Nois the time to let you elected offical feel how
you feel about the illegals.
Senators brace for immigration blowback By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer
Fri May 25, 8:53 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Lawmakers are bracing for political blowback from liberal and conservative critics of a broad immigration reform measure that's on hold as they head home for a weeklong break.
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Supporters and opponents said they would use the time off to influence senators who will face major immigration votes when they return to complete the bipartisan measure. The bill would legalize millions of unlawful immigrants, tighten border security and mandate that employers verify they are hiring legal workers.
"As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, members of the Immigration Reform Caucus will go back to their districts and remind their constituents about the long-lasting damage passing an amnesty bill would have on our efforts to address illegal immigration," said Brian Bilbray (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif., a vocal opponent of the measure.
A coalition of organizations actively pressing for passage of the bill - including labor, Hispanic advocacy and religious groups - also was planning a strong push to encourage lawmakers who support it not to back down.
"They're going to be targeted by a small but loud anti-reform minority," said Clarissa Martinez of the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. "They must not buckle under the pressure."
Lawmakers have already begun hearing vocal opposition to the measure.
"I have learned some new words from some of my constituents," said Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., an influential conservative who is under intense criticism in his border state for crafting a bipartisan deal to create a guest worker program and a path to citizenship while tightening border security.
The Senate began considering the bill this week and will return to it in June.
The measure includes conservative-backed initiatives such as the worker verification program to prevent illegal immigrants from getting jobs, and a new point system to prioritize skills and education over family in deciding who can immigrate in the future.
Liberals decry the point scheme as unfair to families and are vehemently opposed to a guest worker program that would allow laborers to come to the U.S. for temporary stints without a guarantee they would be able to stay and eventually gain citizenship.
But it also includes a long-sought liberal priority: granting legal status to the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. Conservatives view that as an unacceptable amnesty program.
President Bush, who has made enactment of an immigration measure a top domestic priority, said he wasn't surprised at the tenor of the debate, and he urged lawmakers to look beyond it and deliver him a bill anyway.
"We've been through immigration debates in this country, and they can bring out the worst sometimes in people," Bush said. "But the question is, will members of Congress rise above politics?"
Backers of the deal said they were confident about facing their constituents over the break.
"I look forward to going back home and standing up for what I believe to be the right answer, listening to criticism. But time is on our side because our product is better than those who want to do nothing," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C.
Some lawmakers were uneasy, however, about trying to explain the complex bill to voters.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record), R-Ky., the minority leader, said opposition from the political extremes is "pretty obvious from the phone calls that all of us are getting."
However, he added, "the American people would like us to do something."
There's wide support for the changes proposed in the immigration legislation, according to a New York Times-CBS News poll conducted May 18-23 and released on Friday.
Two-thirds of the 1,125 adults polled said they supported letting illegal immigrants with good job records and no criminal histories win legal status. That was supported by roughly equal proportions of Republicans, Democrats and independents.
Another two-thirds also said they supported creating a guest worker program for future immigrants. Of those who favored it, more than half said the guest workers should ultimately be allowed to apply for citizenship, if their job records are strong and they don't commit crimes.
Three-fourths supported stronger penalties against those who employ illegal workers, while eight in 10 said the government should strengthen border security.
Half favored giving more of a priority to job skills and education, while a third said immigrants with families in the U.S. should be first in line for entry.
The telephone survey had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Architects of the bill planned to spend next week in intense negotiations on proposed changes that could upset their delicate bipartisan deal and doom its chances for passage.
These include Republican-backed limits to the legalization program for unlawful immigrants and modifications sought by Democrats to give foreign family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens more opportunities to join their relatives in the U.S.
___
Associated Press writer Alan
Senators brace for immigration blowback By JULIE HIRSCHFELD DAVIS, Associated Press Writer
Fri May 25, 8:53 PM ET
WASHINGTON - Lawmakers are bracing for political blowback from liberal and conservative critics of a broad immigration reform measure that's on hold as they head home for a weeklong break.
ADVERTISEMENT
Supporters and opponents said they would use the time off to influence senators who will face major immigration votes when they return to complete the bipartisan measure. The bill would legalize millions of unlawful immigrants, tighten border security and mandate that employers verify they are hiring legal workers.
"As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, members of the Immigration Reform Caucus will go back to their districts and remind their constituents about the long-lasting damage passing an amnesty bill would have on our efforts to address illegal immigration," said Brian Bilbray (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif., a vocal opponent of the measure.
A coalition of organizations actively pressing for passage of the bill - including labor, Hispanic advocacy and religious groups - also was planning a strong push to encourage lawmakers who support it not to back down.
"They're going to be targeted by a small but loud anti-reform minority," said Clarissa Martinez of the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. "They must not buckle under the pressure."
Lawmakers have already begun hearing vocal opposition to the measure.
"I have learned some new words from some of my constituents," said Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record), R-Ariz., an influential conservative who is under intense criticism in his border state for crafting a bipartisan deal to create a guest worker program and a path to citizenship while tightening border security.
The Senate began considering the bill this week and will return to it in June.
The measure includes conservative-backed initiatives such as the worker verification program to prevent illegal immigrants from getting jobs, and a new point system to prioritize skills and education over family in deciding who can immigrate in the future.
Liberals decry the point scheme as unfair to families and are vehemently opposed to a guest worker program that would allow laborers to come to the U.S. for temporary stints without a guarantee they would be able to stay and eventually gain citizenship.
But it also includes a long-sought liberal priority: granting legal status to the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. Conservatives view that as an unacceptable amnesty program.
President Bush, who has made enactment of an immigration measure a top domestic priority, said he wasn't surprised at the tenor of the debate, and he urged lawmakers to look beyond it and deliver him a bill anyway.
"We've been through immigration debates in this country, and they can bring out the worst sometimes in people," Bush said. "But the question is, will members of Congress rise above politics?"
Backers of the deal said they were confident about facing their constituents over the break.
"I look forward to going back home and standing up for what I believe to be the right answer, listening to criticism. But time is on our side because our product is better than those who want to do nothing," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C.
Some lawmakers were uneasy, however, about trying to explain the complex bill to voters.
Sen. Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record), R-Ky., the minority leader, said opposition from the political extremes is "pretty obvious from the phone calls that all of us are getting."
However, he added, "the American people would like us to do something."
There's wide support for the changes proposed in the immigration legislation, according to a New York Times-CBS News poll conducted May 18-23 and released on Friday.
Two-thirds of the 1,125 adults polled said they supported letting illegal immigrants with good job records and no criminal histories win legal status. That was supported by roughly equal proportions of Republicans, Democrats and independents.
Another two-thirds also said they supported creating a guest worker program for future immigrants. Of those who favored it, more than half said the guest workers should ultimately be allowed to apply for citizenship, if their job records are strong and they don't commit crimes.
Three-fourths supported stronger penalties against those who employ illegal workers, while eight in 10 said the government should strengthen border security.
Half favored giving more of a priority to job skills and education, while a third said immigrants with families in the U.S. should be first in line for entry.
The telephone survey had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Architects of the bill planned to spend next week in intense negotiations on proposed changes that could upset their delicate bipartisan deal and doom its chances for passage.
These include Republican-backed limits to the legalization program for unlawful immigrants and modifications sought by Democrats to give foreign family members of permanent residents and U.S. citizens more opportunities to join their relatives in the U.S.
___
Associated Press writer Alan
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The media is putting a pro immigration spin on this issue and lying to cover the groundswell of opposition. Most Americans, about 70% are against this amnesty legislation.
Keep the cards, letters, faxes and e-mails going to your Senators and Representives. We may not win but the bill may get a lot a changes along the way.0 -
No ... 10 or 15 years ago was the time. We've run
out of time.
... and still they come at 10,000 a day.0 -
Get up off that thang, and do something about it!
I joined the Minutemen nearly three years ago.
And, 8 Days ago, I sent faxes with strong language to all 435 Congressmen and 100 Senators, telling them that I want nothing that looks, smells or walks like an amnesty. That cost me over $120.
I write two or three letters a week to one or another of them, too.
I have protested against Vicente Fox's Visits, for Compean and Ramos (the Border Agents who are being railroaded), and have stood many watches up on the Canadian Border. You can't believe the stuff that is going on till you have gone to the border(s) and seen for yourself.
As far as I am concerned, NO political party is getting my money till the borders are SECURED. I am spending the money I used to give to my fave party/candidates by going up to the U.S./Canadian Border and standing watches - it is a 200+ mile trip for me, one way. I go for a week at a time. I have made many trips.
I have also stood watch with video cameras and cameras and tape recorders, at Home Depots, Eagle Hardwares, and Lowe's to take recordings of Contractors hireing "under the table" workers, and have turned them over to the IRS, and ICE agents.
I have counter-protested the Illegals' "Marches" in Seattle and Portland.
Now, do you mean it? Show it.0 -
Handload - Take a look at my favorite quote in my profile. Kinda funny.
I try to be as "active" for this cause as I am able to.
Next time you head for Portland, give me an email or a call, and maybe we can have a coffeebeer.
503-843-2020
ThunderboltRanch@msn.com
Doug0 -
Yeah, Doug, it is a good quote...You = senior member, You had it first here!
I'll put you on my reminder list, maybe we can sip on some single malt or have a brewski next time I'm south!0 -
Thanks Handload, I'm a minuteman also and I spend as much time as I can calling and sending email to our Elected officals. I get so many form letters a week I think my postman thinks I'm making his job harder. The best thing you can do is call or write a letter and mail it. I just wonder how many here read our posts about the sell out and still do nothing. Easy way go to Congress.org and sign up and they will have printed letters to send or write your own. I don't put my zip code but my state and I get all congressmen at one time. Heritage Foundation is stating in their report it costing 89 BILLION A YEAR TO SUPPORT the illegals. The instant amnesty will break our bank and let a whole bunch of terrorist in with the other law breakers. 0
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