Posted on 04/14/2013 7:36:45 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Sen. Rubio defends emerging immigration deal as ‘not amnesty’ By Cameron Joseph - 04/14/13 09:38 AM ET
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) blitzed all five Sunday shows in his most public pitch yet for the emerging immigration reform bill, arguing that it would control the border, and rejecting conservative criticisms that it provided “amnesty” for illegal immigrants in the country.
"This is not amnesty. Amnesty is the forgiveness of something. Amnesty is anything that says 'do it illegally, it'll be cheaper and easier,'" Rubio, a member of the bipartisan ‘Gang of Eight’ senators set to unveil their immigration bill on Tuesday, said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Rubio said the bill would allow illegal immigrants to stay only after meeting a series of requirements, including having a job and paying fines, and would require them to wait years before applying for citizenship.
Rubio also emphasized that immigrants allowed to stay in the U.S. would get that status only provisionally and wouldn't have access to any government programs, including food stamps, ObamaCare and Medicare.
Rubio, a Tea Party favorite, is a key figure in winning GOP support for the bill. But the contentious politics also place the potential 2016 presidential candidate in a difficult spot, as many conservatives are strongly opposed to offering immigrants who came here illegally a chance to stay in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship. The charge is the most potent attack conservatives have lobbed at the bill.
The Florida senator, though, argued that the time was ripe for addressing immigration reform.
"This is an issue that needs to be solved," he said.
He argued that the current system is "de facto amnesty" and that the bipartisan plan would greatly improve control of the border with Mexico, create an "entry-exit" monitoring system to keep immigrants from overstaying their visas, and an "E-Verify" system to make sure companies aren't illegally hiring unauthorized immigrants.
Rubio also pushed back against a report from the conservative Heritage Foundation that immigration reform would be costly to the government. A similar report helped derail immigration reform six years ago by undercutting conservative support for the measure.
"Conservatives love dynamic scoring," he said, arguing the bill's effects should be taken on the whole and not just looked at from what it would cost the government. "This will be a net positive for our country now and for the future."
Former Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), a close Rubio ally who helped get him elected in 2010, is now head of the organization — and has long been a staunch opponent of giving illegal immigrants any legal status.
The Gang of Eight first unveiled their framework in January and have been negotiating details of the pal since then. The measure will include tougher border security measures, a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, as well as new programs for guest workers and high-skilled immigrants.
A House group is working on its own bipartisan immigration overhaul, and leaders from both parties have said they hope to move on legislation soon. President Obama has made immigration reform a top priority for his second term.
Rubio has taken a cautious approach to talks on the bill in the past, and has urged Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to move slowly, allowing time for senators to build public support for their proposals.
I will never, ever, not ever, vote for Rubio.
He’s a traitor.
Have another glass of water Marco, you’re just another in a long line of Repukelicans that have given me hope only to sell out and crush those hopes. The Senate has done as much if not more damage than the Clinton/Bush/Obama triad over the past 20 years. I wish Sarah Palin would give up trying to be a TV star and run for Senate in Alaska. We need her badly.
The Dems want a blanket amnesty that allows illegals access to benefits and the ability to vote in elections, and they want it effective ASAP.
The Dems want campaign issues to demagogue and to destroy the GOP. Simple political warfare and they don’t care about Mexican dirt farmers at all. Seems a “bad” deal might be the best deal of all for the Dems. I bet they take it.
Just like McCain’s “Not an Amnesty” Amnesty Bill a few years ago, eh?
They abuse the Republican base all the time. Still, we bend over and give them our vote - and they know it!
I voted for Romney. Never voted Dem in my life. No way I will now vote for anybody inside the beltway not named Ted Cruz. I will vote for my GOP state reps since they actually fight the Dems.
The rest of the party can rot. Those cheese eating surrender monkeys do not fight for our constitutional rights and do not deserve our votes.
His ethnicity is being used as a front to soothe the amnesty-fearing populace....after all, he's the perfect front guy......Latino, smooth, appealing, good-looking, young, eager, well-groomed, articulate, boyish, self-assured and microphone-loving.
Can anyone picture Marco's fellow gang-member, yucky-Chuckie Schmucker, successfully promoting this travesty of amnesty (and that's what it is) to anyone other than this country's under-informed?
Schumer is Mr. Inside, privately twisting the arms of the committee members in his usual jackhammer manner while Rubio does the Public Relations bit in his calm, reasoned, earnest manner.
I could write paragraph after paragraph regarding Marco Rubio as a willing tool of the Democrat Party....but his role in regards to this issue can here be summed up entirely in two words...."Trojan Horse".
(Trojan Horse - a hollow wooden animal inside of which, according to legend, a number of Greeks hid and gained entrance to Troy, later leaping out of the horse to open Troy's gates to the onrushing Greek armed hordes who had been camped and waiting outside the city's borders....hmmmm......)
Leni
Can't really happen here. British parties don't have open primaries. Candidates are decided upon by party bigwigs (i.e. the smoke-filled room process that used to predominate stateside).
I think what the person who wrote the line you quoted meant was the GOP reminds him of the old ‘Tories’ (UN American)
The reference is to the current Conservative Party, which is well left of the Democratic Party here. The British political scene is composed entirely of left-wing parties. The Conservative Party is center-left.
If there is a Civil War II in this country, I hope the first victims are the GOP politicians that helped to destroy this country.
You realize of course that your opinion is "Not worth a bucket of warm spit."
Which, in one word, is AMNESTY.
It is more important to find out what it doesn’t say. You know, like just enforce current law, and save us from another bill running 1500 pages.
This bill does nothing to close the boarders, all that has to happen is DHS has to claim they have a plan to secure the borders.
Yes it is.
If it does not include prison time for those who have come here illegally, worked illegally, used false papers illegally, committed identity theft, recieved government benefits under false names/pretenses etc etc
then it is amnesty
Yes it is.
If it does not include prison time for those who have come here illegally, worked illegally, used false papers illegally, committed identity theft, received government benefits under false names/pretenses, driving without licenses/insurance etc etc. BTW, will the bill also excuse the American citizens who violate these same laws?
then it is amnesty!!
Rubio is is playing the role of an ignorant little patsy for the democrats.
What a snake pit that photo is. Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.
I am waiting until I can read the bill for myself next week. I want to see if what Marco Rubio said on Fox News Sunday today is true. Then I will pass judgement on Rubio.
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