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.
I strongly disagree with your position on this thread, but I have to admit, putting those keywords in the thread is pretty low of someone. It was not me is all I can say.
Very few Americans remember, or were affected negatively by, Reagan's amnesty program.
I'd rather look at it that way too but Tancredo may not get the nomination and, if he does, there are other issues to consider. I've heard talk of Gingrich in '08. what's his position on immigration? A Gingrich/Rice ticket might work.
My worst nightmare: the Pubs go for a "Moderate" ticket with McCain or some other RINO at the top and Hillary comes out stong on immigration.
Thanks for the heads up. And good riddance to PokerGod.
Bush is wrong on this issue and his misguided approach is going to make the already huge problem far worse.
I am with Tancredo.
I agree. PokerGod was pretty much out of control, until he got banned. Oh well, another one bites the dust.
If you want to cut your throat, it might work.
Newt is through, in elective politics. Surely we can do better than a guy who was screwing around while he was complaining about Clinton screwing around.
Too many employers feel that they are entitled to the cheap foerign workers and to rewarding them with American citizenship (for imported workers in five years or for their children) as a part of the pay package.
Since when the citizenship became the property of free traders?
Looks like we lost one of the Jokers and his deck full of race cards...LOL...
How do you plan on forcing illegals (or guest workers) to return to their native countries? At Post #210 you admit:
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
Currently, we have no means of tracking the known law-breaking illegals nor do we have the intestinal fortitude to deport them, what makes you think we will deport guest workers? And their families? And their kids who are American citizens because they were born here and are now in school?
Talk about a pipedream.
I know it wasn't you since you seem pretty level headed and I can understand your concern, but I will trust the President who is actually trying to solve the problem, and not relegate myself to worship someone(Tancredo), IMO, who is out for publicity and is more than willing to sell out to the MSM(by Bush bashing) to get his name in the paper.
Those keywords don't bother me at all, but I couldn't resist pointing them out to ALIPAC who was being so sanctomonius about thread etiquette earlier on this thread.
Does that make you a communist or member of Mecha?
If guest workers show themselves to be productive, lawful members of their commumities, they WON'T be forced to return to their native countries. I want neighbors like that. But they will apply for permanent visitor status, and they will be vetted through a meticulous, lawful process.
It appears that Rep. Wally Herger, Ca (R) sure thinks its an AMNESTY.
______________________________________________________
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515-0502
Dec. 14, 2004
Dear [Constituent];
Thank you for contacting me regarding efforts to grant amnesty to aliens illegally living in the United States. I value your point of view, and I appreciate the opportunity to respond.
Legislation has been proposed to allow a blanket amnesty to those persons who have chosen to unlawfully enter the United States and who have stayed despite laws, which prohibit this behaviour.
This proposal causes me great concern. Most of us were immigrants to this country at some time in our familys past. This does not, however, justify rewarding the illegal activity of contemporary migrants with instant citizenship. While many thousands of legal aliens wait extremely long periods of time (often up to nine years)
for their immigration status to be processed lawfully, it would be unfair and unwise of us to grant amnesty to those who have betrayed our trust and have broken our laws.
I have successfully fought in the past to pass legislation that fundamentally reformed our immigration system, and I will continue to fight toward this end. Illegal immigration costs California taxpayers alone over $3 billion each year. While our reforms have made a critical first step toward reducing this burden, our job is far from complete. As Congress considers any Administration amnesty request, we will need to make some though decisions about the effectiveness of such a program on reducing illegal immigration into the United States..............
Sincerely,
Wally Herger
Member of Congress
____________________________________
Congressional Switchboard: 1-877-762-8762
Find your reps at www.house.gov
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