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.
Maybe is’t amnesty, maybe it’s not. Doesn’t matter. The Federal government doing anything other than fulfilling it’s Constitutional obligation of protecting the States from foreign invasion is High Treason.
Period.
End of discussion.
Seriously. End of discussion. Don’t talk to me about anything else because I’m not going to listen. Sit your ass back down and do your #@$@ing job.
Honest we’re trying to. Will now exit by running for the nearest exit.
Need to read the bill and to know the details before commenting/passing the thing. The way they are acting, I think no matter what we say, this bill is coming at us. See their pattern of writing laws. I think it will be another cluster like most of these bills are when you have this gang of 8 business going on to begin with. The border needs enforcing now ..not a directive (yeah, right) to send to DHS to come up with that plan to secure the border which has to be set in place within 10 freaking years. I guess Rubio thinks we have to turn/change minds of the culture/which is true though coming in illegally has to be stopped now. Other countries have strict polices; we have become an open door land -the border patrol is being controlled and abused by the feds so people can come in. How many terrorists have come across / as sleeper cells.
The major problem with this whole thing is that it allows a foreign army to take up residence in this country. The ‘illegals’ that this legislation addresses have no intention of assimilating into American society. Their allegiance will always be to Mexico.
If he’s saying it’s not amnesty, then it certainly is amnesty.
If true, that might explain some things about Rubio that don't feel right.
I agree with EVERYTHING you said.
Here’s what Conservative republicans NEED to do.
The immigration policy IS broken in this country and conservatives need to grab this torch and run with it.
What Rudio, McCain, the Bushes and Obama talk about is NOT immigration it’s (as you said) Amnesty for Illegals. Illegals are those who skipped the immigration line and came here illegally.
Conservatives need to get exposure for the would be immigrants who LOVE the America that we love and have been waiting in line in their own countries to get the Tourist Visa, Work Visa, Fiancee Visa and Marriage Visa. They are the ones getting the short end of the stick because it’s almost impossible for them to come to the US even for a one week vacation. Conservatives need to jump on this unfairness. These America loving would be immigrants are victims of illegals who jumped ahead of them. These America loving would be immigrants are Venezuelans, Vietnamese, Thai, Taiwanese, Colombian and from many other nations.
Many of them have degrees and skills needed in this country but while some would love to live in this nation as a legal immigrant, many more want nothing more than to visit Disney World or visit our tourist spots and then return home.
This whole thing is a load of garbage. Any ‘provisions’ to prevent the newly-legalized illegals from accessing government programs from Obamacare to even voting-rights, will be tossed within six months by some lib judge, and they all know this. Furthermore, the same corrupt bureaucrats and politicians who will deem to border ‘secure,’ are the same corrupt ones that refuse to enforce the laws now.
Rubio is either criminally disingenuous or criminally stupid. Passing this amnesty will be the final nail in the coffin for America.
Immigration is the long lines in other countries of America loving people who wish to visit, some may wish to live here but have very little chance to get the visa because so many of Rubio’s guys have skipped the line and come in without papers.
It is possible to be against Illegal Immigration and still make it impossible for the opposition to call you a racist. Me, I'm against illegals coming into this nation but I'm all for immigration. It's time the RINOs learn that there IS a difference.
Yes I have, and I think I've seen pictures of it too. And when a "gang" of Senators meet on a yacht owned by a wealthy member of the opposition party to work out a "deal", the next thing you know you got a "conservative", Palin-endorsed, Senate Conservative Fund endorsed, Jim DeMint endorsed, Tea Party endorsed Republican like Patrick Toomey leading the charge to ram gun control legislation down our throat. Just makes you wonder about meetings on yachts.
EXACTLY! Real immigration has always been an agreement that if you come to this nation legally you MUST be able to prove that you can support yourself and your family and understand that you do not qualify for any government assistence. That's the way it always use to be and guess what! The Italians, Jews and Irish came here and built the cities we are so proud of today. This needs to return.
Today's Italians, Jews and Irish may be Vietnamese, Colombian and Taiwanese, but there's one thing they have in common with our ancestors. They love America and believe in the American Dream. They've been waiting in line in their country, following the rules and get nowhere thanks to the red tape and delays because of illegals running ahead of them and skipping the lines. Conservatives need to represent these would be immigrants.
No matter what Rubio or Obama say... conservatives are the REAL pro-immigrants. Rubio and Obama are only talking about helping the ones who came here illegally and they are NOT immigrants. They are illegals.
Rubio on Fox this am didn’t help himself. His amnesty bill will “toast” him.
Also buried deep in the legal speak was the ability for these new citizens to apply for the earned income tax credit if their income fell below the poverty floor as described by the tax code.
Hundreds of millions of our tax dollars in free handouts to the newly made American citizens who broke our laws by entering illegally.
So, fellow wolverines......search the legal jargon down deep in the bill. May just find these lil gems once again.
It bore repeating. Bet you're right.
What about the ones here illegally who cannot qualify for “a path to citizenship”? Is there going to be any effort to find them and deport them?
You are correct Rubio is a RINO DRESSED in conservative sheeps clothing (HE WEARS IN ORDER TO DECEIVE CONSERVATIVES) who is not fit to lead.
If Rubio is thinking of running for the White House, he wont be doing it on the GOP ticket after this.
Rubio is the poster boy for the new age GOP. The power broker donors would not have him involved in this if it wasn’t going to pass.
We are witnessing the birth of a new GOP. A British Tory “conservative” type party. These guys plan to run a hair to the right of the marxists and no more. Plan accordingly.
“Rubio is the poster boy for the new age GOP. The power broker donors would not have him involved in this if it wasnt going to pass.
We are witnessing the birth of a new GOP. A British Tory conservative type party. These guys plan to run a hair to the right of the marxists and no more. Plan accordingly.”
I think you nailed it.
See: Who is Cesar Conda? (Rubio’s chief of staff)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3007546/posts
“What about the ones here illegally who cannot qualify for a path to citizenship? Is there going to be any effort to find them and deport them?”
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
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