Posted on 07/31/2021 3:25:09 AM PDT by Kaslin
Senate Democrats – including both Senators from my home state of Georgia - are trying to pull a fast one on the American people, most of whom won’t realize what has happened until after the fact.
Democrats hope to use the massive $3.5 trillion “infrastructure” bill as a vehicle to pass mass amnesty for a significant portion of the nation’s illegal alien population - without having to debate this controversial amnesty measure on its own merits. Some lawmakers hope to accomplish this via a maneuver known as budget reconciliation, whereby budget items can be inserted into a broader spending bill during the reconciliation process, with only 51 votes needed for approval.
It’s obvious this ploy is designed to bypass the usual procedures that help to ensure compromise in the Senate – the requirement of a 60-vote majority to avoid a filibuster. Such a move is wrong and is purposely, intellectually dishonest to the American people.
Every state in America needs help rebuilding roads, bridges, and tunnels, including my home state of Georgia. A recent report card issued by the American Society of Civil Engineers gave Georgia’s infrastructure rating a C+, saying less than 40 percent of the state’s bridges are in “good condition” and also highlighting a dramatic increase in high-hazard, deficient dams. America fared even worse, receiving a C- grade.
But throwing mass amnesty spending into the infrastructure mix - without allowing a transparent discussion on the Senate floor and without input from the American people - is an enormous mistake that will endanger public safety and national security.
In addition, the timing of passing stealth amnesty couldn’t be worse. A recent Harvard-Harris poll found that 74 percent of voters view the current surge in illegal immigrants as a crisis that needs to be addressed immediately. Nearly 7-in-10 (68 percent) voters said that messages from Biden's White House are encouraging illegal immigration. Illegal alien apprehensions are at a historic high, surpassing one million this fiscal year so far, with three more months to go. At this pace, illegal alien apprehensions could be at the highest level in U.S. history.
Offering mass amnesty in the middle of a national border crisis only adds fuel to a raging fire. The Biden Administration and Senate Democrats are sending a clear message that illegal aliens can freely violate our nation’s immigration laws and be rewarded with coveted American citizenship. Even worse, this action places illegal aliens at the front of the line - ahead of those who have long sought a legal citizenship path. Illegal immigration is already costing U.S. taxpayers at least $116 billion annually, and the tab will only increase with the passage of amnesty.
Incentivizing illegal immigration not only undermines our nation’s sovereignty and national security. It costs lives as well. This year alone, some 203 illegal aliens have been found dead in the desert or abandoned by their smugglers. There are also news reports of children who’ve been dropped at border walls or tossed into the Rio Grande River as a tactic to divert border patrol agents. And many of the 7,000 illegal aliens are creating public safety issues for towns and communities across the country with crimes including assault, homicide, sexual offenses, domestic violence, property damage, etc.
Congress’ budget reconciliation process was never designed to intentionally hide and jam through legislation that could never pass on its own merits. As a member of the Georgia House of Representatives and an author of legislation addressing illegal immigration in my state, I understand how difficult the process can be. Lawmakers can and should face robust debate over proposed immigration reform measures. But if our elected leaders in Washington truly have the conviction to support amnesty for illegal aliens, they should have the courage to publicly fight for it.
If our elected leaders in Washington, DC, including Georgia Sens. Ossoff and Warnock, believe spending tax dollars in amnesty for illegal aliens is a measure worthy of their support, they should stop hiding the effort from public view, strip the budget item out of a national infrastructure bill, and have an open, honest debate regarding this highly controversial issue.
Hiding hundreds of millions - potentially billions – in spending to benefit those who enter our country illegally is a question that demands robust, transparent debate and the full attention of the U.S. Senate and the American people.
Gotta stop it. Hold up approval of debt ceiling?
Escape to a vacation spot on a private jet until it can’t be voted on?
Article I, Section 8:
“post-offices” “post-roads”
“forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards, and other needful buildings” in the “district” and “places purchased by the consent of the legislature of the state”
GOP Sens. Cornyn, Graham, Rubio, Hoeven, Tillis and more want to give their friends across the aisle a permanent majority with amnesty.
Flimsey Grahamnesty has voted for it THREE times so far.
If the federal government pays for state road repair, states will let their roads deteriorate until federal funds are received.
If the federal government pays for city street repair, cities will let their streets deteriorate until federal funds are received.
Roads like US27 and I-95 are federal roads. GA49 is a state road.
Federal motor fuel taxes should pay for federal road and bridge repair and construction.
State motor fuel taxes should pay for state road and bridge repair and construction.
Airport landing and concessionaire fees should pay for airport terminal construction and repair.
“Florida’s 67 school districts have 2,999 schools with over 3.2 million students. The average age of Florida’s schools is 29 years, which is 3 years older than reported in the 2012 Report Card.”
In England, they have school buildings that are hundreds of years old. Most 1960’s suburban houses are nearing 60 years of age, and no there’s real need to replace them.
“The average annual growth rate of Florida’s student population over the last 25 years has been 3.91%, but that growth is not uniform across the counties meaning there may not be seats for students in the fastest growing areas like Central Florida’s Lake and Orange
Counties.”
“In 1997, the SMART Schools Act established a 20-year capital outlay funding program using $2 billion in lottery funds for the construction of permanent classrooms, but this funding has since lapsed and other funds have been curtailed. Uncertainties remain as to the effect lowered county impact fees, total new construction allocations and deferred maintenance costs will have on Florida’s K-12 schools.”
School construction in new growth areas is financed by impact fees here in Florida.
“SCHOOL TOTAL IMPACT FEES (COUNTYWIDE) PARK IMPACT FEES
Living Area per unit Fee Amount
less than 900 sq. ft. $1,645
900 - 1299 sq. ft. $3,891
1,300 - 1,799 sq. ft. $7,027
1,800 - 2,499 sq. ft. $8,227
2,500 - 3,399 sq. ft. $9,369
3,400 or more sq. ft. $10,976”
The only house I can see from where I am sitting has been sold, renovated and lost homestead exemption. The property taxes on it are up sharply.
“Of note, only 42% of the state’s schools are designated hurricane shelters, indicating many schools do not meet the structural requirements.”
For about thirty years, new schools built in Florida are hurricane-resistant. We are building like crazy here in Florida, including ever more hurricane-resistant schools.
https://infrastructurereportcard.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2016_RC_Final_screen.pdf
“MOBILITY FEES
Housing Type (fees are per unit) Urban Zone Rural Zone
Single Family (including Duplex/Triplex) (less than 1,500 square feet living area) $6,542 $9,306
Single Family (including Duplex/Triplex) (1,500 to 2,499 square feet living area) $7,346 $10,430
Single Family (including Duplex/Triplex) (2,500 square feet or greater living area) $8,440 $11,950
Mobile Home $2,764 $3,908
Multi-Family (Low-Rise, 1-2 levels)(Condo, Townhome, Apt, etc.) $5,329 $7,556
Multi-Family (Mid-Rise, 3-10 levels)(Condo, Townhome, Apt, etc.) $3,891 $5,546
Mulit-Family (High-Rise, >10 levels)(Condo, Townhome, Apt, etc.) $3,130 $4,483
Mid-Rise Residential (3-10 levels) w/1st Floor Commercial $2,345 $3,391
High-Rise Residential (>10 levels) w/1st Floor Commercial $1,244 $1,855”
That’s one way how road construction for new development gets paid for here in Florida.
President Trump:
The RINOs in the Senate are delivering a big win by caving to the Radical Democrats on infrastructure. Once they pass this bill out of the Senate, it will sit in the House until they get steamrolled by the biggest government expansion in a generation. Tax increases on everyone, government run health care, more government run schools, amnesty for illegal immigrants, MASKS, and many more terrible socialist programs. Nancy Pelosi has said NO INFRASTRUCTURE until they get everything else. Infrastructure is just a “carrot” for a massive socialist expansion. Why are RINOs so desperate to push bad, Radical Leftist policies? And at the same time give a big win to the Democrats. They will be forced to give up some of the incredible tax cuts gotten during the Trump Administration, one of its many hallmarks. This is bad legislation and politically irresponsible. The Democrats will use it to show they can get anything they want from the Republicans.
As always, it's Republicans caving against the wishes of their voters that will see this turkey into fruition.
“Most people relocating to Florida are unaware of the CDD[Community Development District] Fees....The purpose of the CDD is to move the financial burden of having infrastructural development off of the cash strapped local governments....community developers usually issue these tax-free bonds at the time of the community being built. The cost of the bond is then transferred to the people that are buying the houses in these communities.”
https://www.housereal.net/cdd-fees-florida/
The CCD fees on one single house can be in the thousands of dollars per year, year after year.
“Oh, you can get stucco.”
Electric grids for the 21st Century should be financed like railroads were in the 19th Century.
Investors need high-quality investment opportunities.
As always, it’s Republicans caving against the wishes of their voters that will see this turkey into fruition.
*************
A totally useless party. It is Republican weakness that has repeatedly emboldened the Democrats and allowed them to bring this country to its knees. By failing to stand up to the other party THEY were the enablers of our national disaster.
Small correction.
Also includes, besides amnesty, is $80 Billion to expand the fascist IRS and $10 Billion to create the Climate Change Corps, or whatever it’s called, AKA the Hitler Youth.
Our Fake President needs a Fake Electorate to win additional Fake Elections.
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