Although just the Cruz name was in the title, four Senators are proposing this bill.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the proposal, is a budgeting rationale to offset the spending, which might help to pass Wall funding, by satisfying some technical requirement of the budget process (I’m guessing). Another aspect of interest, is that these budget “offsets” themselves would be useful economic disincentives to illegal immigration.
From the article:
“Cruz, along with Sen. Jim Infoe (R-Okla.), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced the WALL Act — the first legislation that would identify funding sources for the border wall.
The WALL Act would fully fund the border wall by closing existing loopholes that provide illegal immigrants with federal benefits and tax credits, without affecting the benefits and tax credits used by Americans.
If passed, the bill would fund President Donald Trump’s proposed $25 billion border wall and provide specific ways to fund it. Sen. Kennedy claims that enacting certain changes with the WALL Act, American taxpayers will save $33 billion. The changes proposed in the bill are as follows:
- A work-authorized Social Security Number (SSN) will be required to claim refundable tax credits like Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit
- Welfare applicants will be required to verify citizenship
- Minimum fines will be increased for people who illegally cross the border and a minimum penalty will be established for those who overstay their visa in the country.”
Why not just propose comprehensive bill: wall, e-verify, deport, end daca, end birthright, etc.? Heck, this is for show anyway.
I don’t understand the rationale for doing this now. There are what, 10 business days left in the lame duck? Is their intention that this bill is attached to other Senate business in the next few days and voted on? Or passed by the Senate in the next Congress? When the Democrats control the House, of course. None of it makes sense to me.
It just looks like a virtue signalling diversion from the real issues right now which are Flake’s stunt stalling judical nominees and the Mueller Coup proceeding unrestrained.
RE: Although just the Cruz name was in the title, four Senators are proposing this bill.
Why should we care whose name is on it?
Heck I’ll support the bill even if Chuck Schumer sponsors it. All I want is for the money to be allocated for the wall.