Posted on 05/19/2007 6:12:26 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made these statements on comprehensive immigration reform plan.
General Thoughts:
"Over the last few months, I have spoken with President Bush almost every week and met with him twice about immigration reform. Secretary Chertoff and Secretary Gutierrez have been there every step of the way. There would be no bill without their hard work.
"Today we charted a new path for our nation's immigration policies.
"We break the cycle of chain migration by placing a premium on the education and job skills of new immigrants coming to the United States. This new merit-based system is a major change in our nation's immigration policies and allows us to attract the best and brightest in the world.
"We reclaim control of our nation's borders by adding new Border Patrol agents and technology to stop illegal border crossings.
"We establish a new comprehensive employee verification system - for all workers including Americans -- to ensure people are in the country legally and eligible to work.
"We establish a temporary guest worker system to meet our nation's future labor needs. Temporary workers can come here and work for a defined period of time, but they must return to their home country.
"And we establish procedures to deal with the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, allowing them to stay under our rules - not theirs. They will be placed on probation and pay fines, learn English, and assimilate into American society. If they want to become citizens -- a minimum 13 year process -- they will be forced to leave the United States and return to their country of origin. Only from there will they be allowed to apply for citizenship.
Is the Legislation Amnesty?
"Amnesty is a pardon and means all is forgiven. This legislation is not amnesty. President Bush made clear today he does not view it as amnesty and I agree with him.
"I hope all Senators, particularly those who were not part of the negotiations, will become more informed about the details of the bill before making incorrect statements.
"Here are the facts. Illegal aliens will have the opportunity to come forward and be fined, punished and placed on years of probation. Illegal aliens will not be allowed to jump in line for citizenship ahead of those currently waiting. If they want to become citizens they must pay fines, learn English, pass a civics exam, undergo background checks and leave the United States and return to their country of origin. The punishment is fair and just.
"The public expects Members of Congress to speak their minds, but be informed in their opinions. I would ask for everyone to take time to understand how the bill works."
Lol, went ‘small’ this time. Good graphic!
Dem's fightin' words!
I don’t know about the weight of his shoes, nor his favorite dance moves, but send this man home! I have never seen such a Europeanized group of stutterers and double talkers passing for leaders in my life.
Yeah, Lindsey Graham does. He keeps it with all his other "special" pictures in the sock drawer, next to the flavored Astroglide.
“White Noise”
For a very long time “We The People” have been hearing our politicians never really answering our questions. They have developed a technique filling the air with enough words that sounds like answers but never really addressing the core issues. The politicians see us (We The People) as too stupid to figure it out. The reason “We The People” have tolerate this for so long is because America is a country that for the most part is trust worthy, therefore trusting our elected officials. But the there is growing consensus that enough is enough. We are weary of their “White Noise”. When they start up with this Tower of Babble let us demand that they stop the White Noise and deliver forward-right answers.
Anything that allows them to stay in the country IS amnesty.
Folks, I know deportation is the preferred punishment for being in the country illegally.
But that does not answer the question that I asked: Is deportation the only possible punishment for being in the country illegally? Why not something more severe? If the status quo is unacceptable, if Democrats will not allow extra funding to enforce deportation ant it therefore cannot happen at existing funding levels, then what?
Personally, I think the $1000 and $5000 fines are silly and do not address the problem. The problem is working age people will not exist in the US in adequate numbers for the decades upcoming and the results of this will be devastating. So I suggest the guest worker program be made use of by having the illegal be given a choice of leaving now or staying and working the rest of his or her life (maybe with an electronic ankle bracelet) at an 18% social security tax rate, receiving explicitly no benefits at age 65 and a requirement to leave then — with also a requirement of a 3/4 supermajority vote in Congress to undo any of these requirements in the future.
See? I think that is superior to deportation. None of them have to sign onto this. They can leave. And yes, I know the Democrats won’t sign onto this either, but the point is to engage in the discussion. If you cross your arms and say deportation only, then you accept the status quo of perpetual growth of illegal population and no funding to enforce current laws — because the Dems would not allow such a proposal.
Again, if you do not think it will be enforced, then there is no point in discussing the issue because you will not think anything discussed will ever be enforced, be it fence, workplace arrests, machine guns at the border with orders to shoot to kill . . . if you do not believe there will ever be enforcement then you cannot discuss the issue.
Gee, ya think if I don’t pay taxes for 10 years I will get away with a $5,000 fine and not have to pay the taxes too???Hmmmmmmm?
Gee, ya think if I don’t pay taxes for 10 years I will get away with a $5,000 fine and not have to pay the taxes too???Hmmmmmmm?
WOW! That wins me over. /s
Lindsay, Lindsay. Lindsay.......”He did it first....he’s in on this too” doesn’t become a Senator......we KNOW that Bush is for this....you are NOT supposed to be!
Why do the voters of SC continue to inflict this POS on the rest of the country? In the whole state you cannot find a better person to represent you in the Senate.
Who has Lindsay’s FBI files????
Anything that allows them to stay in the country IS amnesty.
Vincent Fox probably. It's either blackmail or treason.
Blackmail at not “outing” him?
They’ve must have something but I tend to think he’s just a plain old traitor. One has to be blind not to know what this bill would do to the country.
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