Posted on 06/14/2007 11:16:52 AM PDT by kristinn
A spokeman for the Bush administration sent an e-mail to Jim Robinson and myself confirming the authenticity of a post on Free Republic this afternoon regarding the immigration bill currently before the Senate as having been posted on behalf of the White House.
The spokesman, Nicholas Thompson, works for the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives. The Politico reported yesterday that Thompson and Kerrie Rushton, associate directors in the Office of Strategic Initiatives who work under Karl Rove, would be engaging the blogosphere on the immigration bill.
Thompson's post is on the thread titled Penalty Mitigation in the Immigration Reform Bill, a vanity posted by philman_36. Thompson posted at comment #53.
Thompson's e-mail to Free Republic included a brief introduction and the text of his posted comment:
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that I just posted a response to the post "Penalty Mitigation in the Immigration Reform Bill."
The White House appreciates the opportunity to respond on Free Republic.
Response:
I would like to point out that the Secretary is authorized to reduce or mitigate penalities against employers who in good faith are trying to comply with the law. Certainly, we understand that not all employers knowingly hire illegal immigrants; this will remain the case, especially before the bill’s new secure documentation requirements are fully phased in. We do not seek to wrongly penalize honest employers who unknowingly hire illegal immigrants, therefore we reserve the right to reduce or mitigate their penalties if the employer can show good faith compliance in following the law.
For those employers who do knowingly hire illegal immigrants, please know that we intend to penalize these employers strongly, and the Administration has already stepped up these penalties in the last couple of years. For example, a 2005 program, “Operation Rollback,” assessed $15,000,000 in civil fines to employers, an amount greater than the sum of administrative fines collected in the previous eight years and was the largest worksite enforcement penalty in US history. In the first quarter of FY07, criminal and civil forfeitures have totaled $26,700,000 for employers.
As a reminder of what’s in the bill, fines for hiring an illegal worker are $5,000 maximum per illegal worker for the first offense, $10,000 maximum per illegal worker for the second, $25,000 maximum per illegal worker for the third , and $75,000 maximum per illegal worker for the fourth. In addition, the bill increases the maximum criminal penalty for a pattern or practice of unlawful hiring twenty-five-fold, from $3,000 to $75,000, and would impose a prison term of up to six months. This represents a significant increase in fines for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Nicholas Thompson
White House Office of Strategic Initiatives
(holdin’ Harley back)...;0)
I will NOT be satisfied til the 30 million illegal aliens are swept up and carted off to their homelands.
Hey, how would these other nations feel if we picked up 30 million Americans and put them on welfare roles for them to support and supply a free education, medical insurance, food stamps and HUD housing. and on and on and on and on and on all at taxpayers expense.
And should they complain just call them xenephobes, racists, and bigots.
Well, I have NO idea.
But, that is a very good point.
I don't think there is anyway to ping Mr. Thompson.
So, I'll ping Tony Snow.
That person wouldn’t answer my one simple question of “Would you support the signing of this bill into law?” And they said in forum that they were a Technical Writer. I’m confuzed. Sounded like another very unhappy/disgruntled Freeper based on their posts. Where’s the Love :))
Well...TeeVee...you are JUST right.
We’re not talking about the same person I don’t think.
Yes...lol
Saw Dat,,,Be Not Confuzed,,,No Yes No No,,,LUV STINKS !!;0)
LOL...yes we are or are not talking about the same person :)
If I need a wink, wink or a nod nod, just send me a mail (lmao)
That’s understandable.
I’m trying to multi-task...
...something I don’t do well.
Point me to the post, please. ;o)
Looks like only on trade, commerce, energy, air space and other clerical and operational differences between the countries and trying to align them. We do need to form cooperation among the North American countries for better trade, security and defense. Why not?
LOL...Roger That!
Got it all sorted out now :) Thanks! On that note, I’m off for some z time! Nite.
Niters,,,Standing At Battle Stations...;0)
TANKS...;o)
Nite all...
LOL,,,Niters Dixie...;0)...zzzzzzzzz here too...
“Why not?”
If you want open borders, which is what this President and Senate are working feverishly, and behind closed doors to achieve, then you must not have a problem with it.
It’s the equivalent of the EU.
Just look at their immigration, and terrorism, problems.
lol, they posted to RedState earlier as well, trying to assuage the blogs.
Not happening.
Blog War Room Bump!
Before it’s all over, Operation Rollback, will be Operation Flipflop.
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