Posted on 05/23/2007 8:37:31 AM PDT by gpapa
WASHINGTON --- Sen. Chuck Grassley today said the immigration reform bill being debated in the U.S. Senate is riddled with loopholes and flaws. During a speech on the Senate floor, he outlined for the American people nearly 30 flaws within only two sections of the bill.
“I was burned once in 1986 when I voted for amnesty believing that it would solve our problems. Now, we have a 12 million illegal immigrant problem. I’m not getting burned again,” Grassley said. “Not only do we have a glide path to citizenship, but it’s a glide path with plenty of loopholes that don’t meet the common sense test.”
(Excerpt) Read more at grassley.senate.gov ...
ping
...and how about some of that free health care and free public education?
He’s been consistent about this bill from the beginning. He’s dead set against it. I have no idea why he voted for cluture but I bet he had his reasons.
Reports also show that the Mexicans will cost this country over a trillion dollars of our tax money. When this is brought up to the Mexicans supporting this bill......they just smile. This should tell us something.
Nobody had done it so I just did. Here’s the ten:
Here is a list of Grassley’s “Top 10.”
1. $2,000 Fine — Under the bill, an illegal alien can go from illegal to legal by paying a small fine of $2,000. Often, illegal aliens will pay more than five times this amount to a smuggler to get across the border. Also, the $2000 fine may not have to be paid until year eight, which allows the illegal alien to live, work, and play in the United States for years free from deportation. This imposes a financial burden on the American taxpayer for health, education, and infrastructure costs that aren’t reimbursed for five or ten years.
2. Taxes — Under the bill, illegal aliens get an option to only have to pay three of their last five years in back taxes. Law-abiding American citizens do not have the option to pay some of their taxes. The bill would treat lawbreakers better than the American people. The bill also makes the IRS prove that illegal aliens have paid their back taxes. It will be impossible for the IRS to truly enforce this because they cannot audit every single person in this country.
3. Security Clearances in 90 days – Under the bill, the Department of Homeland Security must perform background checks on illegal aliens in the United States. It also encourages the federal government to complete the background checks on 10 million illegal aliens in 90 days. This is a national security concern because Homeland Security will be pressured to complete these checks without doing a thorough job.
4. Work Requirements – Under the bill, illegal aliens must prove they’ve worked in the United States for three of the last five years. It also says they have to work for six years after the date of enactment of the bill. However, there is no continuous work requirement for amnesty. They could work for 30 days, take off 30 days, work for 30 days. The bill also says that illegal aliens have to prove that they’ve worked in the United States for three of the last five years by showing IRS or Social Security records, or records maintained by federal, state, or local governments, employers, unions or day labor centers. However, the bill also allows illegal aliens to ask anybody to attest that they have been employed. This invites fraud, and the government cannot realistically investigate all these cases.
5. Confidentiality – Under the bill, if an illegal alien applies for amnesty, the federal government cannot use information provided in the application for anything but adjudicating the petition. For example, if illegal aliens write in their applications that they are related to Osama Bin Laden, then our government cannot use that information. In fact, it says that the Secretary of Homeland Security can only share that information if someone requests it in writing. This provision severely handicaps national security and criminal investigators.
Also, if a federal agent does use information provided by an illegal alien in an application for amnesty the agent would be fined $10,000. This is five times more than the alien has to pay to get amnesty.
6. Social Security to illegal aliens — Under the bill, illegal aliens are not prohibited from getting credit for the money they’ve put into the Social Security system if they’ve worked in the U.S. illegally. Illegal immigrants who paid Social Security taxes using a stolen Social Security Number did not do so with the expectation that they would ever qualify for Social Security benefits. (The Ensign amendment would have taken care of this, but it did not pass.)
7. Employers get a tax pardon for hiring illegal aliens — Under the bill, employers of aliens applying for adjustment of status “shall not be subject to civil and criminal tax liability relating directly to the employment of such alien.” Businesses that hired illegal workers would now get off scott-free from paying the taxes that they owe the government. This encourages employers to violate our tax laws and not pay what they owe the federal government. In addition to not having to pay their taxes, employers are also off the hook for providing illegal aliens with records or evidence that they have worked in the U.S. The employer is not subject to civil and criminal liability for having employed illegal aliens in the past, or before enactment.
8. Family Members of H-2C Visa Holder need not be healthy — Under the bill, spouses and children of H-2C visa holders are exempt from a requirement proving that they meet certain health standards. The visa holder is required to undergo a medical exam, but their family members are not which potentially puts Americans at risk.
9. Mandatory Departure isn’t really Mandatory — Under the bill, the Secretary of Homeland Security “may grant” Deferred Mandatory Departure to illegal aliens in the 2-5 year category. The Secretary “may” also waive the departure requirement if it would create substantial hardship for the alien to leave.
10. No Interview Required. – Under the bill, illegal aliens in the 2nd tier who are required to leave the country can re-enter the United States on a visa. However, the bill does not require these individuals to be interviewed. The bill doesn’t give discretion to our consular offices to require an interview. The 9/11 hijackers weren’t subject to appear in person. Today, the State Department requires most applicants to submit to interviews, and waives them only for children and the elderly.
-30-
It is pretty clear Grassley supports the guest worker provision in the bill, which increasing the annual number of such workers by 400,000, as he voted against the Dorgan amendment to eliminate that portion of the bill. A Bingaman amendment to cut that number in half is still waiting to be debated and voted upon. We will see if Grassley supports that amendment as well. Neither of these amendments affects temporary agriculture workers however, and existing law puts no limit on that category of workers.
Here's the entire statement with the complete list of the 10 flaws identified by Sen. Grassley.
WASHINGTON --- Sen. Chuck Grassley today said the immigration reform bill being debated in the U.S. Senate is riddled with loopholes and flaws. During a speech on the Senate floor, he outlined for the American people nearly 30 flaws within only two sections of the bill.
“I was burned once in 1986 when I voted for amnesty believing that it would solve our problems. Now, we have a 12 million illegal immigrant problem. I’m not getting burned again,” Grassley said. “Not only do we have a glide path to citizenship, but it’s a glide path with plenty of loopholes that don’t meet the common sense test.”
Grassley has a number of amendments that would help fix the shortcomings in the bill. It’s expected that debate on the bill will conclude this week.
Here is a list of Grassley’s “Top 10.”
1. $2,000 Fine -- Under the bill, an illegal alien can go from illegal to legal by paying a small fine of $2,000. Often, illegal aliens will pay more than five times this amount to a smuggler to get across the border. Also, the $2000 fine may not have to be paid until year eight, which allows the illegal alien to live, work, and play in the United States for years free from deportation. This imposes a financial burden on the American taxpayer for health, education, and infrastructure costs that aren’t reimbursed for five or ten years.
2. Taxes -- Under the bill, illegal aliens get an option to only have to pay three of their last five years in back taxes. Law-abiding American citizens do not have the option to pay some of their taxes. The bill would treat lawbreakers better than the American people. The bill also makes the IRS prove that illegal aliens have paid their back taxes. It will be impossible for the IRS to truly enforce this because they cannot audit every single person in this country.
3. Security Clearances in 90 days – Under the bill, the Department of Homeland Security must perform background checks on illegal aliens in the United States. It also encourages the federal government to complete the background checks on 10 million illegal aliens in 90 days. This is a national security concern because Homeland Security will be pressured to complete these checks without doing a thorough job.
4. Work Requirements – Under the bill, illegal aliens must prove they’ve worked in the United States for three of the last five years. It also says they have to work for six years after the date of enactment of the bill. However, there is no continuous work requirement for amnesty. They could work for 30 days, take off 30 days, work for 30 days. The bill also says that illegal aliens have to prove that they’ve worked in the United States for three of the last five years by showing IRS or Social Security records, or records maintained by federal, state, or local governments, employers, unions or day labor centers. However, the bill also allows illegal aliens to ask anybody to attest that they have been employed. This invites fraud, and the government cannot realistically investigate all these cases.
5. Confidentiality – Under the bill, if an illegal alien applies for amnesty, the federal government cannot use information provided in the application for anything but adjudicating the petition. For example, if illegal aliens write in their applications that they are related to Osama Bin Laden, then our government cannot use that information. In fact, it says that the Secretary of Homeland Security can only share that information if someone requests it in writing. This provision severely handicaps national security and criminal investigators.
Also, if a federal agent does use information provided by an illegal alien in an application for amnesty the agent would be fined $10,000. This is five times more than the alien has to pay to get amnesty.
6. Social Security to illegal aliens -- Under the bill, illegal aliens are not prohibited from getting credit for the money they’ve put into the Social Security system if they’ve worked in the U.S. illegally. Illegal immigrants who paid Social Security taxes using a stolen Social Security Number did not do so with the expectation that they would ever qualify for Social Security benefits. (The Ensign amendment would have taken care of this, but it did not pass.)
7. Employers get a tax pardon for hiring illegal aliens -- Under the bill, employers of aliens applying for adjustment of status “shall not be subject to civil and criminal tax liability relating directly to the employment of such alien.” Businesses that hired illegal workers would now get off scott-free from paying the taxes that they owe the government. This encourages employers to violate our tax laws and not pay what they owe the federal government. In addition to not having to pay their taxes, employers are also off the hook for providing illegal aliens with records or evidence that they have worked in the U.S. The employer is not subject to civil and criminal liability for having employed illegal aliens in the past, or before enactment.
8. Family Members of H-2C Visa Holder need not be healthy -- Under the bill, spouses and children of H-2C visa holders are exempt from a requirement proving that they meet certain health standards. The visa holder is required to undergo a medical exam, but their family members are not which potentially puts Americans at risk.
9. Mandatory Departure isn’t really Mandatory -- Under the bill, the Secretary of Homeland Security “may grant” Deferred Mandatory Departure to illegal aliens in the 2-5 year category. The Secretary “may” also waive the departure requirement if it would create substantial hardship for the alien to leave.
10. No Interview Required. – Under the bill, illegal aliens in the 2nd tier who are required to leave the country can re-enter the United States on a visa. However, the bill does not require these individuals to be interviewed. The bill doesn’t give discretion to our consular offices to require an interview. The 9/11 hijackers weren’t subject to appear in person. Today, the State Department requires most applicants to submit to interviews, and waives them only for children and the elderly.
-30-
Thanks for posting this.
The best avenue for attacking and defeating this monstrosity is to have all the Senators opposed to it offer an amendment that not only calls for a CBO scoring of it but also that it be paid for using Queen Nancy’s own PayGo rules before it can be enacted. Once people know the cost coming out of their pocket to pay for it, it’ll die the swift and violent death it deserves.
Patriots...get a copy of this rag to see how bad McCain, Grahmn, Kyl and the other ilk really are...how corrupt and uncaring for the rule of law....
aliens get unlimited appeals concerning their residency and they have their legal bills paid by Americans. You have usually one appeal on a legal case as an American citizen....they can appeal and appeal and juke and jive all on your dime....
also, they get UNION WAGES or prevailing wages for their work.....how many of you know of any American guaranteed prevailing wages or UNION WAGES for their efforts...rise up Patriots....you are about to get reemed big time....as well as your kids and grandkids...
I think it’s worse than Grassley says.
>>1. $2,000 Fine — Under the bill, an illegal alien can go from illegal to legal by paying a small fine of $2,000. Often, illegal aliens will pay more than five times this amount to a smuggler to get across the border. Also, the $2000 fine may not have to be paid until year eight, which allows the illegal alien to live, work, and play in the United States for years free from deportation. This imposes a financial burden on the American taxpayer for health, education, and infrastructure costs that aren’t reimbursed for five or ten years. <<
Where did the $2000 figure come from? I thout it was $1000 or less.
>>2. Taxes — Under the bill, illegal aliens get an option to only have to pay three of their last five years in back taxes. Law-abiding American citizens do not have the option to pay some of their taxes. The bill would treat lawbreakers better than the American people. The bill also makes the IRS prove that illegal aliens have paid their back taxes. It will be impossible for the IRS to truly enforce this because they cannot audit every single person in this country. <<
I don’t see any language in the bill about taxes at all. I don’t think they will pay one cent.
Uninvited Guests
Image for a moment that you are in your home. You have locked the front and back doors and retired for the evening. You wake up in mourning to discover some people in your house who you do not know. You have never met them before and did not invite them into your home. Some how these uninvited people sneaked into your home?
To them you request, “Please leave my home”.
They state, “Our home is very shabby and our life is very hard”. They also say, “Your home is much nicer and we have right to a better life therefore we do not have to leave”.
They now start eating your food, using your water, electric, medical and educational services.
You demand, “Leave my home, you were not invited here”.
They say, “ Maybe you have some jobs that you do not like doing. Let us do them and we’ll do them cheaply”?
You reply, “I have a cousin who will do the jobs I don’t like doing”. “Please leave or I will call the authorities”.
They laugh at you, “Go ahead call the authorities, they won’t do anything”.
You call the authorities. The authorities say, “We are not permitted to interfere when it comes to uninvited quests”.
You retort to the authorities, “They are not guests but are here illegally, they broke into my house and are using my stuff.
The authorities say, “We can’t do anything. Call your Mayor or write your representatives”.
You now call your Mayor in Los Angeles who informs you that your uninvited guests do not have to leave and something is wrong with you for even requesting they depart your home.
He scolds you, “They have rights also”.
You contact your representative who instructs you to stop asking your guests to leave your home and demands that you be humane and remove your son from his room and give it to your guests. Your representative in addition belittles you for bring so selfish. Your son now gets to sleep on the sofa.
The politicians are informing you that you must be humane with your guests. At this stage you are befuddled. You cannot stop thinking that the people in your home are not guests but are in your house illegally and you want them out. You wonder why you should be forced to accept illegally uninvited people. Makes you wonder.
One thing I haven’t seen addressed at all is the likelihood that the Federal courts will jump in and give everything to the illegals once this bill becomes law. Does anyone think that provisions for the illegals will be delayed just because one of the “triggers” in the bill has not been accomplished? The courts will overrule these provisions in a heartbeat.
Teddy would only be too happy to oblige. No, what would grind him would be if taxpayers would demonstrate outside his offices saying that no taxes to Ted until he fixes the bill (or until someone fixes it for him).
There must be some 10%-to-15% block of Iowa voters who votes for both of them.
Given that THE one issue they seem to agree on is farm subsidies, I would guess many voters in and close to the ag industry fall into that group.
What else could we expect from McCain/Kennedy!
Grassley is not a mystery, he fits the Iowa mentality.
The mystery is why we try to be better Marxists than the people in Berkeley, CA. and send Harkin.
Or as Rush says; “dung heap Harkin”
The problem is that Iowa is more liberal than people realize.
Iowa is addicted to govt spending via agriculture.
Many Iowans think that they are somehow conservatives, but they want a very large government role in their lives.
In other states, agriculture is more entrepreneurial.
Iowa agriculture has been much more commodity focused, and less food focused. “We will raise the stuff, let the city folks figure out how to process and sell it.”
Any way, that’s my explanation.
And he was a sponsor of the DREAM act, which would have allowed illegals access to college at reduced rates.
Conservative Third Party?
By Basil Harrington
“The GOP is on a downward course to becoming the party of corporate globalism, not conservatism,” said one analyst recently. “Unless Tom Tancredo, Ron Paul or Duncan Hunter receives the 2008 nomination, conservatives will have no choice but to vote third party,” said another.
Conservatives all around the country are talking about the prospect of flocking to a conservative third party*, which more than likely would be the Constitution Party or the America First Party. If they were smart, they would look at the British National Party, Front National, and Vlaams Belang in Europe as models, all of which have made great strides. And unlike the phony neocon GOP in the U.S., these parties are conservative in the true sense: they want to conserve Western man and his ancestral traditions.
How has the GOP gone wrong?
First, there is no greater betrayal than over immigration. So tied to providing cheap labor for big business, all but two Republican Senators recently voted against Senator Dorgan’s amendment to scrap a guest-worker program that will overwhelmingly drive down American wages. They have sided with the corporate globalists against hard-working Americans.
There is a third-world invasion of the U.S. taking place, and many in the GOP (e.g. Bush, McCain, Giuliani, Brownback, Huckabee, Rice, et al.) have actually sided with the invaders against their fellow Americans. As Jean Raspail said in Camp of the Saints, the “best conservative book ever written,” we can make a stand now against the invaders, or we can watch the West crumble and become a third-world wasteland.
Second, the neocon war in Iraq must come to an end. The transformation of the Middle East to liberal democracy is Jacobin, not conservative. It’s a product of Wilsonian utopianism, not conservatism. If we really want to end terrorism in the West, we need to (1) completely withdraw from the Middle East, (2) end foreign aid to all Middle Eastern countries, (3) deport all Muslims from the West, and (4) end all immigration from the third world.
Many do not realize it, but terrorism is primarily an immigration issue, as they are beginning to discover in the U.K. Three of the terrorists recently nabbed in New Jersey (plotting to attack Ft. Dix) were illegal immigrants who entered the U.S . from Mexico and were aided by Mexicans. Over 200,000 Hispanics in the U.S. have recently converted to Islam. And almost all previous terrorists, including those on Sept. 11, were either legal or illegal third-world immigrants. If Seung-Hui Cho had not been allowed to immigrate to the U.S., the Virginia Tech massacre would not have happened.
Third, free trade is destroying our economy and eroding away our sovereignty, and it must end. Historically, conservatives have opposed free trade, and they should, but many in the GOP have been “neoconned” on this issue and now support it in some perverse suicide pact.
The Democratic Party, which during the 19th century was the conservative party while the GOP was the radical left-wing party, is already lost to the globalists. And now it seems that the Republican Party is going the same route. Unless radical change is brought about in the GOP, conservatives will have no choice but foster third-party change.
The stakes are right. The U.S. is on its way to becoming a third-world wasteland. We must act now!
>>First, there is no greater betrayal than over immigration.<<
Especially since we have been defending him and Bush Sr. from the start.
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