Posted on 01/12/2005 12:50:36 PM PST by GOPXtreme20
Republican to Lead Immigration Revolt Against Bush
By Alan Elsner
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican member of the House of Representatives vowed on Wednesday to lead a revolt against President Bush (news - web sites)'s immigration reform proposals and predicted that up to 180 party members would support him.
Bush in an interview with the Washington Times published on Wednesday said he plans to force a debate in Congress this year on his proposal that would allow some illegal immigrants to obtain legal work permits in the United States.
Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, who heads the House Immigration Reform Caucus, said he was determined to block the legislation. The caucus, which had 71 members in the last Congress, argues for stronger action to stop illegal immigration and a reduction of legal migration.
"Why is this so important to the president?" Tancredo said. "Is it just the corporate interests who benefit from cheap labor? Do they have such a strong grip on our president so that he is actually willing to put our nation at risk, because open borders do put our nation at risk?
"Is it petulance, because we were able to stop it in the last Congress? Why is it so important to give amnesty to people who have broken the law?" Tancredo said.
"I'm willing to lead a fight against this and I would say there are at least 180 members of our Republican caucus who are willing at least to stop amnesty for illegal immigrants," he told Reuters in a telephone interview.
Bush has repeatedly said he views immigration reform as an important issue for his second term. In the Washington Times interview, he said it was near the top of his agenda.
"Look, whether or not you agree with the solution or not, we have a problem in America when you've got 8 million undocumented workers here," he said.
BUSH CONFIDENCE
Bush expressed confidence he could win over opponents, as he did in passing tax reform during his first term. "Initially out of the box, some people said, over my dead body would they pass tax relief ... If I listened to all that, I'd just quit, you know. But that's not the way I think."
But analysts agree that immigration reform could be much more divisive for Republicans since growing numbers of rank-and-file voters are becoming concerned at the continued influx of illegal immigrants across the Mexican border.
"No issue, not one, threatens to do more damage to the Republican coalition than immigration," said David Frum, a former White House speech writer in Bush's first term.
"There's no issue where the beliefs and interests of the party rank-and-file diverge more radically from the beliefs and interests of the party's leaders," he wrote in the National Review last month.
Bush insists he is not offering amnesty to illegal immigrants but Tancredo said that was a "manipulation of language, the kind of thing (former President) Bill Clinton would have done. There is an issue of integrity here and an issue of honesty," he said.
Have you taken your meds today ?
Just back from the UFO base on the India-China border ?
That's a good argument for gutting welfare programs, not rewarding law-breaking border-jumpers.
Fortunately for all sane Americans the founders devised the House of Representatives and the Senate who have to agree with the President if legislation is to become law. I sure did not vote for Bush so he could sell Americans short on immigration. Go Tancredo!
That's why it would be important to allow only one foreigner per family to enroll in the guest worker program. The rest of the guest worker's family would have to remain in their home country. Of course, for this program to be set up properly, foreigners should be required to apply for the guest worker program from within their home countries, and then if they are accepted into the program, they would then come to the U.S. to work, but be allowed to travel to their home countries to visit their families whenever they wished to.
If I were out of work, and those were the only jobs available, you bet I would. I've cleaned offices before, Mr. Man, so it's not "beneath" me.
That's not an amnesty.
Its a plea bargain for $1500,yes that is amnesty no prosecution and no deportation....makes our laws meaningless..Tell that to the millions who waited in line...and had their children born in their own country at their own expense...
You're deluding yourself. Don't confuse the intractable Free Republic echo chamber with any larger movement. People DO want this problem addressed and stabilized. Once the Bush plan is fleshed out, modifications are negotiated, and the benefits are presented most Americans will support his measures. Folks want a solution, and most folks understand that locating, processing and deporting 8-10 million illegals already living, moving and working among them through law enforcement actions is a whimisical pipedream
I have long quit using Free Republic as any barometer of outside world political reality. Some form of this Bush proposal will pass this year, and the usual forum suspects will convulse in their usual spasms. The Tancredo express will pick up forum steam among the ever malcontented. Yada. Yada. Yada.
Tancredo has my admiration and respect. He also has my support. For too long he has been our only voice.
If he does get a nasti-gram, maybe we should ALL tell them where to stick it on this issue.
I do have to chuckle at the headline....
Old News....where has Reuters been?
If we could have federal and state laws denying all non-emergency social services to illegals -- and putting teeth by requiring a tight ID system for such services -- I wouldn't have much problem with folks coming here to do the kinds of jobs you describe. Unfortunately, though, they're also getting a lot of social services -- and I don't see Bush calling for a meaningful stop to that.
Not sure where that number comes from, but I believe that in net, it is not in our favor to let these guys in. CIS does a great job in this area...http://www.cis.org/
So have I(busboy/dishwasher) didn't want to make a career out of it though, and I surmise neither did you.
Based on Census Bureau data, the study estimates that households headed by illegal aliens used $10 billion more in government services than they paid in taxes in 2002. These figures are only for the federal government; costs at the state and local level are also likely to be significant
See also this thread: Cost of illegal immigration in California estimated at nearly $9 billion
California's nearly 3 million illegal immigrants cost taxpayers nearly $9 billion each year, according to a new report released last week by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a Washington, D.C.-based group that promotes stricter immigration policies.Educating the children of illegal immigrants is the largest cost, estimated at $7.7 billion each year, according to the report. Medical care for illegal immigrants and incarceration of those who have committed crimes are the next two largest expenses measured in the study, the author said.
Jack Martin, who wrote the report, said Thursday that the $9 billion figure does not include other expenses that are difficult to measure, such as special English instruction, school lunch programs, and welfare benefits for American workers displaced by illegal immigrant workers. "It's a bottom of the range number," Martin said.
It's not an amnesty. Period.
And just for the sake of asking,Sam-Have you ever voted for a Repbublican in your entire life? Better yet, have you ever personally known a non-democrat, or cast a vote for anyone who ever in their entire life, claimed to support Conservative Republican values? Never mind!!!!!!
Bush!? Wait 'til Ted Kennedy crams it down your throat.
One definition of the word "amnesty" from my dictionary:
a period during which offenders are exempt from punishment
A $1500 fine is not punishment?
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