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Bush Immigration Plan Meets GOP Opposition: Lawmakers Resist Temporary-Worker Proposal
Washington Post ^ | 1/2/05 | Michael A. Fletcher

Posted on 01/01/2005 9:18:56 PM PST by nj26

President Bush's plan to liberalize the nation's immigration laws to allow millions of undocumented workers the opportunity for legal status appears to be on a collision course with newly aroused sentiment among House Republicans pushing for a crackdown on illegal immigration.

Bush describes his immigration proposal as one of the top goals of his second term, calling it a humane way to get a handle on the nation's mushrooming illegal immigration problem. Republican strategists, led by White House chief political adviser Karl Rove, also see the proposal as an important element in their plan to expand the party's base among the nation's fast-growing Hispanic population.

The key prong in Bush's plan is a temporary-worker program that would offer the nation's estimated 10 million illegal immigrants a chance to earn legal status that would allow them to stay in the country as long as six years. Once they register as temporary workers, they would be eligible to begin the long process of applying for citizenship or permanent residency.

"It's a compassionate way to treat people who come to our country. It recognizes the reality of the world in which we live," Bush said during a news conference last week. "There are some people -- there are some jobs in America that Americans won't do and others are willing to do."

But an increasingly vocal group of House Republicans is threatening to undercut Bush's vision, which the president has discussed with passion but has not formally advanced since taking office in 2001. Many House Republicans oppose any effort to grant legal status to undocumented workers, saying it would have the effect of rewarding law-breakers. Instead, they are seeking to ratchet up enforcement efforts against undocumented workers, an approach with proven voter appeal if unproven results when it comes to slowing illegal immigration.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; amnesty; bush; congress; immigration
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To: nj26
...instead, they are seeking to ratchet up enforcement efforts against undocumented workers, an approach with proven voter appeal if unproven results when it comes to slowing illegal immigration.

...with unproven results? For crying out loud, how would we know? Have those been tried? Well, no. Duh!

61 posted on 01/02/2005 11:31:38 AM PST by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservat)
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To: VictoryGal

Exactly!


62 posted on 01/02/2005 11:32:04 AM PST by DoughtyOne (US socialist liberalism would be dead without the help of politicians who claim to be conservat)
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To: truth_seeker
I'm not a lawyer. However the case you cite has apparently been ignored.

By a Supreme Court Justice who was a contemporary of those who drafted the 14th Amendment, no less.

Can you explain why it has been ignored for 126 years?

Sovereignty and qualification for citizenship is not in the ineterest of "The International"; i.e., democratic socialism.

63 posted on 01/02/2005 11:55:50 AM PST by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are really stupid.)
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To: NewRomeTacitus
Oh no he di-n't!

Couldn't see whether you did that "chicken head" thing or not...

64 posted on 01/02/2005 12:19:23 PM PST by 1_Inch_Group
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To: nj26
This article is part of a two step process to influence public opinion on immigration reform.

The goal is to ultimately manufacture public consent for a immigration reform bill that includes "earned legalization".

The final bill will be similar to the Ag Jobs bill except that it will cover not only ag workers, but also those in the hospitality industry, manufacturing, and construction.

65 posted on 01/02/2005 12:41:24 PM PST by Ben Ficklin
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To: dalereed

Hello, I'm looking for you to prove your comments.


66 posted on 01/02/2005 1:52:26 PM PST by risk
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