Statement on Saxby Chambliss on Immigration Bill

Saxby Chambliss Website ^ | 6/28/07 | Saxby Chambliss

[Oshkalaboomboom]

CHAMBLISS: GEORGIANS HAVE SPOKEN, DEMAND BORDER SECURITY FIRST

June 28, 2007

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., today made the following statement regarding defeat of the immigration reform bill being considered by the U.S. Senate. Chambliss voted “no” on a procedural motion requiring 60 votes to cut off debate on the bill. The motion failed by a vote of 46-53.

A lot of people have asked me why I became involved in this process initially, and there is a very simple answer: folks in Georgia sent me to Washington to engage in the issues that are important to America, and if we don’t secure the border and fix our broken immigration system our children and grandchildren will suffer the consequences of our failure to act.

Senator Isakson and I participated in the process early on because we wanted to ensure that our views and concerns were expressed and that, first and foremost, the border security triggers were included in the bill. I believe our contribution to the process was critical in strengthening key components of the legislation. While it wasn’t incumbent that everybody agree with the overall bill presented to the American people, it was important that we have a meeting of the minds to allow a full and fair debate on this critical issue. Unfortunately, the parameters that the Majority Leader set for this historic debate did not allow all senators the opportunity to offer and vote on amendments to the legislation. I believe this is too important an issue to restrict the rights of senators and the voices of their constituents.

Too often politicians talk and don’t listen. Georgians made their voices heard loud and clear and we have listened. The resounding opinion we heard was: we do not trust the federal government to enforce the laws in this new legislation because it has never enforced our immigration laws in the past; we need to secure the border the first and then deal with the collateral issues. Due to the tremendous response from Georgians, Senator Isakson and I communicated to President Bush that Congress must pass, and he should sign, a supplemental appropriations bill to fully fund the necessary expenditures to secure our borders first and separately from larger immigration reform legislation.

The debate must continue, because the status quo is not working. I will continue fighting for border security and I will continue to oppose amnesty for those who have broken our laws. Georgians demand no less than our fullest commitment to this critical issue.

[Dacula]

I take pride in sending my shredded Voter registration card to both GA Senators and letting them know that I would not forget their initial stance on immigration.

[WWTD]

Run someone against him in the primaries as someone else suggested? Would you prefer to have someone who does NOT respond to the voice of the people. Since I'm that "someone", I'll respond. Yes, I think the people of Georgia deserve a politician who shares their core beliefs and does the right thing out of principle. The people of Georgia are ill-served by a senator who insults his voters and implies they are too stupid to understand the bill, then switches his vote when faced with political annihilation. Georgia is a big state with plenty of people - I'm sure there are a few good conservatives out there who would be a marked improvement over Chambliss. Let's look at his own words from a couple of weeks ago, shall we?: "we must create temporary worker programs that enable employers to fill jobs that no American citizen will take ... Congress needs to act now to implement comprehensive immigration reform that is responsible, reasonable, and respects the rule of law." So allow me to ask the obvious - is Chambliss one of us or one of them?

[sageb1]

I could send them mine too. It’s still in my wallet, even though I moved back to NY 3 years ago. ;)

[davidlachnicht]

I just got a response from him.

Here's a noteworthy clip from the email:

Due to the tremendous response from Georgians, I am now convinced that many people do not believe our government will enforce the border security provisions in the legislation. Therefore, Senator Isakson and I communicated to President Bush that Congress must pass, and he should sign, a supplemental appropriations bill to fully fund the necessary expenditures to secure our borders.

I will continue to approach this issue by tackling border security first and separately from any other immigration measure and I will oppose comprehensive reform unless and until that is done. That is why I voted against cloture twice on the immigration bill.

Yeah!

[Oshkalaboomboom]

If it wasn't for the dumbasses on this board and all across the state he wouldn't have caved. But at least you share his attitude.

[doodad]

Here is what I sent him in response to an email back on the 13th and it still stands Saxby.

Dear Senator Chambliss,

Thank you for sending this message regarding the message to the President, which I have indeed read. My problem is with the following passage:

To that end, we believe that you and your administration could alleviate many of the fears of our constituents by calling for an emergency supplemental bill to fully fund the border and interior security initiatives contained in legislation currently pending in the Senate

You see, we don’t want this bill funded, comtemplated or debated. We want the current laws enforced, the promised 10,000 new Border Patrol Agents (how many have we fielded?), and the already funded wall built. This is not hard to understand. The citizens of Georgia and the United States have had it with the invasion and lack of security on the border in post 9/11 world.

Please drop all consideration of immigration reform. We do not need more laws when the current ones are being broken. All the needs reforming is the lack of enforcement of laws already on the books.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Doodad

[no dems]

Quite a change of tune from the condescending windbag who thought the people were too stupid to understand the intracies of the bill.

Gee, what changed his mind; I wonder. Surely it wasn't the thousands of phone calls, faxes and e-mails from those stupid folks back home.

[doodad]

The debate must continue, because the status quo is not working

Well, if you don't try it never will. Guess those contributions from the ag business is just too much to let go.

[paul51]

because the status quo is not working

Than why isn't the congress and our boneheaded president doing something about that? Secure the borders and enforce the law.

[kidd]

I dunno.

The speech seem genuine.

He states: “The resounding opinion we heard was: we do not trust the federal government to enforce the laws in this new legislation because it has never enforced our immigration laws in the past; we need to secure the border the first and then deal with the collateral issues.”

I think this is a case of someone “getting it.” If we’re going to be persuasive, and a Senator responds positively, I think we need to seriously examine if he’s had a genuine change of heart. If we hold Senators that we wish to persuade to their original position, our abilities of persuasion will diminish.

I’m inclined to give him a break.

[doodad]

They have no particular experience with immigration to my knowledge

GA is set to pass very stringent anti-illegal laws and their ag and const buddys (look up their campaign contributers) are in a panic.

[kidd]

He was wrong initially but he did the right thing and voted the right way when it mattered. And yet, dumbasses on this board still bash him.

I'm glad to see you get it.

[kidd]

“I will continue to approach this issue by tackling border security first and separately from any other immigration measure and I will oppose comprehensive reform unless and until that is done.”

Well there it is. We have a true convert.
He needs our support, not our attacks.

[doodad]

I guess I am a dumbass too according to wolf.

[Baladas]

He IS the “status quo”, that’s the problem.

Chambliss MAY have saved his career earlier today. But if someone can be that wrong once....

[Shermy]

“”GA is set to pass very stringent anti-illegal laws and their ag and const buddys (look up their campaign contributers) are in a panic.””

You’re changing my mind some. It is interesting where the biggest moves are being made, Arizona and Georgia, here come surprise “grand bargainers” like Kyl.

[doodad]

But isn’t the non fence already funded? I for one do not believe him, but respect your opinion. I will send a polite thank you to him tomorrow so that he knows we still care and remind him that more laws are not the answer to any issue in a conservative state.

[pepperdog]

“we need to secure the border the first and then deal with the collateral issues”

I notice he says he’ll continue to “fight” for border security, but hesitates to firmly and clearly state he’ll do that fighting to CLOSE THE BORDER FIRST! CYA and weasel wording. Or what we used to call watermelon talk, the kind where you can’t pin him down. A pox on him and his horse.

[doodad]

And guess which state has the largest poultry industry in the world? And as another poster pointed out, we had drive time radio ads from the industry in full 60 second ads, the most expensive slot.

Go to Gainesville, Ga sometime and marvel at what ten years ago was a southern chicken plant town. I bet you can’t find a meat and three anymore. Now, if you want cabrita.....

[meema]

I notice he says he’ll continue to “fight” for border security, but hesitates to firmly and clearly state he’ll do that fighting to CLOSE THE BORDER FIRST! CYA and weasel wording.

He certainly does NOT sound like Sen Sessions. I don't trust him. He backed off today because he's afraid he won't be re-elected.