Posted on 07/14/2006 7:11:56 PM PDT by calcowgirl
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger scolded Congress on Friday for failing to enact immigration reforms, saying lawmakers should put aside election-year politics and get to work on a plan that would strengthen the border and allow temporary workers to come here legally.
The Republican governor showed growing impatience with Washington and his own party, saying illegal crossings and drug-running will persist at the border as long as the House and Senate remain deadlocked. He also criticized lawmakers for holding hearings on the issue in cities across the nation.
"Don't run around the country now ... and have all these hearings. You've had for the last 20 years the time to have the hearings," Schwarzenegger said in remarks to members of the California Newspaper Publishers Association.
Congress needs to "do the work and be responsible," he said.
Schwarzenegger has long faulted the federal government for lax security at the border and praised efforts by the Minutemen civilian border patrols to fill the gap.
California has more illegal immigrants than any other state - an estimated 2.4 million, more than the entire population of Nebraska.
On June 1, Schwarzenegger agreed to send the California National Guard to the Mexican border to help the federal government's effort to curb illegal immigration. But he has called the approach flawed, saying a comprehensive solution is needed that would include a temporary worker program along with tougher border security.
"I'm very concerned right now that the federal government has been, you know, too lax about that issue," the governor said. "They have to figure out a way of reforming the immigration laws so that we can bring - legally - workers into the United States."
In a global economy, workers need to be able to cross borders as needed, particularly for industries such as agriculture and construction, Schwarzenegger said.
The House and Senate are holding competing hearings this summer on immigration, with the House focusing on tighter border enforcement and the Senate promoting an approach that includes a pathway to legalization for many illegal immigrants.
LOL In LA county alone there are probably more than that.
Now, wait a minute. Make up your mind, Rinold. Temporary workers and immigrants are not one and the same.
Immigrants by definition are people who come to this country to stay. Temporary workers, by definition, are people who come to this country not to stay.
And, by the way, don't we already have a system in place for people to come to this country legally?
Even though it is just talk, at least Arnie is piping up!! Good for him, if only to stir up and pass-off the dysfunctional and corrupt Congress. Next I want to see Arnie, carrying a small mini-gun, standing along side the Minutemen on the border!!!
Yeah!!! :-)
"I want my election year cake, and I want to eat it too!"
More than likely, you'd find him standing with Hagel-Martinez instead. He favors "earned citizenship" and "comprehensive reform" and thinks folks are just wasting time dealing with the enforcement of illegals. The enforcement he favors is for criminals and drug trafficking only.
But, hey. He still has most people fooled. It's an election year--try to make everybody happy!
Proof?
The fact that he also was a supporter of tougher border enforcement/minutemen created real problems for those who can't comprehend how anyone could support both positions.
Arnold, and many others including Bush, have now abandoned the Bush plan to support the politically feasible Hagel-Martinez Compromise.
Hey Arnold. They are not temporary workers, they are illegals. Once we seal the border, then we can decide what to do with them.
"Immigration politics also surfaced in California's gubernatorial race Tuesday, with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger renewing his support for the civilian Minuteman border patrols at a campaign stop to showcase his Latino supporters in a Mexican restaurant in Lynwood.
"State Treasurer Phil Angelides, Schwarzenegger's Democratic challenger in the November election, has tried to undercut his support among Latinos by citing the governor's support for the Minuteman group."
"Angelides uses the Minutemen comment at every opportunity to undermine the governor's support among Hispanics."
Well, Angelides would disagree with you.
But then, ever since you came to FR 2 weeks ago it's been non-stop anti-Pence border bashing.
You seem like just another newbie troll.
No, a troll is an obnoxious newbie with an agenda.
You come on this thread bashing Arnold about the border when even Tom McClintock backs Arnold.
No one agrees with the Minutemen 100%, not even the Minutemen!
That he would say ANYthing in support, at his own political expense, is something you should be grateful, not hateful, for.
Unless of course, you're an obnoxious newbie troll with an agenda.
First, the Senate.
Second, probably the House, if Hastert would allow it onto the floor.
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