Posted on 06/14/2007 11:16:52 AM PDT by kristinn
A spokeman for the Bush administration sent an e-mail to Jim Robinson and myself confirming the authenticity of a post on Free Republic this afternoon regarding the immigration bill currently before the Senate as having been posted on behalf of the White House.
The spokesman, Nicholas Thompson, works for the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives. The Politico reported yesterday that Thompson and Kerrie Rushton, associate directors in the Office of Strategic Initiatives who work under Karl Rove, would be engaging the blogosphere on the immigration bill.
Thompson's post is on the thread titled Penalty Mitigation in the Immigration Reform Bill, a vanity posted by philman_36. Thompson posted at comment #53.
Thompson's e-mail to Free Republic included a brief introduction and the text of his posted comment:
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that I just posted a response to the post "Penalty Mitigation in the Immigration Reform Bill."
The White House appreciates the opportunity to respond on Free Republic.
Response:
I would like to point out that the Secretary is authorized to reduce or mitigate penalities against employers who in good faith are trying to comply with the law. Certainly, we understand that not all employers knowingly hire illegal immigrants; this will remain the case, especially before the bill’s new secure documentation requirements are fully phased in. We do not seek to wrongly penalize honest employers who unknowingly hire illegal immigrants, therefore we reserve the right to reduce or mitigate their penalties if the employer can show good faith compliance in following the law.
For those employers who do knowingly hire illegal immigrants, please know that we intend to penalize these employers strongly, and the Administration has already stepped up these penalties in the last couple of years. For example, a 2005 program, “Operation Rollback,” assessed $15,000,000 in civil fines to employers, an amount greater than the sum of administrative fines collected in the previous eight years and was the largest worksite enforcement penalty in US history. In the first quarter of FY07, criminal and civil forfeitures have totaled $26,700,000 for employers.
As a reminder of what’s in the bill, fines for hiring an illegal worker are $5,000 maximum per illegal worker for the first offense, $10,000 maximum per illegal worker for the second, $25,000 maximum per illegal worker for the third , and $75,000 maximum per illegal worker for the fourth. In addition, the bill increases the maximum criminal penalty for a pattern or practice of unlawful hiring twenty-five-fold, from $3,000 to $75,000, and would impose a prison term of up to six months. This represents a significant increase in fines for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Nicholas Thompson
White House Office of Strategic Initiatives
This bill is a much bigger deal than anything else he has done - including the WOT and Iraq.
If this bill passes, this country will be balkanized. All of those other issues won't matter then.
Does it bother you at all that the republican leadership is playing you for a fool?
I will take you around my city and show you first-hand how the current unrestrained illegal INVASION is changing Indianapolis (and the USA).
I mean it. We'll put you in a disguise so you can see the truth.
Come and see for yourself how crime has gone out of control. We'll even watch the local news together over breakfast. (A depressing way to start the day, but you need to know what real people are dealing with out here!)
I'll take you to see some neighborhoods which were once lovely middle class homes that now look like third-world ghettos. (If you're not too afraid after watching the local news...)
I'll take you to an emergency room so that you can see how our healthcare system is suffering.
I'll take you to the gravesite of a good Christian woman - a wife and mother of 3 - who was killed by an drunken illegal driver. We may even run into him, as he's not only out of jail (2 yrs.) - he's been deported and is already back living here. My cousin is dead, but I can take you to meet the family she left behind.
I promise to plan a day for you that would give you a better understanding of what average people are experiencing. How often do you get a chance to see what's really going on in this country you've sworn to protect and defend?
I'll even listen to your arguments and try to understand how you can let this happen to our country. Maybe you can also explain to me how you think our founding fathers would feel if they were looking down from Heaven on this mess of a country that you are responsible for.
Signed - A once-faithful republican who you've finally really lost.
The invitation stands....
“F15E: You’re always good to go. I hereby chime in and second your straightforward list of immigration priorities. Is it possible to start a thread with that in the form of a petition and ask the admin to send it back to the WH spokesperson?”
Great idea! Hunter has been getting little support in this very thing. Perhaps we should help his cause along!
Either that or they're lost and wandering aimlessly in the Hobbit Hole.
Indeed it is an eye-opener.
Senator Jeff Sessions and his staff have done exhaustive work in researching the bill.
It is MUST reading for anyone who cares or has questions about the comprehensive immigration bill being put forth by the president and some members of congress.
You were doing good til your last line. THAT is over the top, IMHO.
You are probaby correct. My grandparents were LEGAL immigrants, his children were told to be loyal to America and LEARN English as they were in America now...they did. I never heard one word of Itialian in our house from my dad.
:)
Hmmm. Where's the fence? WTF?
What the f---?! Where's the fence?
WTF?! WTF?
bump
Enforce the existing laws! When I don’t have to push 1 for English then we will talk about immigration reform!
Dear Nicholas Thompson from White House Office of Strategic Initiatives:
Hi,
Let me get this straight:
The White House and the rest of you, a lying, worthless bunch of garbage with a mental midget president whose elevator has not been going to the top for sometime; and the rest of you liars, all of you who are nothing more than paid lobbyists and never have worked for “we the people,” and have called us stupid, nativists, ignorant, vigilantes, and more, and laughably, you want our support?
Whaa haaa haaaa haaa. (wiping tears from my eyes.)
Go to hell.
Gatún
Nicholas,
Penalties exist currently for employers who hire illegals, and there is NO enforcement of said employers wrong actions now. We have no reason to believe enforcement will start with this or any other bill.
Enforce current laws, build the fence and STOP the flow of illegals RIGHT NOW. The president can do the aforementioned NOW. That he hasn’t in 6 years tells me he doesn’t want to.
Nicholas, the admin’s continuing to push and push and further push this terrible bill is not helping. You guys are making we the people increasing infuriated.
If this bill passes, that is EXACTLY what I will be saying LOUDLY and FREQUENTLY. Youve no idea how this all enrages me.
You lied before and you are lying now.
You are not enforcing the law now, and you will not enforce the law in the future.
Your political party will be voted out of power and will not regain a position of power within the foreseeable future.
That is the legacy President Bush will leave behind as the last Republican President.
Clear enough?
Close the borders.
Send illegal aliens home.
Build a long, high wall between the USA and Mexico.
Require everyone learn English.
If I add any more to this list, I’ll be banned from FR.
Wasn't “Operation Rollback” named that way to give Wal-Mart a black eye, even though Wal-Mart wasn't hiring illegals?
As many have said on here, I don't trust this Administration anymore. It has received plenty of funding to have a nice wall started for quite a distance, as well as lots of support for further enforcement steps that it has chosen not to take.
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