Like these fine citizens at the hispanic rally/march in Chicago.
Posted on 03/16/2006 1:51:16 PM PST by VU4G10
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under pressure to produce broad immigration reform legislation by the end of the month, a U.S. Senate panel on Thursday neared agreement on a proposal that would give some of the 12 million illegal aliens living in the country an opportunity to earn citizenship.
Although no vote will be held until after a weeklong congressional recess, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday appeared ready to back a proposal by panel member Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, who has worked on the issue with his Republican colleague John McCain of Arizona.
The panel, which is working on comprehensive immigration and border security legislation, will also consider a related proposal that would allow foreigners to enter the United States as legal guest workers and then have a chance to earn permanent status.
Republicans are divided over immigration policy, and the Judiciary Committee plan is likely to spark a firestorm from conservatives who oppose regularizing the status of illegal immigrants, saying they would be rewarded after breaking U.S. immigration law.
But backers cite both economic and security reasons. They say that providing a path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship will avoid creating a permanent underclass of workers and help bring illegals aliens out of the shadows.
Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican who opposes giving permanent status to illegals, said after the meeting that the panel would probably vote for the Kennedy plan.
"The votes are there," Grassley said.
NO AMNESTY
Kennedy told the committee the proposal was not an amnesty. People seeking legal status would have to pay a $2,000 fine, apply for a six-year temporary status, have a job, pay taxes, learn English and show an understanding of U.S. government.
They would not get permanent status faster than the three million foreigners awaiting legal entry, he said.
"There is no moving to the front of the line, there is no free ticket," Kennedy said. "This is not amnesty."
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, quipped that the requirements "probably exclude half of my family."
The panel also reached tentative agreement on a guest worker program sought by President George W. Bush has said he wants. A compromise struck between Kennedy and Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, would give future temporary workers an opportunity to seek permanent status after four years.
U.S. business groups favor creating a temporary worker program to help fill jobs that Americans either cannot or will not do. Both business and labor groups also favor giving current undocumented workers a way to legalize their status.
Committee members said details would be worked out during the recess.
The panel is working against a deadline set by Majority Leader Bill Frist. The Tennessee Republican, and possible contender in the 2008 presidential race, wants the Senate to take up a bill addressing only enforcement and border security. He threatened to do that on March 27 if the Judiciary Committee failed to reach agreement on comprehensive legislation.
Whether Congress will finalize immigration legislation before the November congressional elections is unclear. Both Democrats and Republicans are likely to use the issue to gain advantage.
The House of Representatives has voted for tough border security and enforcement legislation with no guest worker program. The two sides would have to work out their differences before a bill could be sent to Bush for his signature.
Hey, you were the one who said:
"When they were conservatives...You may have heard that term...And if you don't know what it means, you can look it up in a Funk and Wagonall"
So I'll ask again: Who is conservative enough for you?
Do you think this is a good tactic?
Or are you just saying that is was an entertaining book?
I'm not clear as to what you point is.
Not even politicians are required to do that.
And for danged sure government school graduates aren't.
Like these fine citizens at the hispanic rally/march in Chicago.
I am conservative enough for me..But I haven't figured out how to collect big bucks from Corporate American and Multi-National groups to get on the ballot, without selling my soul...
Anyone who puts America before money and power is likely conservative enough for me...
Any number of people here on FR are conservative enough for me to cast a ballot for (excluding yourself, of course)...
Immigration reform:
Hire an illegal alien, go to jail.
Problem solved.
What irks me is that people wait to do this legally, and they are going to go to the end of the line when we let people who did it illegally gain citizenship.
Hey - we'll never have a politician we agree with 100% on every issue. It's impossible and has never happened and never will happen. We're too big a country with too many diverse interests.
I think it will still be quite awhile before people snap.
We've been through much worse than this. Much of what we argue about is a tempest in a teapot. Certainly individuals snap day in and day out.
But fortunately, for the most part, cooler heads prevail.
The book is entertaining no doubt. But in real life, those tactics backfire mightily no matter how frustrated people are.
We were sold down the river long ago.
Now they just remind us occasionally that we are nothing to them.
Check the responses on this question, your neighborhood, is anywhere USA. No community has not been affected, excepting of course Hyannis Port and other playgrounds of the Rich and Famous.
We'll be sold down the river because big business has Bush's ear.
Big business has always had politician's ears.Politicians serve big business not the people.
"That's not such a bad deal."
Likely few will comply. Why should they? It'll cost them $2,000.
This also encourages a new flood, as they know they will also be awarded amnesty at some point. This is a bad deal. Don't kid yourself, or try to kid anyone here.
You can say that again!
"In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that can profit."
AYN RAND
Please call them INVADERS!
President Bush has been great on most things except for our border.
He has been great on the war on terrorists.
But on the border he is a gross failure.
He acted fast and correct on the 3,000+ people murdered at the world trade center.
He ignores the many rapes, murders and robberies which might be larger than the murders and money loss at the world trade center.
More Americans are abducted on the border of Mexico than in Iraq!
Start building the fence.
It should be made a felony for Criminals who overstay their visas and Invaders.
I believe we should give amnesty to these poor CRIMINALS or INVADERS.
This should be a 2 week amnesty to get the heck out of our Country.
The ones who ignore this amnesty should be buried in a tent city jail and fined $10,000 or buried elsewhere.
All aiders and abettors of these CRIMINALS or INVADERS should get 1 year in a tent city jail and a $10,000 fine for each CRIMINAL aided.
Those in government should be the first ones charged.
Only because it's an election year. If it weren't we'd stay in exactly the same place. It's called pandering. The people in Washington all know the largest minority is no longer the black population.
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