Posted on 04/11/2006 11:20:59 PM PDT by FairOpinion
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Following huge nationwide protests, Republicans on Tuesday moved to possibly change two key provisions in a get-tough immigration bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
One would turn millions of illegal immigrants into felons and the other has raised concerns that people who provide them humanitarian relief would be punished. Top Republicans insisted that neither is their intent.
Their verbal commitments to revisit those provisions came a day after hundreds of thousands of people held demonstrations nationwide, provoked by the bill that would also erect a fence along much of the U.S.-Mexican border.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, and House Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, issued a joint statement, saying: "It remains our intent to produce a strong border security bill that will not make unlawful presence in the United States a felony."
They said an effort had been made earlier to change the bill to make "unlawful presence" a misdemeanor, but it was rejected mostly by Democrats in the Republican-led House.
They also blamed Democrats for stalled legislation in the Senate, which would bolster border security and provide most of the estimated 11.5 million to 12 illegal immigrants in the United States a path toward citizenship.
A spokeswoman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said, "clearly Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist are feeling the heat from the hundreds of thousands of people around the country rallying against the (House) bill that Republicans supported."
Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, said, "Actions speak louder than words, and there's no running away from the fact that the Republican House passed a bill and Senator Frist offered one that criminalizes immigrants."
Millions of people have made their voices heard in support of a comprehensive immigration reform plan and now it is time for action, not empty rhetoric," Kennedy said.
Earlier on Tuesday, senior Republican aides told reporters it is not the intent of the House bill to crack down on humanitarian assistance to illegal immigrants.
They said key House Republicans were prepared to try to revise language in the measure to eliminate such concerns -- if and when the bill is sent to a House-Senate conference.
"We don't want to arrest nuns and priests," said one aide.
The aide cited a letter sent last week to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which has voiced concerns that the bill could make them a target for prosecution.
The bill reads, in part, "whoever -- assists, encourages, directs or induces a person to reside in or remain in the United States (illegally) -- shall be punished ...."
The letter to the Catholic bishops was signed by Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King of New York and International Relations Committee Chairman Henry Hyde of Illinois.
In it, they wrote, "We can assure you, just as under current law, religious organizations would not have to 'card' people at soup kitchens and homeless shelters under the House bill's anti-smuggling provisions.
"Nonetheless, we stand willing to work with you and other persons of good will to ensure humanitarian assistance efforts are not mistakenly ensnared in this moral effort to end suffering at the hands of human traffickers," who bring illegal immigrants into the United States for a profit, they wrote.
Suggestion: Brush up on your Spanish listening skills -- but don't SPEAK the language. It's generally advisable to be able to understand the language of the occupation forces, but not let on to it. That way, the troops may speak more freely in your presence.
It's already been documented that he in fact is.
I had that same hunch, and then a few days later saw some articles detailing his involvment with the riot organizers.
I just spent a week on the Border....and we have lost...if invading this country is not a crime..we will have another 10 million in 5 years...and we have lost...I am sorry but I saw it first hand....its really sad to see our politicians destroying our country for "votes"...what happened to principals...to doing the right thing..to being a statesman....
***It's Rotters. Let's see what actually ends up IN the bill.***
EXACTLY! They've taken two clauses from the bill and made them look as though it would be illegal to feed a starving child. They've put the Republicans in a spot, and Reuters claims it's the marches that impressed the Republicans.
Reuters, as usual, is guilty of a twisted version of the truth.
Just ignore it. If this is what it takes to retain a Republican majority, so be it. I mean, jeez, you want to win don't you?
"How on earth do the Rats get by unscathed on this? "
They don't. Most Americans already voiced their displeasure with illegal immigration. The RATS once again are firing up their base of criminals, left wing radicals and all the otehr Anti-American groups.
This is going to backfire big time. Question is, will the Republicans go int November hammering their RAT opponents?
Because we expect the RATS to act the way they do. There is no excuse for "The Grown-Up Party" to act like it has.
Got that right.
After 9'11 happened I distinctly remember asking myself "So will they finally now do something about this disaster?"
The answer became obvious real soon.
Thank you for that textbook illustration of a pointless point.
In German prison camps during WWII, Allied officers who were given special accomodations were supplied with luxuries such as soap.
It was made from the rendered bodies of Jews.
Does this either validate the murder and rendering of Jews for soap, or, demonstrate that Allied officers were antisemitic monsters?
Get back with us when we have a CHOICE in whether or not to "benefit" from "goods or services provided through the effort of illegal workers."
Good grief.
Just ignore it. If this is what it takes to retain a Republican majority, so be it. I mean, jeez, you want to win don't you?
But of course. That's what it's all about -- OUR "side" winning, at ANY price.
Yay, team, etc.
Sad to see how many people have gotten sucked into the "sport-politics" mindset. The end result is two "matched" sets of "leagues", with "fans" rooting for "their" team.
Maybe there's something wrong with me. I never had any interest in sports (unless things like hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting count as "sports"). Never could wrap my mind around the concept of sitting there, watching some guys playing a game, with some drummed-up "loyalty" to one bunch of 'em solely on the basis of the costumes they wore.
Is that why I can't buy into the "team politics" BS? Is that why I'm all hung up on archaic concepts like PRINCIPLE?
Of course they will -- if they have any energy left, after hammering on their Republican BASE!
" Maybe there's something wrong with me. I never had any interest in sports (unless things like hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting count as "sports"). Never could wrap my mind around the concept of sitting there, watching some guys playing a game, with some drummed-up "loyalty" to one bunch of 'em solely on the basis of the costumes they wore."
Agree 100%.
I've never been to a pro sports game - and I'm 32. No interest!
I am not seeing the value of the GOP winning when it's policies smell like donkey manure.
" In German prison camps during WWII, Allied officers who were given special accomodations were supplied with luxuries such as soap.
It was made from the rendered bodies of Jews. "
They did steal the gold caps from teeth and do horrible mutilating and torturing experiments, but making soap from body fat wasn't one of them. It's unsupported - even the Holocaust museum says so.
My guess is that it was because the Nazis had starved the victims to the point that they didn't have enough fat to make it worthwhile. You've seen the pictures!
You are already required in many areas to verify insurance on a contractor before you hire them. Even if it is not required, you are civilly liable should they cause injury and/or property damage and they have no insurance. Checking for papers doesn't seem like that big of a deal.
Personally it is no skin off my butt if they start throwing these people out of the country. I mow my own lawn, thank you. These suburban yuppies ought to be forced to pay the extra for documented workers. Its not my problem if their dual incomes can't support their cast of servants they like to have so they can continue deluding themselves about their real wealth.
I am not seeing the value of the GOP winning when it's policies smell like donkey manure.
At this point, other than, "But they're MY team!", there doesn't seem to be any reason to cheer for them.
And with the crap they're pulling, they don't really seem like "my" team!
You can thank the President.
Actually, it's 4%. Of all the illegal aliens in this country, less than 4% work in the fields....
"Anything that is LESS than that is a show-stopper. This issue threatens to split this country apart and it is only because we have a class of gutless, spineless, unethical, anti-American sellouts in Washington deciding against what the majority of Americans want. No spinning by ANY polling group has been able to make the opposition to immigration reform by Americans look like anything other than what it is - a strong, forceful position that most Americans share"
You said it!
I'll say it - our president and congress are committing high treason, totally abjecting their constitutional duties.
Disenfranchisement was the watchword a few years ago, but it was misemployed by the donks.
The real disenfranchisement is going on now - the regularization and legalization of criminal aliens who are going to dilute the vote of the citizens of this country.
Let's identify this for what it is. No more pussyfooting.
It's a treasonous coup!
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