Tancredo doubts he can block amnesty-extension bill

Denver Post ^ | March 8, 2002 | Bill McAllister

[sarcasm]

Friday, March 08, 2002 - WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom Tancredo takes credit for thwarting the Bush administration's last effort to offer partial amnesty to thousands of illegal residents, but Thursday the outspoken immigration foe said he may have been outmaneuvered by the White House.

President Bush has struck a deal with the House leadership to place legislation that offers an extension of amnesty on its consent calendar before Bush heads to Mexico for a state visit next week, the Colorado Republican said.

That action should ensure quick House passage of legislation that Bush has repeatedly sought from Congress. It would allow an undocumented person to receive legal standing, such as a valid green card, by filing a declaration with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

It presumably also would require the person to have been in the United States by a certain date and have filed a declaration with the INS from an appropriate sponsor, such as a relative or employer, and pay a $1,000 penalty.

"The terms are still up in the air," said Dan Stein, executive director of the Federation for American Immigration, a group that has been allied with Tancredo. "We've heard to the effect that the president wants something to bring down to Mexico."

The initial Bush proposal, designed exclusively for Mexicans, once was high on the president's legislative wish list, but it was delayed after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. However, as the president noted Wednesday in a speech to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, he now is pushing for the extension of the amnesty program known by the section of immigration law that covers it, Section 245I.

The president hailed it as a way to reunite family, separated by the border. "If you believe in family values, if you understand the worth of family and the importance of family, let's get 245I out of the United States Congress and give me a chance to sign it," Bush told the chamber members.

Tancredo, the head of a congressional caucus on immigration issues and proponent of halting virtually all immigration, said he had blocked a previous attempt by Bush to push an extension of the amnesty program through the House. But this time, he said House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., had agreed to place the issue on the suspension, or consent, calendar, making it difficult to defeat the proposal.

The Senate might be more favorable to the bill than the House, expanding the numbers of individuals who can apply, Tancredo said.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

BTW, you could be right, but I though that included recorded vote also.

[WRhine]

Isn't it interesting that the worst of the RATs are on Bush's side, and the real conservatives - like Dana - are dead set against it?

That says it all about this bill.

[healey22]

I just called Gekas office and told him to please vote against H.R. 1885. Since he seems upset about oil prices in Regards to Mexico voting with the Oil Cartel. I told him how gas has risen 13 cents in 3 days by my house. I also told him to please stand by the rule of law and not reward law breakers post 9-11. If he votes no on H.R. 1885 this is indeed a big deal, he is the Chairman of the Immigration and Claims Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. So,light up his phone and tell him to vote no on H.R. 1885.

George Gekas 202-225-4315

[healey22]

I think it means NO, too. Also, wasn't he yielded time by Tancredo (which would mean he opposed it) rather than by Nadler which would mean he supported it.

No, he was yielded time by Nadler but maybe he is having second thoughts now.

[RnMomof7]

I have called my Republican Reps office (Jack Quinn).I asked how he plans to vote on HR1885..response was ???We do not know he has not told us..My response..I know Jack, I know his wife and if he votes for this bill I will actively work for and fund ANY Democrat that runs against him

Answer.."Well I will tell him"

We will see..

[Ohioan]

As Bush is justifying this amnesty by stating that families need to be together and not divided across a border, to that I say...let them reunite in Mexico. That's where they have citizenship and so that's where they belong.

You are quite right. Indeed, in a real sense, your response shows more true respect for the Mexican people than does the Amnesty proposal, which is somewhat patronizing to Mexicans, even as it undermines Americans.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[sultan88]

We cannot sit out these elections nor even vote for the opponents. We will not be counted! We MUST vote 3rd party and announce that NOW. If we form a base, someone will come.

If we create an Anti-Immigration Party, we will be vilified as Nazis or racists. The candidate of the America Firsters, who supported tight immigration control, in the last election was Pat Buchanan and you see how far he got.

[let freedom sing]

Utah State Legislature recently voted to give in-state tuition to illegals

more info, please? Want to share with pubbie friends with pubbie friends and family in Utah.

[WRhine]

I just called Gekas office and told him to please vote against H.R. 1885

BAD NEWS. I just got off the phone with one of Gekas' aides and he informed me that Gekas is voting FOR HR 1885 and that the oil bit with Mexico is merely an exchange of favors in return for voting yes on this treason. I laughed and asked, "you mean Gekas is willing to trade our sovereignty for better oil prices"? I didn't get a clear answer out of him on that. Also, the vote is a simple majority not 2/3rds. I must say this guy let me rant on for about 5 minutes on how republicans are encouraging this Mexican invasion and that they are going to pay for it come election time and was quite professional about it.

[Regulator]

Here's a link to an article about a challenger to Cannon in Utah, from the Deseret News:

Throckmorton to Challenge Cannon

Note that he brings up immigration as a difference between him and Cannon. Also, note the comments about Cannon's weird behavior, and the lawsuit (maybe even criminal charges) over a sleazy business deal.

Everyone needs to send young Mr. Throckmorton a donation, to send a message to Jorge: there's a price to all this.

[let freedom sing]

As Bush is justifying this amnesty by stating that families need to be together and not divided across a border, to that I say...let them reunite in Mexico.

Besides, it ain't like the Berlin Wall lies between the US and Mexico, and we're keeping families from reuniting, already. Illegals can hold family reunions in Mexico.

[Regulator]

Remember that a lot more people would have voted for Buchanan if the possible RAT winner hadn't been so bad.

Note also that Bush's campaign was run so badly, that he took a 17 point lead in the late summer and ran it down to a dead heat.

People were voting for "anyone but Gore".

Such is not a mandate to diss the Republican Base, as Mr. Bush is doing right now.

A credible third party candidate won't win, but could revive nightmares in the Bush Dynasty about '92. And '96.

[MissAmericanPie]

I know how ya feel, we could keep calling, but it won't sway those with an agenda.

[RnMomof7]

In NY we have several "parties" The conservative Party is a sham..they will back who ever can win..

We do have the " Right to Life" Party....It will depend on who backs who

If I am going to have a liberal Republican in Washington..I may as well have a REAL liberal and vote Democrat!

[let freedom sing]

Credible third party candidates are hard to find.

Fooled by Perot.

Fooled by Buchannan.

Fooled by Nader.

Not fooled by Keyes.

Three times, a fool. Shame on who?

[EBUCK]

You all realize that if this were to take place 60 days before the next election we'd all be breaking the law right now with our constant naming of those involved. I'm getting a sick feeling in my gut about what's going to happen in the near future.

EBUCK

[Regulator]

I think the point is that when you get a guy like Perot who essentially ends up pulling support from one camp, then you have a credible threat to hold over the head of a candidate that you could support in other cases. Remember, Perot was a one issue guy: NAFTA. He talked the tax thing, but the anti-NAFTA position appealed to a lot of "Reagan Democrats" who had been voting Republican up till then.

Just my opinion.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

That is good news about Cannon being opposed. If an immigrant control constituency gets seriously involved, it could be Dick Chrysler Part 2. Such is the news we need to hear.

[Arizona]

Re your #1774: You are right of course. As my old dad said about politics, "First the Dems get in, then the Repubs, then back and forth, back and forth and nothing ever changes." It sounded so simplistic when he said that; it was back when I still believed there was a difference in the two parties.

It's like the old "good cop bad cop" strategy. Bush is just as surely leading us into socialism or globalism as Klinton was. It's just that he's not openly sleazy, he appears to be honest, so he gets to be the "good cop" in their little game.