Watch Pence on immigration

Feelings on immigration are running high these days, but the thought that they may prevent any action at all scares many Republicans.

Congressional conservatives remain adamantly opposed to the quasi-amnesty and “guest worker” provisions in the Senate approach supported by the president, Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) and are vowing that no bill that comes out of conference including such an amnesty will win House approval. Bush and his allies are just as committed to a bill that will include both.

Both sides say they favor border security but seem quite prepared to sacrifice action on it unless they get their way on the rest of the bill. The result, of course, could be no bill at all and an open political sore that will fester during the upcoming elections.

Administration strategists believe that once they get to conference they’ll be able to cajole, bribe or force House Republicans to accept most if not all of what the president wants and that a conference report including both the administration’s quasi-amnesty provisions and the guest-worker program will, in fact, pass the House. They base this belief on their ability to work with House Republican leaders as they have in the past to force conservatives into line, Democratic support for their approach and the fear among many Washington-based Republicans that doing anything will beat doing nothing.

That fear is in many ways peculiar to Washington, where it is an article of faith that if problems are taken off the table by passing something dealing with them the public will be mollified, regardless of the substance. The Bush administration has operated on this theory from the beginning and is just now discovering that the president’s base is splintering because of the substance of what he’s done, rather than because he hasn’t done enough.

Thus administration spokesmen bragging about Bush’s accomplishments tend to list the very same legislative achievements that conservatives outside the Washington Beltway list as reasons for their alienation. Indeed, as the administration and Republican congressional leaders piled “accomplishment” on “accomplishment,” Republicans around the country became more and more disillusioned with what was going on.

What none of them seems to realize is that the public, or at least the politically attentive public, is as interested in what they do as in the fact that they do something.

On immigration, the public has been demanding from the outset that control of the border must precede any discussion of legal immigration levels, procedures designed to deal with illegals already here or various measures that would make it easier for those seeking work here to gain temporary or semipermanent access to such work. The administration’s desire to solve all these problems in one package may make some logical sense but ignores the fact that such comprehensive proposals at present lack credibility with the public.

Failing to address the border issue could result in political disaster, but so could the adoption of legislation seen by the voting public as likely to make the problem it is meant to solve even worse. The Senate approach is already seen in this light. It won’t solve the political problem and should be rejected by House GOP conferees regardless of whatever pressure they might come under from the administration or their leaders.

It also means, however, that the Senate, the administration and House conservatives have to seek common ground in dealing with the problem in a manner that enhances border security, rejects amnesty and deals reasonably with those illegals here today and with the legitimate need to match those who come here legally with willing employers who will play by the rules.

Fortunately, there are some seeking solutions to these problems that neither surrender principle nor ignore real problems. Chief among them is Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who has put forth an alternative that could attract support from reasonable men and women on both sides of the debate. There is no more credible conservative in Congress today than Pence. He has proved himself over time as both a serious legislator and a principled conservative capable of resisting the temptations and threats emanating from within his own party.

Since speaking out at the Heritage Foundation just before the recess, Pence has come under attack from those on both sides willing to accept the status quo unless they get their own way. Those attacks in themselves should force reasonable members of Congress to take a serious look at Pence’s proposal.

Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, is a managing associate with Carmen Group, a D.C.-based governmental-affairs firm (www.carmengrouplobbying.com).

Chief among them is Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who has put forth an alternative that could attract support from reasonable men and women on both sides of the debate.

Pence's plan is amnesty.

But the plan met immediate resistance from Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), leader of House Republicans who oppose moves toward legalizing undocumented immigrants.

"Mike Pence is making the same mistakes that the president has — using the straw man of mass deportations and redefining amnesty to suit his interests," Tancredo said. He added that he was baffled by Pence's shift from an enforcement-only position.

Only Nixon Could Go to China, and Only Pence Could Sell Amnesty to the House

Reagan conservatives all across the country where upset with Tancredo's personal attacks on Pence.Disagree if you like but do not slander.Just because you don't LIKE SOMETHING does not make it amnesty.

Shame on you, Tom Tancredo!

Congressman Tancredo,
Indiana Congressman Mike Pence is a hero to me and other conservatives all across the country.You used to be.
Disagreeing with Congressman Pence's new approach to immigration is one thing, slandering the plan and the man and posting the most unflattering picture you can find of the man is another.
I am one of those conservatives who have constantly defended you from my Republican establishment friends and other critics of yours who say all negatives things about you.
They said you were a demagogue who wanted the issue more than the solution.
I said you were a Patriot fighting in the trenches for us.

They said you were a conservative only in it for money
I said you were a man of integrity

They said the most dangerous place to be in America was not in a big city ally at 3am but rather between you,Tom Tancredo and a reporter or television camera.
I told them they were wrong you were simply dedicated in your work.

They said you were ineffective
I said no way

They all said you were a joke and not a man personally not worthy of the title of Congressman.

I told all of them every time with out exception they were wrong.

It appears they were RIGHT and I was wrong.

Saying Pence "redefined amnesty to suit his interests" is false.Pence is a man of integrity and only does what he thinks is good for the country.
Congressman Pence mentioned your name during his speech saying he just spent a half an hour talking with you and that you were "looking it over"(Pence's plan). Obviously, Pence would not have used your name in the speech if you had used this type of rhetoric when talking with him in person.Which brings me to my next questions, Did you tell Pence you were going to be adamantly opposed when talking with him? or did you simply blind side him? Did you take your case to Pence in private? or simply send out the press releases?

Pence's plan while not perfect (he freely admits it is a compromise on his part)It is the only plan that can viably pass conference while keeping HR 4437 intact.You say Pence's plan isn't security first, you know that isn't true,Pence's plan would keep 4437 intact save for two exceptions (felony provision,and Good samaritan provision).

Pence's plan does the following:
1 seal the border(4437)
2 enforce existing interior laws(4437)
3 grant NO path to citizenship
4 remove all 12 million illegals from America
5 require all illegals to return home before being eligible for guest worker
6 end anchor baby citizenship

You call this amnesty! Apparently you do not want a guestworker at any cost and that is an ok position to have but do not call a plan amnesty just because you do not agree with it.Pence realizes for 4437 to pass conference he would have to compromise. Pence plan is to trade
1 a sealed border
2 enforced interior laws
3 granting no path to citizenship
4 requiring all illegals to go home
5 the END of undocumented aliens

in exchange for
1 a limited guest worker program for those who return home and apply

Not Perfect. but with the liberal Senate we have it is the best we can do.
What is the alternative? Allow the Democrats to team up with Open border Republicans and grant real AMNESTY? Apparently that is what you want so you can keep the issue alive.
Disagree with Pence if you like,but do it honestly and above reproach. This is not amnesty and Pence is a man of integrity and a hero. You used to be. Perhaps you can answer the questions I posed to you next time you are in South Carolina. I will be the guy in the front row with 20 or so of my Christian conservative friends wearing Pence buttons and we will come up to you after and ask "why do you have no shame"

Mike Rains
former Tancredo fan

Pence's plan

Tancreo posts bad picture of Pence here

Tancredo bashes Pence

Watch Pence's speech

http://scgop.redstate.com/story/2006/5/24/74931/0246

They don't seem to realize that, they don't have to pass another law.

All they have to do is enforce the current laws.

People are mad because the senates idea of solving the problem is to appease the illegals with a welfare program larger than any we have ever seen. Their brilliant solution to any problem is a flowery name on a bill that only results in printing money and writing checks as the society spirals down.

Responsible legislators would move to preserve sovereignty, by protecting borders , language and culture. Not by attempting to buy off another 100 million new votes just to keep their jobs and look compassionate for the socialist media.

The senate has evolved into a true house of lords and ladies, it will take a generation to get it back as we have to wait for these entrenched elites to die off from natural causes. Support the House, Lobby the House.

Remember it is still the Peoples House.

Only could a person who refuses to see reality could call mass deportations and no citizenship amnesty.

You need to read the Pence plan more closely. If you think sending folks off for a week to Ellis Island centers is mass deportation, you have no sense of reality. Here's what Pence says,

"The process that I just described to you will only take a matter of one week, or less. That is the beauty of the program. Speed is so important. No employer in America wants to lose employees for an extended amount of time. No worker who is earning money to feed and clothe a family can afford to be off the job for long."

"But, an employer faced with a looming requirement to verify the legality of its employees and stiff fines for employing illegal aliens will be willing to use a quick system to obtain legal employees. And, an illegal alien currently employed in America will be willing to take a quick trip across the border to come back outside of the shadows and in a job where he does not fear a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement."

"In fact, I envision employers working with placement agencies to make sure that their long-time illegal employees get their paperwork processed, background checks performed, and visas issued so that they will be back on the job quickly.

Beyond this sham deportation, Pence then provides a path to citizenship for the guest worker.

"There also will be a limit on the amount of time a guest worker can spend in America. Guest workers will be allowed to renew their W Visas, but only for a period of up to six years. At that point, the guest should decide whether to return home or enter the separate process of seeking citizenship. We cannot have people coming to America as permanent guest workers. That is why having a six-year limit is important. It keeps the meaning of the word "guest" in guest worker."

Pence said the process could be completed within a week, causing minimal disruption to the immigrants and their employers. Applicants would have to go through background checks. Visas for the program would be renewable three times, for a total of six years, but only if applicants passed an English proficiency test after the first two years.

"After the third term, they have to apply for permanent legal residence or leave," said Matt Lloyd, a spokesman for Pence.

Apply for permanent legal residence or leave. This is amnesty. It is also unworkable from a logistics standpoint.

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