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| Economy |
| Immigration bill backers try again despite jobless rate |
| 2009-12-15 |
| Democrats on Tuesday begin their new push for an immigration bill, hamstrung by the image of legalizing millions of illegal immigrant workers at a time when the unemployment rate stands at 10 percent -- more than twice what it was the last time Congress tried to act. "It certainly will confuse the debate a lot more, but at the end of the day what we have to understand is fixing this system will be good for American workers," said Eliseo Medina, executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union, which is one of the major advocates for legalizing illegal immigrant workers. Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez, the Illinois Democrat who has taken over leadership on the issue after the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat, plans to introduce an immigration legalization bill Tuesday, and backers are planning a strategy to avoid repeats of the failed attempts of 2006 and 2007. In a letter to members of Congress last week seeking support for the bill, Mr. Gutierrez and Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, New York Democrat and chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said their legislation will end the off-the-books economy of illegal immigrant workers and protect American workers by raising labor standards. "In these difficult economic times, we must ensure that everyone contributes toward the recovery and prosperity of our nation," they wrote. "To this end, it is imperative that all individuals and employers pay their fair share in taxes." A draft overview of the bill, circulated with the letter, ends some enforcement tools such as the 287(g) local police cooperation program, calls for an electronic verification system to replace the voluntary E-verify program, argues that there's no need for more U.S. Border Patrol agents or fencing, and establishes a long-term path to citizenship for illegal immigrants. That path would require illegal immigrants to pay a $500 fine, pass a background check and learn English and civics to gain legal status. After six years, they could apply for legal permanent residence, or a green card, which is the interim step to citizenship. There is no "touchback" provision requiring them to return to their home countries at some point in the process. Republicans are sharpening their attacks and going straight for the jobs argument. "With 15 million Americans out of work, it's hard to believe that anyone would give amnesty to 12 million illegal immigrants," said Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee. "Even the open-borders crowd agrees that illegal immigrants take jobs from American workers, particularly poor and disadvantaged citizens and legal immigrants. This is exactly why we need to oppose amnesty." His office has calculated that there are 19 states where the number of illegal immigrants in the work force is at least 50 percent of the number of unemployed workers. |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #10 Zero and the Dems risk igniting something more than a ballot box revolution.... I know what you mean. I swore to defend the constitution against all enemies. Foreign and domestic. If the dems try to keep a peaceful transition of power from happening, through force or ballet box stuffing, for the first time I am thinking of open resistance. Peaceful at first, like not sending in taxes or something with sit ins on federal buildings. If met with violence, then open revolt. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-12-15 20:41 |
| #9 If one governor and one state legislature would recall it's sitting members of congress and stop sending the tax money to D.C., others would follow. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-12-15 19:35 |
| #8 Zero and the Dems risk igniting something more than a ballot box revolution.... It's well past time. |
| Posted by: Thomas Jefferson 2009-12-15 19:29 |
| #7 Healthcare, Cap and Tarde or the EPA equivalent, Copenhagen Treaty commitment absent Senate consultation or consent, Immigration reform, massive public debt..... there is a mood of anger in the nation, on the right, and the center, that is unlike anything I have seen or felt in my 62 years. Angry like ready to pop angry, sudden fury angry, old fat retired guy suddenly throwing a punch angry.... Zero and the Dems risk igniting something more than a ballot box revolution.... and for the first time in my life, I sincerely wonder about the transition of power as a peaceful event. What I do no is that if immigration amnesty becomes a reality, it ends all trust between me and my government, as they prove they hold nothing sovereign or sacred, no the law or their word or their oath! |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2009-12-15 18:49 |
| #6 It is all about expanding the dhimocrat voter base. They will have a constant majority. Forever. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2009-12-15 16:57 |
| #5 OMG! This immigration legalization legislation is worse than a zombie plague. You shoot it dead, and it slowly gets back up and starts shambling forward again! Can't these idiots get the idea: We don't want this! |
| Posted by: LeighG 2009-12-15 16:21 |
| #4 Oh, this is just wonderful. Now the Tsar can watch his kids go to college before the guvmint (probably) will get around to finishing his citizenship application. I can hardly wait to explain to him why we paid out all that money and did everything legally so that he can sit on the sidelines while lawbreakers jump ahead of him and his buddies. |
| Posted by: Cornsilk Blondie 2009-12-15 16:00 |
| #3 Eliseo Medina.....TAKE THE SEIU AND JAM IT!!COMMUNIST BIT*# |
| Posted by: armyguy 2009-12-15 14:57 |
| #2 It's not about the workers, it's about the voters. And our leaders don't like the current set. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-12-15 14:25 |
| #1 "It certainly will confuse the debate a lot more, but at the end of the day what we have to understand is fixing this system will be good for American workers," said Eliseo Medina, executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union, which is one of the major advocates for legalizing illegal immigrant workers. Good for American workers or good for SEIU? Uh-huh. Expand your membership, expand your power, pump up your revenues...you frickin' bastards. And you got crooked politicians like Gutierrez in the palm of your hand, don't you? Just like Teddy. Just like McCain. Just like Obama. |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2009-12-15 14:23 |