, even RNC Chair Ken Mehlman is saying nice things about him according to a Denver Post article published today about how the political winds are shifting for Tom Tancredo.
I just saw that some of this is news from last week. I can't tell how recent this news actually is and I didn't see anything posted on FR about it.
Better get some popcorn, this is gonna be a good thread.
Hearing from some Congresscritters during recess. Must be an election season coming up.
ping
No ---t!
Tom has been so out-front on this issue. LMAO
Funny how this topic suddenly became important after Richardson declared his counties to be in a state of emergency.
This is both encouraging and infuriating.
Why did it take a democrat to convince the Republican leadership to pull it's collective head out?
We want a bill that doesn't even mention guest workers.
We want the current laws enforced strictly.
Rush is right..Pubs are going to loose the next election on immigration..cause I won't vote for them..they will loose a good piece of the conservative core vote.
So DeLay is finally getting of the PC bandwagon and deciding to actually SERVE the people who elected him and protect our borders?
Now ... where's the rest of the RNC? Having breakfast with the DNC still?
Aree they going to stand up for America or are they going to piddle around until those "uncouth" southerners with their big guns decide to lower the sights to more ground hugging vermin targets?
I don't know exactly when this got out of hand, but it seemed to be nothing more than an annoyance 20 years ago, and the authorities did nothing, and apparently have done nothing since. Why is a mystery unless big business liked the deal.
Actually Mehlman said those nice remarks about tancredo a month ago and it seems that Delay wants to work with Kyl/Cornyn, not grandstand at them as tancredo is wont to do.
This is amazing .. I guess the WH got our msg after all. I've filled out several GOP surveys and I've said that I'm upset and concerned for my safety - I live 38 miles from the border and 2 of the hijackers lived here in San Diego - which means there's a community here ready to receive terrorists.
What a team this could be...The Hammer and The Bomb!!!
Actually Delay made his remarks before china gate figure richardson's minor maneuver.
But unlike tancredo, Delay wishes to work with conservatives not grandstand at them.
The Houston Chronicle reported today that Delay favored withholding federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities...
YESSSSSS!!
Yes, but everyone be very careful to see fruit and not just empty promises. These are critters of the executive and legislative branches, they can tell you what you want to hear and figure by the time they're voted in, THEN they can do what they want and what their big business buddies want.
Look for results, not promises.
LOL Sure...
Well, we both know the answer: It's all about elections. The GOP is (justifiably) scared to death that the Dems will outflank them to the right on this issue.
Actually the administration got the message a long time ago(the Kyl/Cornyn bill being introduced).
This is more grandstanding and publicity grabbing on tancredo's part.
LMAO These comments of yours are a real hoot.
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