Free Republic

When the now-defeated Republican majority in the House of Representative was led astray on key issues by President Bush, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, it was Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana who rallied backbenchers to fight back in defense of conservative principles. That is why Pence should be elected minority leader for the next Congress. Under Pence’s leadership over the next two years, we believe, House Republicans can put themselves in position to retake the majority in 2008. More importantly, they can be counted on to fight for what’s right—even when that means defying a...

The New York Times front page profile on my friend, Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), "Star of the Right Loses His Base at the Border," is really all about the anti-immigration, far-right group led by Tom Tancredo of Colorado to oppose any broad-based immigration reform whatsoever--and to label any proposals for temporary workers, or even Pence's 17 year citizenship path, as "amnesty." This word "amnesty" is being used to attack absolutely any conceivable immigration compromise. I could go on forever on this subject. I have written several columns on it. But at the end of the day, the Tancredo crowd, which...

He supports tax cuts and the war in Iraq. He opposes stem cell research and the Medicare drug plan. He is a master of his movement’s medium, talk radio. Jesus Christ is his personal savior and Ronald Reagan his political idol. Conjure what might be called the perfect conservative, and chances are he would look a lot like Representative Mike Pence, the Indiana Republican who in just three terms has turned 100 House allies into a vanguard and himself into one of his party’s rising stars. Or that was the case until this spring when he sought compromise in the...

August 03, 2006, 9:03 a.m. A Compromised Plan By The Editors Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, both Republicans, are making a last-ditch effort to bridge their party’s divide on immigration and pass a bill this year. We agree that the country, and the Republican party, would benefit if a sensible immigration plan were passed soon. The Pence-Hutchison plan isn’t one. The pro-amnesty Republicans have responded more favorably to the plan than the enforcement-first Republicans, and both sides are reading the plan correctly. Its central component is to allow illegal immigrants to continue...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Chairman of the 104-member House Immigration Reform Caucus, expressed disappointment at Rep. Mike Pence’s latest iteration of his immigration plan that he announced at a press conference this morning with Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Pence has announced at least two prior versions of his immigration proposal, and this morning’s version continues to include a “guest” worker plan that does not require “guest” workers ever to leave the U.S., while at the same time it allows them to bring their families. The plan allows employers and private temporary work agencies – both of which...

Fisking Pence By: KDaddy · Section: Diaries I had the displeasure of listening to Congressman Mike Pence spin his asinine "No Amnesty Immigration Reform" on Rush Limbaugh's show yesterday.  I wanted to shoot my car radio; I hate it when Congresscritters lie, which is why I suppose I'm disturbed when some of them breathe, but when a supposed Conservative sells out to a single person with a vested interest in an ample supply of cheap, compliant labor, then crafts a house of lies to sell it, I get really ticked off.   The Pence Plan Draft is a 280-page...

By the looks of things, it seems that compromise on the contentious issue of immigration is unlikely, if not impossible. The House’s position has been hard-line: We have to stop illegal immigration before we even consider ways we could process illegal immigrants into America properly. Some members have even demanded the wholesale deportation of all illegal immigrants, which would virtually stop the American economy in its tracks. The Senate has taken what’s regarded as a more moderate approach: securing the borders and establishing a guest-worker program so that people who have been here for a while can establish their residence....

Minutemen Condemn Congressman Pence's Amnesty Proposal Sierra Times PHOENIX, AZ (June 15, 2006) – Chris Simcox, President of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps (“MCDC”), released the following statement in response to the reported “endorsement” by the Minutemen of Rep. Mike Pence’s so-called “compromise” amnesty proposal: “The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps in no way, shape, manner or form endorses Rep. Mike Pence’s current amnesty proposal in the U.S. House of Representatives. “The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps and its leadership represent the U.S. citizen volunteers who from their first operations in Tombstone AZ five long years ago, have stood vigilant mission after...

Founder of Minuteman Project comments on the Pence Plan The founder of the Minuteman Project, Jim Gilchrist, commented on the Pence Plan Monday on KOGO AM in San Diego. To listen to Gilchrist's comments and the Congressman's interview with Mark Larson, visit this site and scroll down to the section on the right side entitled "Mark Larson Podcast." Here is a transcript of the show when Gilchrist called in: Mark Larson: You never know who is listening to the program here. Jim Gilchrist just called in. He does once in awhile. He joins us here on KOGO. You're on with...

Feelings on immigration are running high these days, but the thought that they may prevent any action at all scares many Republicans. Congressional conservatives remain adamantly opposed to the quasi-amnesty and “guest worker” provisions in the Senate approach supported by the president, Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) and are vowing that no bill that comes out of conference including such an amnesty will win House approval. Bush and his allies are just as committed to a bill that will include both. Both sides say they favor border security but seem quite prepared to sacrifice action on it unless...