Tancredo doubts he can block amnesty-extension bill

Denver Post ^ | March 8, 2002 | Bill McAllister

[sarcasm]

Friday, March 08, 2002 - WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo takes credit for thwarting the Bush administration's last effort to offer partial amnesty to thousands of illegal residents, but Thursday the outspoken immigration foe said he may have been outmaneuvered by the White House.

President Bush has struck a deal with the House leadership to place legislation that offers an extension of amnesty on its consent calendar before Bush heads to Mexico for a state visit next week, the Colorado Republican said.

That action should ensure quick House passage of legislation that Bush has repeatedly sought from Congress. It would allow an undocumented person to receive legal standing, such as a valid green card, by filing a declaration with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

It presumably also would require the person to have been in the United States by a certain date and have filed a declaration with the INS from an appropriate sponsor, such as a relative or employer, and pay a $1,000 penalty.

"The terms are still up in the air," said Dan Stein, executive director of the Federation for American Immigration, a group that has been allied with Tancredo. "We've heard to the effect that the president wants something to bring down to Mexico."

The initial Bush proposal, designed exclusively for Mexicans, once was high on the president's legislative wish list, but it was delayed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. However, as the president noted Wednesday in a speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, he now is pushing for the extension of the amnesty program known by the section of immigration law that covers it, Section 245I.

The president hailed it as a way to reunite family, separated by the border. "If you believe in family values, if you understand the worth of family and the importance of family, let's get 245I out of the United States Congress and give me a chance to sign it," Bush told the chamber members.

Tancredo, the head of a congressional caucus on immigration issues and proponent of halting virtually all immigration, said he had blocked a previous attempt by Bush to push an extension of the amnesty program through the House. But this time, he said House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., had agreed to place the issue on the suspension, or consent, calendar, making it difficult to defeat the proposal.

The Senate might be more favorable to the bill than the House, expanding the numbers of individuals who can apply, Tancredo said.

[jragan2001]

I say next year his approval rating will be down to around 45-55%. Look how fast his Dad's approval rating tumbled down between the Gulf War (91% at the highest) to when he got his butt tossed out of office (by Clinton unfortunately)

[EBUCK]

He is at that. But, even he must know that we can't afford this before welfare is ceased.

EBUCK

[Brownie74]

At least my man Pete Sessions voted Nay. I figured that - he has always been strong anti-immigration.

2004 is going to be a very interesting year for the RINO's.

[Sabertooth]

See you all in 2006 or 2008!

No Republican votes for me until then. George W. Bush is a dispicable traitor, an I regret ever voting for him or touting him as honorable.

Kiss My Vote

We're a nation strong with immigrants
     Who know about fair play;
But you prefer the other ones,
     Without an honest day.
I know that you will call me names
But I will not be shy…
          Hey go ahead, kiss illegals,
          And kiss my vote goodbye.

I don't care if they're from Mexico,
     Canada, France or Spain.
I don't care if they swam a river,
     Or got here in a plane.
I'm not giving up my country,
No matter how hard you try…
          Hey go ahead, kiss illegals,
          And kiss my vote goodbye.

Put down your economics,
     Your demographics too.
Uphold our laws and borders,
     As we elected you.
But if you're thinking otherwise,
We'll know for sure you lie…
          Hey go ahead, kiss illegals,
          And kiss my vote goodbye.

You lightly take your promises,
     But we will not forget.
Double cross us once again,
     Your sun will surely set.
The time has come to send them home,
And I have told you why…
          But go ahead, kiss illegals,
          And kiss my vote goodbye.

And if you' think it can't be done,
     Then step aside, we'll fight.
It's amnesty or honesty,
     Surrender or be right.
So listen, you politicians,
And hear our vengeful cry…
          Deport your dear illegals,
          Or kiss our votes goodbye.

[RnMomof7]

Bush SCARES me.

Me too....

[who knows what evil?]

TWO DEAD TERRORISTS are APPROVED FOR STUDENT VISAS> oH MY GOD, AND THEY JUST VOTED to keep letting them in, and INS will handle it oh so well.

How many of these FORMERLY 'illegal aliens' are pilots?

[A CA Guy]

Libertarians would be out voted by the Gay Biker Lesbian Nun Party.
They are insignifcant and they at times back evil pursuits in the name of the constitution.

They are a waste of the air they breath most of the time.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Bush is doing all this because he thinks it will broaden the Republican tent. What he doesn't understand is we don't want to be in the same tent as illegal aliens. Might as well put us in the same tent as bank robbers and other crooks. What's the difference? They're stealing the country aren't they?

[Oregon Coast Conservative]

Yep it's do as I say not what I do. Burton is a complete sellout, probably because he was redistricted into a more hispanic district. It's all about reelection anymore, my childrens future doesn't matter to these traitors, but it does matter to me, and I am resoved to try and make a difference.

[majordivit]

The whole GOP leadership either voted for it or abstained. I shouldn't be suprised. I'm so sick of this duopoly. The stupid GOP party thinks pandering to hispanics will help them electorally. Not a chance in the world. So while they support legitimizing alies (who put tremendous pressure on our social services system) in an effort to gain support in the end they will lose lose lose as a solid majority of hispanics will continue to vote for democrats. It won't matter how much 'compassion' Bush and the GOP shows.. What a travesty.

[Sabertooth]

New Republican Party Motto...

The Rule of Law:
We Pretend Louder

[healey22]

Instead, he has now diminished my vote, and continues the PC BS with the Muslims are peaceful, etc etc. I am angrier right now at him than I ever was at Clinton.

Exactly, at least we knew Clinton was a liar and a cheat. But, now our President wants to reward law breakers and throw us aside. He has lost my support.

[A CA Guy]

Amen, I will work against W the next election.

[majordivit]

Jorge Bush has lived up to his name.

[RnMomof7]

The King gets to define words..This King says this is good..Learn Spanish..sell any property in California,Texas,New Mexico and Arizona..

[who knows what evil?]

So Hugh Hewitt just hung up on me when I called his show to talk about the bill that just passed regarding immigration and why he was not covering it.

Don't feel bad...Rush probably would have done the same. Much to his credit; Sean Hannity was raising H*LL about this issue on his radio show today...tomorrow might be pretty interesting. Someone should notify Michael Savage that the house has told his 'borders, language, culture' crowd to go take a flying leap.

[EBUCK]

How Oregons finest voted.

Blumenauer D Y

Hooley D Y

Wu D Y

Walden R N

EBUCK