Posted on 08/30/2006 4:50:28 AM PDT by RKV
The New York Times front page profile on my friend, Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), "Star of the Right Loses His Base at the Border," is really all about the anti-immigration, far-right group led by Tom Tancredo of Colorado to oppose any broad-based immigration reform whatsoever--and to label any proposals for temporary workers, or even Pence's 17 year citizenship path, as "amnesty."
This word "amnesty" is being used to attack absolutely any conceivable immigration compromise. I could go on forever on this subject. I have written several columns on it. But at the end of the day, the Tancredo crowd, which includes Pat Buchanan, just wants border security to keep out immigrants.
They also want to deport all illegal or undocumented immigrants. "Border security" and "deportation" are their watchwords. They manage to completely ignore the economics of the problem, whereby Mexicans seeking higher paying jobs in the U.S. rather than the faltering Mexican economy can produce are coming here to work. After all, living conditions in the U.S. are a lot better for all but the richest people than they are in Mexico.
If we ever deported the 10-15 million undocumented workers, then the U.S. economy would be severely damaged. New studies show the Mexicans actually help the U.S. economy and wages actually rise overall, (though there are small losses in border town wages). Even unskilled American workers benefit from lower priced goods and services generated by these new Mexican worker-immigrants.
Pat Buchanan attacks me as "worshipping at the church of GDP." But in a CNBC Kudlow and Company interview, I reminded him that I also worship at the church of Catholic Mass, as do the vast majority of the Mexican immigrants. These faith-based folks would create a new blue-collar middle class that is sorely needed in this country if we let them.
They would also finance Social Security over the next fifty years. Though it should be noted that academic research shows that 2/3rds of them pay Social Security with phony ID cards and will never receive the benefit as matters now stand. And, of course, they pay the sales tax on whatever purchases they make in stores.
The problem will never be solved unless we legally permit roughly 400,000 per year to fill the demand for U.S. jobs that are currently available. This resembles the Bracero Program and it must be part of any solution. It's just plain common sense that at any given productivity rate, a larger labor force generates more GDP growth to the benefit of the U.S. economy. During the high tide of immigration, over the past twenty years, the U.S. has enjoyed unrivaled prosperity at low unemployment. So, again, I ask, if immigration is so bad, then why are things so good?
Yes, there should be tough border security. Yes, there should be foolproof ID cards, with biometrics, for Social Security and employment purposes. Former Sen. Alan Simpson of Wyoming, the co-author of the 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli immigration reform bill, has said the failure of that bill was a function of the lack of an ID card system.
But the intransigence of the Tancredo-Buchanan crowd is a remarkable political event which is all out of kilter with poll after poll that shows a substantial majority of respondents favor broad based immigration reform.
If these guys win, the Republican Party loses, and the nation loses. Unlike the big countries of Western Europe and Japan, the U.S. benefits from immigration that keeps our population rising. (In fact, harking back to the Catholic Mass, roughly 45 million unborn children have been killed since the abortion wave was launched by Roe v. Wade in the early 1970's. We have an opportunity to replace this extraordinary loss of human life with hard headed but compassionate and economically sound immigration reform).
Incidentally, I wrote the article for Human Events when that newspaper awarded Congressman Pence its "2005 Man of the Year" award. I know Mike. The man is a wonderful, Reagan-thinking conservative. His life is governed by religious values, a belief in a strong national defense, and a pro-growth approach to low taxes and less government spending.
This Tancredo-Buchanan backstabbing does this rising GOP star a great disservice. If allowed to go unanswered, it would represent another devastating blow to the Republican Party.
While the Pence-Hutchinson immigration reform idea is not perfect, it does represent a useful discussion point for future action. As diplomatically and kindly as possible, with all the greatest respect for differing points of view, let me just say that the Tancredo-Buchanan attack on Mike Pence is nuttier than a fruitcake.
"The immigration issue is not top of mind to the vast majority of Americans."
Lest they be forgotten......
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1675516/posts
Every poll I've seen the last two months has reflected a majority that favors a guest worker program as a way of dealing with those illegals who are here.
So, if you leave it up to the voters, Pence's plan would win in a walk.
I'll repeat what I told you months ago: You are strongly pro-law-enforcement on almost all issues . . . except this one.
WHY NOT THIS ISSUE? (Yelling on purpose.) Why are you so firmly against enforcing the existing laws WRT this issue?
This is beyond law enforcement. Neither the Congress, four Presidents, nor the American public seem to care about the enforcement of immigration laws. The genie's out of the bottle on deporting 12 million illegals. It is NOT going to happen.
So, efforts must now focus on what to do going forward.
Wrong on all counts.
1st - If there are laws, there is law enforcement. We are not talking about antiquated laws here.
2nd - Congress can be made to care about what the American people care about, and it is clear from most polls that the American people want illegal immigration laws enforced.
3rd - It is no more necessary to mass-deport 12 million than it is to ticket all 100 million traffic speeders in one weekend. (arright, I made up the 100 million figure, but I'm not wrong by very much, I betcha.) What you do is to BEGIN enforcing the law, and enforce it harder and harder until behavior changes. In this case, you keep enforcing the laws until the illegal immigration slows to a trickle. Then you keep enforcing at a level that keeps the boarder crossings at a trickle. No need for mass deportation.
It's the FEAR of being arrested and deported that will slow the invasion way down. Drive the fear up to the point at which the number of border crossers is very low.
At the same time, enforce the laws on employers who hire illegal aliens, and step up enforcement until there is a change of behavior. Then maintain a level of enforcement that continues to strike fear in the hearts of employers such that most of them stop hiring illegals.
It isn't necessary to have pure 100% law enforcement before you enforce the law, sink. Otherwise, the IRS would not exist. (Wait, that's a pleasant thought.)
Right back at you!
Most Americans favor a guest worker program, or don't care one way or another.
Tancredo may talk most about illegal immigration, but I think the record shows he is a strong conservative across the board.
Pretty much. FR is made up of 20,000 active members or so, and less than one-tenth of one percent post on the immigration threads. These are the ardent anti-immigrant posters (and, yes, most of them are anti-immigrant, not just anti-illegal immigrant).
They, and you, are not representative of the country at large, nor are you representative of the Republican Party. National security is the number one issue in the upcoming election, not immigration. That is what the Republicans will be re-elected on, in both the House and the Senate, not immigration.
You and I are not going to agree on this issue. I respect your position, and your ardent defense of your position. But we're not going to convince each other.
Thanks for the back-and-forth.
For anyone interested -
From mikepence.house.gov
THE HUTCHISON-PENCE PLAN: NO AMNESTY IMMIGRATION REFORM
Washington, Aug 30 -
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congressman Mike Pence authored the following op-ed in the Washington Times on July 26, 2006 about the Hutchison-Pence Plan.
To access a Border Security Certification Summary, Executive Summary and Final Detailed Summary of the Hutchison-Pence Plan, please visit the links below right.
In the years we have served in our respective houses of Congress, there has never been an issue on which our colleagues have been so engaged and yet so far apart as illegal immigration and border security. The bills on this issue which passed in each house are miles apart.
We believe it is imperative that Congress find a responsible solution and enact comprehensive reform. To achieve this, many small groups are meeting in an effort to jump-start the negotiations between the House and the Senate. The president is engaged, as are House and Senate members. Rightfully so. Congress cannot walk away from a problem that so affects our country's future.
We are putting forth a proposal that we hope can be used as the basis for new discussions. Our plan is tough on border security, but it recognizes the need for a temporary-worker program that operates without amnesty and without growing into a huge new government bureaucracy.
Our plan begins with border reinforcement. The millions who come to our country seeking jobs to support their families are not a security threat to our nation, but the weaknesses in the nearly 7,000 miles of international border and 95,000 miles of shoreline have given terrorists, drug dealers and human traffickers an opening that is being exploited; this is a risk we cannot allow to continue. Part two of our plan is a temporary-worker program that is essential in order to fill jobs in our economy that are in high demand.
This program would commence only after the borders are fixed. Here's how our plan works:
First: Secure our borders
Before any new temporary-worker program can begin, our plan requires the president to certify that all mandated border-security measures are completed. The Hutchison-Pence proposal embraces the tough border-security measures of the House and Senate bills. It would add border patrol agents, drug enforcement agents and port-of-entry inspectors; end catch and release; add security fences and other physical barriers at critical points; and employ American technology, such as unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles.
Second: The Good Neighbor SAFE Visa and Ellis Island Centers
When the border has been declared secure, the Good Neighbor SAFE (Secure Authorized Foreign Employee) Visa will begin. This program offers noncitizens opportunities to fill jobs that employers attest to not being able to fill with Americans at market wage.
Under our plan, the estimated 12 million people currently residing illegally in America can come out of the shadows and earn a fair living by returning to their home countries to apply for a Good Neighbor SAFE Visa. This does not give amnesty to those currently in our country illegally.
Our plan would accomplish this by setting up a system of private employment placement agencies outside the United States (called "Ellis Island Centers"), licensed by the federal government, to match willing temporary workers with jobs that employers cannot fill with American workers. The private agencies would also perform health screenings, fingerprint the guest workers and provide that information for federal background checks.
Successful applicants for the Good Neighbor SAFE Visa could enter America legally provided they meet the visa requirements.
We call it a "Good Neighbor" SAFE Visa because the program would be limited to countries that currently enjoy a positive trade relationship with the United States in our hemisphere. Only residents of NAFTA and CAFTA-DR countries will be eligible to participate in this program. Good Neighbor SAFE Visas will be issued for two years, with the option to renew them in two-year increments for up to 12 years.
Good Neighbor SAFE Visa participants are not eligible for welfare, Social Security or Medicare. All paycheck deductions will be made as for American citizens. Workers' Medicare contributions will go into a fund to compensate hospitals for emergency medical expenses incurred while treating foreign workers. Worker Social Security deductions will be returned when a participant exits the program and returns to his or her home country. Employer Social Security contributions will remain in our country's system.
At the end of the visa period, visa holders who have been gainfully employed with no violations may return to their country of origin or apply for a new X-Change Visa with an employer sponsor and continue working in the United States under the same conditions with no further renewals required. There is no automatic path to citizenship in the Hutchison-Pence plan. After five more years, the X-Change Visa holder would have the option of continuing to hold an X-Change Visa, returning home or applying for permanent adjustment of status.
Third: Verification and enforcement
For the system to be effective, it is necessary to implement a nationwide electronic employment verification system through which employers confirm the legality of each employee. Those who continue to hire unverifiable employees will be subject to stiff fines.
Two years after the date of enactment, employers will be required to verify the eligibility of all new employees, including temporary workers. After six years, verification will apply to all employees. While this may be unsettling to some, and there may be better ways to do it, we will never have complete knowledge of everyone who is in our country and their legal status without some capability for verification.
Good Neighbor SAFE Visas will provide businesses seeking to hire foreign workers with a secure method of confirming their legal status. If a temporary worker is fired, convicted of a crime or just disappears, the card will be canceled, preventing someone else from hiring the worker.
We have a historic opportunity to repair our immigration system. Our proposal is meant to be one set of ideas; there are many others. But there can be no disagreement on this: Congress owes it to the American people to solve this crisis. We are attempting to protect our national security while providing benefits to our country for generations to come. We urge our colleagues in Congress to come back to the table and produce a workable system. The future of our country depends on it.
It's just that to a lot of the open-borders proponents, eg Kudlow, support for mass illegal immigration is a core conservative value, so Tancredo's not a "real" conservative.
So you support a plan that excludes from participation any human from outside the Americas?
People who support Pence-Hutchinson support the exclusion of immigrants from outside of the Americas.
Pence found out that any plan that favors illegals is the third rail.
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