Posted on 01/22/2006 8:20:27 AM PST by dennisw
Guest worker plan: Horns lock on immigration By Mason Stockstill, Staff Writer
The Republican National Committee closed ranks in favor of the president's guest-worker plan on Friday, solidifying the party's support for an immigration proposal that has stoked contentious debate since it was first introduced. Randy Pullen, an RNC member who opposes the plan, had attempted to force a vote on the issue. Pullen later withdrew his resolution, and the committee voted for a resolution that opposed amnesty for illegal immigrants.
The tempest over the resolution -- a nonbinding action that would have no impact on border security legislation pending in the Senate -- revealed how deeply the party is divided on the issue of illegal immigration and border security compared to other issues.
"There's a good deal of concern in the Republican Party, and very different opinions," said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College. "The feelings run hotter on immigration than on capital gains."
President Bush first suggested the guest-worker program in 2004 at the behest of Mexican President Vicente Fox. Under the plan, a limited number of workers from Mexico or other countries would be allowed into the country for a short period of time to perform jobs that no American workers can be found to fill.
Critics have blasted the idea as an amnesty for illegal immigrants, though the president and his supporters say that's not the case.
Meanwhile, the question remains as to what the Senate will do with the border security bill passed by the House last month. The bill would require businesses to verify the immigration status of every employee or face a hefty fine.
The bill does not include a guest-worker provision, but some in Congress believe the plan will be added to the bill once the Senate takes it up, since the Bush administration had lobbied for its inclusion.
"The president has outlined a comprehensive approach to immigration reform, an approach that is based on continuing to take steps to strengthen our borders, as well as moving forward on a temporary worker program to meet an important economic need," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Thursday.
The proposal has made for strange bedfellows, as interest groups often opposed to each other -- such as business and labor -- line up on the same side of the issue.
For example, the leaders of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Service Employees International Union both oppose the legislation pending in the Senate because it lacks a provision to allow illegal immigrants already here to gain legal residence.
"Our laws provide few orderly, legal channels to work in this country," said SEIU President Andy Stern. "This drives many immigrants and their families into treacherous pathways to this country and then into the underground economy."
Legislation sponsored by Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., would permit illegal immigrants to obtain work visas for up to six years. Chamber President Thomas Donohue said that would be a step in the right direction.
"The alternative approach -- rounding up and deporting the 10 to 11 million illegal aliens already working here -- is ridiculous on its face," he said.
"There is no perfect solution, but providing a pathway to legal status under certain conditions, bringing these workers out of the shadows, is the best way to go."
No to a guest worker plan! It is open to corruption and abuse and then the status-quo will return. Furthemore, it will create yet another unnecessary federal bureaucracy.
About 20 of us were on the border for 6 hours last night, we were responsible for the apprehension of about 50 illegals, my partner and I got credit for 5.
This is the reason we (Conservatives) must sit out the next election. Let the RAT's take control of Congress and tell the RNC to "Go To Hell"!
NOT ONE MORE DIME: until the illegals are returned to Mexico and the border is sealed. Legal immigration, yes.
McCain/Kennedy is a horrible amnesty plan that will only worsen the situation. If a guestworker program is to be instated, Kyl/Cornyn is by far the better option.
If anyone doesn't understand Orwellian "double think" all they need do is listen to Bush, McCain et al. Just as they don't understand or use the word "illegal" so, too, they won't call their proposals what they are - AMNESTY. Too many Republican businessmen love the cheap labor and the Democrats love the votes. Right now Americans are paying for their failure to protect our border from a foreign invasion - higher taxes for social welfare, prison incarceration, bankrupt school districts, hospitals curtailing more and more emergency services, etc. And this doesn't even touch on their indifference to our national security. Dick Morris was right when he said if some terrorists waltz across our border and kill thousands of Americans, Bush should and will be impeached. We hear alot of talk about securing the Iraqi border with Syria to prevent terrorist infiltration. What about ours?
ping!
January 21, 2006
To: RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman
Subject: The return of my 2006 RNC Membership Card
It is with deep regret that I find myself writing this letter to you.
I did in fact receive my 2006 RNC Membership Card. I will not be renewing my membership and I am returning the card to you. If you care about the why, then please read this entire letter.
When I pulled the lever for our current President in the elections of 2000 and 2004, this is what I thought I was voting for.
Limited Government
I am at odds with certain aspects of the Patriot Act with regards to the access of all types of records and data that may be private and none of this governments business.
Equally appalling is the attempt of this government to access Google’s database.
Don’t bring the War on Terror into this, you had all the info in the world to nail the 911 hijackers, but the size of the bureaucracy prevented this government from doing so.
Equally disappointing is the bungling of communication that occurred during Katrina. I am not holding the Federal Government responsible for the suffering, but I am making the point that the more you grow the federal Government the less it will actually be able to accomplish.
A Reduction of Taxes and Simplification of the Tax Code
Although some progress has been made on tax relief overall the tax code as we know it is a mess. Let’s move to the “Fair Tax” specified by Congressman Linder and Libertarian Neil Boortz. This will go along way in helping remove the lobbyist influence over our tax code in addition to trapping a lot of currently uncollected revenue.
Giving in to the WTO with regards to expiring export taxes is a joke. What happened to a level playing field? How can the exporters of domestic services and goods compete when you tie their hands behind their backs? How can you encourage investment state side with policies like that?
Adherence to the US Constitution and Working to Up Hold it’s Values!
U.S. Constitution Excerpt
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The campaign finance law passed under this administration was an direct assault to our Constitution. This must be reviewed and repealed.
U.S. Constitution Excerpt
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions.
The illegal immigration problem is at critical mass, but our President refuses to act forcefully in concurrence with our Constitution.
U.S. Constitution Excerpt
Nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
No greater assault on the Constitution and the ownership of private property can be seen than the Kelo decision. Where is the outrage from our supposedly Conservative controlled congress and Senate about this horrendous decision? What about the “Ownership Society” that is so often talked about in the halls of Washington? I cannot even convey the utter disappointment I feel over this.
A Strong Military
I do support the President on Afghanistan and Iraq, but do not support more butter than guns. Being able to afford a couple of hundred state of the art fighter’s is a far cry from where President Ronald Reagan had us a mere 20 years ago.
The Economy
Please, let’s not even go there. The only thing that kept things pointed in what appears to be the correct direction is Alan and the printing press. You want proof? Look at the price of gold and energy; they are the “real” international currency, not the dollar. The current administration and the previous one of Clinton did and are still living off of the economy and military of a real Conservative!
In closing, yes the Administration has done a good job in the Middle East and twenty years from now will probably be seen as a brilliant move in bring democracy there. I just hope we will be as free here at home.
If you need money to fund your mid term elections I suggest you go talk to the people the listed organizations below, because they seem to know what a Conservative should stand for. They are also getting all of my available funds in the future that is if the RNC does not change course.
Minute Man Project
The Gun Owners Association
Aopa
The NRA
Congressman Tancrado
United States Senate Candidate, John Mitchel (To replace the “RINO” Dewine)
Ohio State Gubernatorial Candidate, Kenneth Blackwell
National Right to Life Association
P.S. This may not be fact, but it is how I feel. You guys on the hill do not give a rat’s arse about the Constitution or the Son’s or Daughter’s of this Nation. The only thing that seems to matter is the amount of cash that can be jammed in the coffers and pleasing the One Worlder’s and I for one am sick of it.
For example, the leaders of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Service Employees International Union both oppose the legislation pending in the Senate because it lacks a provision to allow illegal immigrants already here to gain legal residence.
"Our laws provide few orderly, legal channels to work in this country," said SEIU President Andy Stern. "This drives many immigrants and their families into treacherous pathways to this country and then into the underground economy."
Note to Chamber of Commerce and SEIU...
YOU FORGOT THE WORD ILLEGAL YOU FRICKIN TRAITORS!!!!
I am SICK of these traitorous sell-out America types trying to control the debate by defining the language!
These are ILLEGAL INFILTRATORS, you P.O.S.'s! They have not been screened for Criminality...Contagoius Diseases...nothing!
And YOU sell out Americans for your 30 pieces of Silver!
Time for a revolt of the EXTREME kind to regain Control of our Country, it's Borders, and just WHO THE HELL we allow in with our PERMISSION!
Time to SLAM THE BORDERS SHUT until we eject all the Illegals that are here now!
Sorry to shout, but some tings NEED to be shouted, as our "Leaders" are FRICKIN' TONE-DEAF!
When, not IF, terrosists kill more Americans on American soil, and we find they just walked in across our Border from Mexico OR Canada...then things will get HOT for the OBL-ers!
One pol who knows the truth is Tancredo -- and Bush tells us alot about himself and his values when he makes his dislike of him obvious. I don't think these pols WANT to see Americans die anymore than Neville Chamberlain wanted Hitler to conquer Europe. It's more like the law of unintended consequences - too many wake up when it's too late!
We already have a guest worker program. It's called an H1b work visa. Enforce current immigration laws and protect our borders!
There should be ZERO discussion of anything that lures more illegals across our borders UNTIL sufficient means of securing our borders is in place.
sorry....
I don't do endorsements
Guest-worker? Guest welfare recipients. Guest drug dealers. Guest prostitutes. Guest gang members.
agreed...
but the majority of the politicians still haven't heard us....
so how do we get their attention.....
throw some more lobbiest into the mix....???
I just don't know what this answer is.......
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