Why the Railroad Effort on the Amnesty Bill?

Jawa Report ^ | June 16, 2007 | Ragnar Danneskjold

[3AngelaD]

We can all understand the push by big business to keep their steady flow of illegal laborers coming in, strengthening their bargaining position against blue-collar working class Americans. Then again, they already have that today in droves. Why the sudden balls-to-the-wall push to get it all "kosher" right now? Mickey Kaus forwards a theory:

Chertoff and Kyl both seem to have answered that question recently, Kyl in his Wall Street Journal interview and Chertoff on Fox News yesterday: because businesses are starting to worry about efforts to enforce immigration laws at the local level. One state in the vanguard of that effort is Kyl's (and McCain's) home state of Arizona, where the legislature has passed numerous laws (usually vetoed) on the issue, and where the public voted for Prop 200 back in 2004.

To me that says something far more ominous than that Congress is being disingenuous or naïve on the matter. Far from simple being empty promises, this amnesty bill is actually a blatant attempt to head off any attempts at enforcement at all.

I think this is probably right. I think big business realizes that voters are going to extract some very explicit and unequivocal promises from their candidates next year. I think they realize at this point that a number of their champions on this bill are not coming back to Washington after the next election.

Big agriculture and big construction realize that they'll be faced with a new Commander-in-Chief, Democrat or Republican, who will likely have made a list of unequivocal promises to the voters during the campaign. Given the opportunity to build up public goodwill with a series of big, high-profile immigration busts in her first six months of office, does anyone think that President Hillary would pass it up? If she's anywhere near as calculating as her reputation suggests, there's not a chance she'll pass up that opportunity.

A Republican President would feel less need for high-profile token efforts, but may bring in a Justice Department that actually cares about national security. (How crazy would that be?) If you're an employer who's been skirting the law for years with a wink and a nod, this change in the winds has to be keeping you up at night--with good reason. Some CEOs looking at public opinion polls and knowing their employment rolls haven't been even close to right with God, have to be dealing with some serious heartburn at the thought of angry villagers at the corporate gates demanding massive fines and/or a few years in federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison.

If the employers can just get across the line on this, they've significantly reduced their exposure. This Amnesty Bill represents a sort of "get out of jail free" card for these executives. Whether it'll actually work out that way is another matter. They see the writing on the wall, and they're pulling out the stops to protect their own hides, even if they have to wreck their own country to do it. Of course, jamming this piece of sh*** down our throats only adds to the long list of reasons we're already pissed as hell at the employers and their elected cronies.

This may be your time, fellas. You may have the upper hand now. The men in power are your boys, and you may get them to vote how you like, even against the clear will of the people who sent them there. Enjoy it while it lasts, but don't forget it for a second: our time is coming. You have the cash, but we have the numbers. A whole lot of us have damn long memories. We're gonna remember every bit of this sordid ordeal. And payback, as they say, is a bitch.

[moreisee]

Here in California small business’s have been using illegals for so long many are in reasonably high paying blue collar positions and would be difficult, if not impossible, to replace. If these jefe’s could magically obtain legal status the owners lives would definitely be less stressful. Then the next wave will keep the wages low for the unskilled positions.

[wolfcreek]

“if it doesn’t pass when they resurrect it, it may be too late for them, and their friends, to walk away scott free after trying to destroy the face of our nation.”

And they’ll probably get a visit from Fat Tony or Antonio at payback time. There’s a lot of *big money* riding on this decision.

[Alberta's Child]

Beneath that level, there is an unholy convergence of interests driving this. Business and agriculture want an endless, cheap, easily exploitable source of labor.

True, but there's another side to this. Business, agriculture, and even economic reality needs an influx of new CONSUMERS in this country -- to prop up what has become an increasingly unsustainable socioeconomic order.

[B4Ranch]

Anything for you, my Dear.

Fill their mailboxes, answering machines, everything with facts about why we are not going to support them if they continue to destroy America.

[Alberta's Child]

The failure to provide adequate border security really does call into question the premise of the war in Iraq, at least in my mind.

Welcome to the crowd, Mo. I've been saying this since the months before the invasion of Iraq, and one of the best signs of progess in my mind is that I can at least say this "out loud" at a place like FreeRepublic and find more than just a few people agreeing with me.

This stupid "war on terror" is -- and always has been -- a complete farce. This country isn't defending itself at all . . . it's building an empire.

[kabar]

Which, of course, means that Prez-2008 will have the oppty to crack down on illegal-supporting big-businesses even more

He/she may have the opportunity but not the will. Sure Hillary might make some token busts, but real enforcement will not be implemented. The Dems are not going to alienate their constituency.

If you're an illegal hiring big-biz owner, then you DO NOT want an amnesty bill. Amnesty gives your existing cheap labor rights to min wage etc. And Amnesty doesn't indemnify you from the Hillary Federal Govt coming down on you in 2009, it makes it worse.

It is not big biz but small to medium biz that doesn't want amnesty. Still, without any real enforcement, it really is meaningless. If you believe that Hillary is really going to enforce this bill, you're nuts. The Dems are the ones fighting the building of a fence. They will listening to interest groups like La Raza. With 45 million Hispanics now and a birthrate twice as high as that of the rest of the American population, the rapid Hispanic population boom in the coming decades is just starting. And so is their political clout. They will use our own political system to hang us.

If you're an illegal hiring big-biz owner, you want to keep illegals illegal and cheap, and you want to keep your protectors in congressional seats continuously. A law cannot protect you because it can be overturned at any given time.

A law is meaningless if it is not enforced. We don't have the bureaucracy capable of enforcing these laws. The resources just aren't there nor is the political will.

[janetgreen]

I just received information from a friend that the 854 mile fence, passed and signed by Bush, IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

The House decided to withhold funding for the fence.

I just called my "rep" Jane Harman and demanded that she explain to her constituents why she voted no to the funding. (of course she won't bother answering that question).

[kabar]

Except that no "bill" can do any such thing. The status quo that's passed today can be quietly amended and reversed as an amendment to some other bill next session.

Wrong on one very important point. If this bill passes, the 12 to 20 million illegals with be given legal status. Once that is done, it is game, set, and match. No matter what future Congresses may do, and I believe they will try to remove whatever "concessions" the Dems made to get this bill, e,g., changing chain migration, you can't unring a bell. These 12 to 20 million will be legal residents of the US now and forever more and will be able to bring in their spouses, children, and parents. They will also be entitled to paid legal representation and SS numbers. Once that is done, nothing else really matters in terms of how this will destroy this country as we know it.

[Cordio]

I don’t know about taxes, but I imagine not. The company pays for on the job injuries in all three cases I know about, but not for the family, as far as I know, but maybe there is another loophole. Two of these entrepreneurs I know would probably pay for doctors/hospitalization for their workers’ families because there is a personnel relationship. And I know, you are saying that these business owners are willing to pay for their hospitaliztion/doctors visits because they are paying them less and they are not paying taxes and they are all illegal. So what we’ve got is Americans knowingly hiring illegals because they can get them for less and pay out for their doctors needs when it is necessary. So the owner and the illegals are not paying taxes on this. Then we have the Americans, and they have been hired into these businesses I’ve watched for 8 years, who have not fulfilled their obligations to their job at the level of the owners expectations; so they are fired or let go. And you say back to me maybe, “but they were fired only because they could hire someone else for less.” And I say, they that Americans would never lose those jobs-at least in the three small businesses I know, unless they were unreliable for a number of reasons.

So we have big business and small business lobbying groups wanting amnesty and voting against the Constitution because it benefits them to have cheaper and usually more reliable workers for their business. And we have the Washington critters voting for where the money is for the next election. And we have the leftest educational system so well intact that it sabotages our future work force. Cordio

[claudiustg]

Explain to me again why I should continue to support the Republicans.

[browardchad]

If you're an illegal hiring big-biz owner, then you DO NOT want an amnesty bill. Amnesty gives your existing cheap labor rights to min wage etc.

Oh, I believe you'd want this particular amnesty bill, considering the provision least mentioned by its supporters: the so-called "temporary Z visa." From the moment the bill is signed, there will be no deportations, since all illegals will be assumed to be eligible. DHS has six months to set up a system for registering these people (with that exhaustive 24-hour background check). I doubt they will meet that deadline, and even if they do, the registration period can be extended or renewed (a given, considering the sheer numbers, the historic inefficiency of any government bureaucracy and the fact that extensions have been granted in every previous immigration bill), and that presumption of eligibility will continue.

There's no specific deportation rules or deadline set down for non-registrants; and no way of even estimating what percentage of illegals have registered at any given point, considering the 12 million figure is very likely a gross underestimation. So you wind up with an amorphous mess of a population of non-registered illegals mixed with Z-visa holders, and an indefinite period of business as usual, compounded by the fact that employers are actually forbidden, according to this bill, to use the government status-checking system as a prerequisite of employment. They must hire first, then check, wait for results from the same slow bureaucracy, then allow an appeal by the employee, yada, yada, yada.

Regarding the rush to amnesty, this has been Bush's holy grail from the moment of his inauguration. 9/11 threw a huge monkey-wrench into his plans, or he would have pushed something through in his first term (he tried, then dropped it). As it stands now, it's his last chance, with the only constraint being getting it "out of the way" before the primaries; because, of course, we dumb, xenophobic Americans have short memories and all will be forgotten soon.

I also don't believe the congress critters believe their future is doomed; rather I think they've convinced themselves that 2006 proved conservatism is dying, and that centrism, as exemplified by both Clinton and GW Bush, is the bright new promised land to which these privileged few have been ordained to lead us all.

Hillary? She's more likely to push for en-masse naturalization of the new Democrat base of temporary (and indefinitely renewable) Z-visa holders than raid businesses.

[cowdog77]

I think at the highest political levels, i.e., the Bushes, Clintons, certain Senators, and the oligarchy of Mexico it is about creating MexAmeriCanada. Beneath that level, there is an unholy convergence of interests driving this.”
____________________________________
So it would appear -—— Throw in some concern about China’s rise and it all starts to come together.

[pterional]

It has not been my experience that Hispanics are the most reliable group of workers. The last three jobs I have had done on my property where preformed by Hispanic workers. The quality of work was substandard and when confronted there was immediate agitation and aggression. The only reason business hires illegal is because of cheap labor costs not because of reliability or a job well done.

[greyfoxx39]

For email addy's to the STAFF of the Senators, here is a great link:

Post No. 22 Hat tip to caphillbabe.

They don't want us coming in the front door, let's try the back door like the illegals do.

[Cordio]

That may be indeed true overall. But we hired through a reputable firm, and the entrpreneur, who was owner of his own business was a native born American of German discent who spoke Spanish to his workers and obviously they had been trained by him. and he did all the talking and discussion with them. And he was not at our home for the entire job. To insure a 50 year warranty where all will be paid for by HomeDepot if there is any damage or problem-And we have 140 mile an hour winds up our mountain, you have to be confident of your workers and your product.

It would be hard to hire a Hispanic crew if one couldn't’t really communicate with them.

Cordio

[cardinal]

Your analysis re the North American Union and trans-Texas Highwy as to the urgent push to get the illegal Immigration bill through sounds just right!

[stboz]

Eye noteece jesterday that El Presidente say we need emeegrintos to do thee yobs that Americans AREN'T doing.

Theese is change from yobs that Americans WON'T do...si?

[3AngelaD]

Si, es verdad. Ellos tubieron que cambiar su mensaje. Malditos. Todavía están mintiendo. Pinches malditos.

[dragnet2]

The link between massive illegal immigration and terror by Arabs is weak.

Weak? Was this suppose to be a joke? Did I misread your post?

We are at war, no?

We have millions entering this country during war. We have trucks entering daily with thousands of pounds of dope, and many others are crammed with human cargo.

Mexico is one of the most corrupt countries on earth. Officials can be bribed with mere tokens.

Since 911 airport security has been beefed up. It would be a little difficult to smuggle in weapons, bio material, bio weapons, and material for other weapons, dirty bombs etc in a commercial airliner. No?

How easy would it be for ship to sail to Mexico, filled with all kinds of nasty stuff, bad guys, weapons, bio stuff, or other weapons material, or whatever? Bribe a local official if need be. Put these guys and their nasty cargo on trucks and roll it across the border along with all the other trucks entering with loads of dope and human cargo. This could *easily be accomplished.

[Guenevere]

You've got it, truthkeeper...

..May God have mercy....you've got it.