Bienvenue a Free State Project
Posted on 11/19/2002 9:30:47 AM PST by madfly
E-Blast
Nov. 18, 2002By Laura Ingraham
When most people think about the "American Dream," family, hard work, God, love of country come to mind. But if "immigrant rights" groups and their supporters in Washington have their way, the dream will also include law-breaking.
With Republicans poised to take control of both house of Congress in January, a legislative quandary awaits them -- a bill called the "Dream Act," the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act. Introduced by Utah Senator Orrin Hatch earlier this year, it would make it easier for states to offer in-state tuition rates at state colleges, and also would grant students lawful residency upon graduation from high school if they had lived in the country at least five years. (They could file for a conditional green card, and thus could legally drive and work.)
Why do conservatives like Hatch, and his House colleague Rep. Chris Cannon, support a bill that would reward illegality? Colorado's Rep. Tom Tancredo, a bulldog for enforcing our immigration laws, thinks it's a combination of politics (attracting Latino votes) and money (insuring business-owners a constant source of cheap labor). Hatch insists that the undocumented students -- by some estimates as many 600,000 in our high schools-"are assimilated into American culture…and grow up to be contributors to society."
That the majority of the illegal immigrant students want to work hard and better their lives is not in question. The problem is that for each slot an illegal immigrant takes at a state college or university, it is one less spot for American students or for immigrants who have followed immigration laws and procedures. (Illegals can also apply in the category of "international admissions.") And let's not forget, our new Homeland Security Department will have enough on its hands with 8 million illegals here, along with the 300,000 subject to deportation but on the loose.
For some outlandish reason, there is no specific federal prohibition against colleges and universities enrolling illegal immigrants. However, federal law places some restrictions on allowing such students to pay in-state tuition rates, and it prohibits them from receiving federal financial aid.
The pending Hatch-Cannon legislation will be a test for Republicans, who are ever-mindful of the growing influence Hispanics have in elections coast to coast. In the 2002 mid-term elections, many Republican candidates nationwide did better than expected among Hispanic voters. New York Governor George Pataki improved his support among Hispanic voters, chiefly due to his support for legalizing some illegals in the state. Governor Jeb Bush won a majority of the Latino vote, receiving strong support from Cuban-Americans.
Fearful of reprisals at the voting booth, the GOP has largely avoided taking on such these immigration-related issues. "When it comes to immigration, the president's approach is guided by compassion and fairness," said Sharon Castillo, an RNC spokesperson.
But isn't fairness supposed to be ensured by following the rule of law? President Bush's message on everything from fighting terror to corporate corruption is grounded in respecting the laws of the land. When people who set out to thwart our legal system are rewarded with benefits that are designated for law-abiding Americans and immigrants, why should we expect any would-be immigrants to go through the hassle of following our immigration laws?
Some states such as California, New York and Texas are already dangling carrots along the border. All passed bills allowing admission and in-state tuition for illegals. Several other states are considering similar measures.
Yet if there is a national trend toward bending the rules to allow greater access to education for illegals, Virginia's Republican Attorney General Jerry Kilgore wants no part of it. To the great consternation and outrage of groups like the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, he recently directed his state's public colleges not to enroll illegals. And get this-he also told the institutions to report illegals they discover on campus to federal authorities. (The horror!)
Kilgore is right. Since September 11th, all universities nationwide should be doing everything they can to help the INS track foreign students, not create problems by looking the other way when illegals attempt to take advantage of benefits designated for those here lawfully. Yet our federal government is on the verge of giving state universities the green light to do just that with the so-called Dream Act. It is already a nightmare for our understaffed, under-funded Border Patrol to enforce our borders, it will only get worse with the beacon of more benefits for law-breakers.
WORD OF THE DAY
Avatar, noun. 1.The incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form. 2. An embodiment, as of a quality or concept; an archetype: the very avatar of cunning. 3. A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity. As in--
Yoga is in its present avatar, with studios popping up coast to coast.
Bienvenue a Free State Project
On balance, I don't think it's a partisan issue because the same could be said of the democraps. Looking at the long-term agenda, it could only be a continuance of plans to dispense with borders. This should have become evident to everyone on 9/12/01 when the first thing we should have done was seal the borders, as any nation under attack with any sense of survival should have done. Mexico, Canada and the U.S. must already be linked on the drawing board as a single political/economic entity in the minds of the 'planners.'
Sovereignty? An archaic expression once used by fledgling republics back in the 20th Century.
I could be wrong, but I believe there are penalties if you end up owing too much. If that's not the case, then it's a great plan.
I don't believe the feds allow that.
At least that's what I plan to do. As far as I can tell it's legal. As long as you pay the taxes on or before the 15th of April then I don't think they can do anything.
First of all, self-employed people are required to pay their taxes on a quarterly basis. And second, if you are significantly under-withheld, the feds can assess a penalty.
I would get some better tax advice before departing on the course of action you are proposing here.
I agree and sympathize with you but you should check this out with a tax accountant. Depending on how much you make, you could by liable for IRS penalties if you earn a certain amount over last year's income. I was on the treadmill with the IRS for years with estimated taxes that I had to pay up-front for the current tax year because my prior year's income was not fully paid until April 15th.
Tell everyone you know.
Help spread the word
If the Republicans can take a vote away from the Dems to replace yours, they still gain...as long as you (evil anti-immigration pro-life extremist that you are) don't vote or vote for a party that isn't trying to win.
In Massachusetts for Governor this time we had Shannon O'Brien (D) saying 16 year olds didn't need parental permission for an abortion. We had "conservative" Mitt Romney (R) saying that he would of course support abortion rights, but only for those 18 or older.
I voted Green. If I didn't have an option to save baby's lives, I figured I'd at least vote to save trees and walruses or whatever.
This immigration thing...it must be a ratings winner. All of the talk folk are beginning to sound like anti-illegal, secure border freepers. Keep emailing them and praising any show they do that highlights the issue.
Nice choice ain't it, either Brownback or Kennedy.
When will Washington ever get it?
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