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.

[lawdog]

Looked at your spread sheet..gosh it's sickening. I've lived in the southwest since 1960.. the quality of life is certainly not what it was..it's an invasion that some on this site fail to appreciate.I believe it ultimately will result in the Balkanazation of America. What a shame!My congressman voted against this latest "bill" unfortunately my former congress critter has decided to support Bush-both are Republicans.I am pushing retirement and I've decided to leave when that happens.

[WRhine]

In an earlier post I lambasted Rep. George W. Gekas (R-Pennsylvania), under the impression given by a staff member, that he was voting YES on amnesty. In fact, he later voted NO.

Vallandigham, we must have talked to the same guy because I was told the same thing. BTW, I thought I'd share the below from a numbersusa alert I received today. There is no doubt in my mind that our calls, letters, faxes to house members in the last week were a big factor in making the vote on 245I so close. We definitely got their attention. Also, Vallandigham thanks much for your tireless efforts in this battle along with all the other patriotic Freepers that gave our gutless politicos hell on this Bush insanity. This is the best thread I have ever seen on FR. The intelligence, talent and resourcefulness of so many Freepers never ceases to amaze me.

http://www.numbersusa.com/hottopic/index.html------------------

As a result of the great unexpected showing of opposition in the House last night, the staff of one GOP Senator called Rosemary Jenks, our director of government relations. He expressed a great deal of interest in opposing the amnesty just before President Bush went on national TV extolling the glories of the 245i "reform" while saying he absolutely opposes a "blanket amnesty."

3. INFO---Washington Times features the role of your phone calls

This story gives a lot of credit for the unexpected opposition last night to grassroots citizen involvement. Interestingly, we don't really have a relationship with the congressman who named NumbersUSA phoners as a powerful force on this, but he obviously saw what you all did. Nearly every staffer we've run into last night and today has talked about being "swamped with calls" the last several days.

The second paragraph in the story says this:

Opponents credited a furious grass-roots campaign by immigration reform groups that nearly succeeded in defeating the measure.

[Bob J]

Radio Free Republic Presents

The Banana Republican Hour

With your host Luis Gonzalez

This week’s guest:

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---

On February 24, 1996, three light aircraft left Miami on a routine flight. Their missions, to search the waters off the Florida Coast for rafters trying to reach the US shores, and bring them help by guiding the US Coast Guard to their location. That day in February, only one plane would return to its home base in Miami.

Tune in to Radio FreeRepublic this Thursday, March 14, at 9 PM EST, and listen to the actual sounds of a terrorist in action, murdering unarmed American citizens.

Sr. José Basulto, founder of Brothers to the Rescue and pilot of the surviving Cessna, will shed light on the events of that day, and detail how the Clinton administration withheld advanced knowledge of the attack from the humanitarian volunteer group, helping seal the fate of these four courageous flyers.

Radio FreeRepublic, fearless talk radio.

Click on Banner to hear broadcast of Show Thursday, March 14, at 9PM EST/6PM PST


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[I_Love_My_Husband]

Michael Savage went CRAZY on this issue today! He was pretty depressed about it this whole week. He said we need to fax and send 2 million letters to George Bush saying that WE WON'T BE VOTING FOR HIM ANYMORE!

[Joe Hadenuf]

Michael Savage went CRAZY on this issue today! He was pretty depressed about it this whole week.

He isn't the only one depressed.

Having read hundreds of threads regarding this immigration disaster, I don't believe President Bush realized the extent of the outrage the American people hold towards our out of control borders and immigration policies.

President Bush will pay a hugh political price for the failure to reform our immigration policies and supporting this amnesty disaster.

This isn't just another passing issue. This hits square on the front door of millions of American citizens.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Well I'm glad there's some people in the media talking about this stupidity. The mainstream media appears ready to give Bush a pass on this one. Even if this thing does go through the Senate, if we put enough heat on them in Congress they'll think twice the next time before they pull this again.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Numbers USA is reporting that the democrats in the Senate may hold this up and play politics with it. That's the best hope we have for killing it altogether. If they try to make it permanent instead of 4 months as the Republicans want, then it might not go through. We'll have to see, but it's possible the usual partisan squabbling may end up putting it in the trash can. Hope so.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Well I'm glad there's some people in the media talking about this stupidity

Most of the media is just another branch of the government. Talking endlessly about non issues. And then when they do hit on a big issue, they spend maybe 20 seconds on it, then back to the dog and pony show.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Plenty of news about Tonya Harding and Tom Cruise, but forget about the real issues that are going to have a long-term impact on the country. If it wasn't for the internet, we wouldn't know half of what's going on.

[Joe Hadenuf]

LOL! You bet. Most of the media is nothing but a circus of distraction and diversion.

And I agree, the internet is just about the only means of finding out whats happening and what others are thinking and supporting.

[RnMomof7]

In other words, are we the able and sturdy crew of the Pequod, fully competent to sail our vessel on our own, but damned to be under the command of a Capt. Ahab who is hell-bent on a bizarre and unbalanced obsession with the nightmare MOBY DICK, the immigration whale that will drown Ahab (Bush), our crew (Europeans), and sink our ship (once-and-former America).

The problem is the Captain steers the ship..the second problem is that the Republicans lack the character to stand by what they present as their principles..

I say they all need to go over board..Immigration needs to be one of the major campaign issues

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Agreed!

[WRhine]

Having read hundreds of threads regarding this immigration disaster, I don't believe President Bush realized the extent of the outrage the American people hold towards our out of control borders and immigration policies.

Joe, I think Bush has got the word that there is outrage in the land about his immigration disaster. IMO, Bush is a stubborn S*B that is going to push his open borders insanity for whatever reason come hell or high water even if it costs him reelection. That's why I think he is so dangerous. Our best hope rests with Congress to shut the guy down just like the last world president we had. What I like about the House is that they are always up for election every two years. As such, representatives have to listen more carefully to the will of people. The focus should be placed here because I seriously doubt Bush is going to listen.

[GaConfed]

Give me your tired your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Sorry, that's not in my copy of the Constitution. Besides, wasn't it that flaming Commie, Emma Lazerus who made that screed first?

[doc]

Traficant's investigation during the Clinton years when he kept bashing the administration. Let's look into the closets of all those in congress.