Posted on 05/19/2007 4:48:30 PM PDT by ER_in_OC,CA
WASHINGTON — The Capitol phones were ringing off the hook Friday.
In fact, the day proved to be one of the busiest in months for call volume, Senate aides said.
The reason? Immigration.
Next week, the Senate plans to take up the divisive bill that would provide the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. with a pathway to legal status, and callers felt the need to vent, mostly.
"I'd say the calls have been heavy, very heavy in fact," said Dan McLaughlin, communications director for Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. "The overwhelming number of callers were opposed to the immigration deal. I would say they're opposed largely on the basis of the view that it offers amnesty, even though the bill does not."
The situation was as bad, if not worse, in Sen. Mel Martinez's office. The Florida Republican you'll recall helped broker the controversial immigration deal this week.
"Yeah, we're getting a lot of calls," Martinez spokesman Ken Lundberg said, with a chuckle. "Not just from Florida, but across the nation on both sides of the issue."
McLaughlin said Nelson advised his aides to make note of the callers' concerns.
For now, the senator is "wanting to reserve judgment on the developing deal," McLaughlin said, adding that a 384-page draft of the bill had been delivered to the office Friday morning.
Even if the sweeping immigration legislation does pass the Senate in the coming days, the real problems begin in the House, where members — especially Republicans — haven't been too keen on a comprehensive approach.
Last year, with the mid-term elections right around the corner, House lawmakers chose to stick to a border protection bill.
It doesn't look like much has changed.
On Friday, Rep. Dave Weldon, the Republican who represents Vero Beach, called the Senate proposal "a bad bill."
"Amnesty first, border security later, American citizens last, that's the bottom line of this proposal," Weldon said.
“I’d say the calls have been heavy, very heavy in fact,” said Dan McLaughlin, communications director for Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. “The overwhelming number of callers were opposed to the immigration deal. I would say they’re opposed largely on the basis of the view that it offers amnesty, even though the bill does not.”
McLaughlin’s a bold faced punk liar !!!
Why wouldn’t, say, any citizen just sign up for the Z-visa?
Ayn Rand is doing 78 RPM.
communications director for Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. “The overwhelming number of callers were opposed to the immigration deal. I would say they’re opposed largely on the basis of the view that it offers amnesty, even though the bill does not.”
I actually find that line right in line with everything else they are saying....they need to educate us, we are racist, vigilantes, etc.
Even when it is in their face with millions of phone calls they still won’t change their attitudes.
That tells me we have a serious problem with our elected officials and the people who work for them.
Who is gaining from this???
Now, does the Z visa supercede the controlled substances rules or not? I just bet there's a dope killer clause in the legislative proposal that lets the dopers in.
I have a cousin who owes the IRS a fair chunk of change. Maybe he can sign up for a Z-visa and get all that annoying IRS debt forgiven!
Yeah, we’re getting a lot of calls,” Martinez spokesman Ken Lundberg said, with a chuckle. “Not just from Florida, but across the nation on both sides of the issue.”
This line really irks me. He said it with a chuckle, huh? Obviously indicates that the powers that be aren’t taking the people seriously—always a bad decision. If this suckfish thinks the Republicans got their clock cleaned last Nov, he ain’t seen nothing yet if this bill passes due to GOP support.
/moment of jocularity
Remember Dukakis saying he’d balance the budget by being more aggressive in collecting back-taxes?
Things were so much easier in 1988.
That line shows the absolute elitism in D.C. They are gonna do what they want and screw the peons.
From everything I have read about this I am beginning to believe it is torch and pithfork time for the elitist bastards. We might as well live up to their image of us.
They’re not “migrants”.
They are illegal aliens.
If they had driven from Guadalajara to Monterey, they would be migrants.
They snuck across an international border.
They don’t belong here to begin with.
Don’t reward them.
Unbelievable! We’re living in reruns of the Twilight Zone.
Republicans, especially.
George Bush, more than any other.
WHAT'S THE POINT? The President has proven what an incompetent CHIMP he is over the issue of national sovereignty and amnesty and he is fiddling while Rome burns. Who want's to drink that koolaide any more??.
Really, for FR, what's the point any further? He's NOT ON OUR SIDE, HE'S NOT ON MY SIDE.
“Chimp” is the language of the Left, Sir. We disagree with the CIC, but this nation is still at war.
We can agree on things, and disagree on others. Please don’t debase the level of debate our side is capable of.
Respectfully,
J-
Both sides Senator?? I think that your duplicitous nature is showing again. You won’t be around long.
If they don’t get there way this time, they will just continue to let in more & more illegals. Finally, there will be millions of illegals rioting, burning, and looting to get what they want. Then they will do this whole thing by Executive Order under the context of “restoring order”.
That was a little over the top.
I will settle for "imbecile", then to describe his policies.
Particularly on IMMIGRATION and AMNESTY. And I now I am not alone in thinking this. There are millions of us totally disatisfied with this poor excuse for a President.
And yes, we will "go there."
My guess is that at last one citizen will choose not to pay taxes and will take this to court. What a freakin' mess they're brewing in DC. Idiots.
AMERICA AT THE BOILING POINT....THEY AIN’T SEEN NOTHING YET.
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