Posted on 05/29/2007 10:03:06 AM PDT by Politicalmom
When President Bush arrives in Brunswick today, expect to hear the White House's best plans for dealing with the nation's immigration issue.
But don't expect to see 1st District U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., and U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., joining Bush on the podium. Kingston will be in Cuba on an agricultural mission and Isakson has a prior commitment.
As of Friday, the office of U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., wasn't sure whether his schedule would permit him to be in Brunswick for the president's visit and address. Congress is on break this week.
The president will tour the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and address highlights of his plan for immigration – a plan that includes allowing illegal immigrants with no criminal records to register to remain in the United States after paying a fine.
The plan is a key difference between Bush and three legislators who are normally close allies – Kingston, Isakson and Chambliss.
Ashley Nelson, a spokesperson for Chambliss, said the senator and Isakson agree with most of what the president will be pitching in Brunswick, but not all.
"As they have said in previous statements, they agree with about 70 percent of the legislation, but it still has a long way to go," Nelson said. "If the final bill does not meet their criteria, they will not support it." Sheridan Watson, spokesperson for Isakson, said Georgia's junior senator is standing by his position on immigration reform.
"He said the bill must include his border security 'trigger' prohibiting implementation of a temporary, probationary work permit program until the Department of Homeland Security certifies to the president and to the Congress that the border security provisions in the immigration legislation are fully funded and operational," Watson said.
"He has also said the bill must prohibit any new pathway to U.S. citizenship and must require illegal immigrants to return home and get at the back of the line to apply for citizenship, just as everyone must do now."
That also is the stance of Kingston, who is also opposed to instant citizenship for those in the country illegally.
Kingston said Bush's appearance in Brunswick will be the first of a series of speeches around the nation as the president attempts to build support for his reform package. He said the president couldn't have picked a better place to start.
"It's appropriate that he starts at FLETC, since they're involved in Border Patrol," Kingston said.
Brunswick used to be one of the premier training bases for U.S. Border Patrol. It moved much of the operation to Federal Law Enforcement Training Center facilities in Charleston, S.C., and in Artesia, N.M.
Blair C. Jones, a White House spokesperson, said the president's proposed policy would not give the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country visas until benchmarks for law enforcement are met.
The policy calls for increasing border fencing, vehicle barriers at the Mexican border and the size of the Border Patrol. Bush also wants to install ground-based radar and camera towers along the Mexican border and to make sure agents have the resources to maintain the end of catch and release of illegals.
While Bush is using his visit to FLETC as a backdrop for his immigration message, opponents of the Iraq war say they will use his visit to call attention to their views.
Representatives of GlynnPeace: Citizens to End the War in Iraq, an anti-war group, say they will demonstrate against Bush's war policy near the Chapel Crossing Road entry to FLETC.
Get these illegal law breakers out of my country!!!
Since the vast majority of good Americans don’t support Bush’s amnesty schemes I suspect they’ll have free speech zones tucked away somewhere so he can pretend not to hear the boos.
WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! WRITE! TILL YOU RUN OUT OF INK IN YOUR PEN!
Bombard the Democrats as well, especially the ones that ran on an anti illegal immigration plank and the ones in marginal districts who could be vulnerable. keep pounding on them.
....expect to hear the White House’s best plans for dealing with the nation’s immigration issue.
::::
I don’t think I can stand to listen.
” . . . a plan that includes allowing illegal immigrants with no criminal records to register to remain in the United States after paying a fine.”
Translated into English:
a plan that gives illegal aliens—criminals by definition—full amnesty upon their promise to pay a fine when they can afford it, but hey that’s OK, take your time Jose. Oh, and give your little brother and his family in Guadalajara a ring, will you little buddy? Our laws are really flexible, thank you, come again.
It sure does --- specifically, the parts about cutting off welfare for illegals, rescinding the anchor baby laws, building a barrier along the entire border, and deportation appear to me missing.
....and no amnesty under any circumstances, of course.
ping
Since the vast majority of good Americans don’t support Bush’s amnesty schemes I suspect they’ll have free speech zones tucked away somewhere so he can pretend not to hear the boos.
Outrageous.
I have lost so much respect for W.
This is the first time I can recall a path being an obstacle instead of an obstacle being something on a path. There’s nothing to say and there’s nothing to hear as long as a path to citizenship is on the table.
Oh yeah, that's gonna happen...I believe you Mr. President...
I agree, this is backpedaling for sure. Reading this, I’m almost inclined to believe that they won’t be voting for it.
Bush is a LIAR!!
Just one ridiculous part of this crock of sh** being served up to America that they're calling "comprehensive immigration reform", AKA AMNESTY.
How are they supposed to find out about criminal records on people who sometimes have six identities? Answer of course is that they can't, and they don't want to, they don't care.
Any Senator voting for this bill that will cost American taxpayers trillions of dollars should be thrown out of office, and Bush should be impeached for backing it, AGAINST THE WISHES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WHO WILL BE PAYING FOR IT IN MORE THAN DOLLARS.
The decider did not read the bill
Do you think he cares about the details of the amnesty? I don’t.
He’s perfectly happy with whatever Teddy K. cooks up.
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