FreedomWorks sponsors immigration luncheon
September 26th, 2006 by Kevin WoodToday, FreedomWorks hosted a luncheon to discuss the Hutchison-Pence plan for immigration reform. Over 50 staffers and media were in attendance.
“We are a nation that tears down walls, not a nation that builds walls,” said former House Majority Leader Richard Armey of Texas. Armey, now chairman of the FreedomWorks Foundation, has been critical of the GOP strategy of solely concentrating on border enforcement without advancing a plan for the fate of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants now residing in the United States. Armey praised the Hutchison-Pence plan, which has received a cool reception from House conservatives.
Read the whole article from Congress PM below.
Date Published: 09/26/2006
Supporters Push To Keep Broad Immigration Reform Alive
CongressDaily PM — Bill Swindell and Greta Wodele
Two Republicans advocating a guestworker program today continued to press their proposal even as GOP leaders emphasize a get-tough approach to illegal immigrants. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., touted their plan, which would allow most immigrants to stay and work in the United States but only after the government secures the country’s borders.Under the plan, the immigrants first would have to return to their home countries to receive a new, secure worker ID and work with a private employment service to take open jobs in the United States. “We are a nation that tears down walls, not a nation that builds walls,” said former House Majority Leader Richard Armey of Texas. Armey, now chairman of the FreedomWorks Foundation, has been critical of the GOP strategy of solely concentrating on border enforcement without advancing a plan for the fate of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants now residing in the United States. Armey praised the Hutchison-Pence plan, which has received a cool reception from House conservatives.
Hutchison and Pence said they hope lawmakers would consider it in the lame-duck session. “You will not have border security unless you have a guestworker program that works,” Hutchison said.
Other key senators also pushed for Congress to overhaul the country’s immigration laws this year, standing side-by-side today with religious leaders in an effort to frame the debate as a moral issue. “I’m calling on Congress to resist [political] equations … and do what’s right for the country,” said Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Land joined Senate Judiciary Chairman Specter and Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Ken Salazar, D-Colo., at today’s news conference. While Kennedy argued Congress could enact a Senate-passed immigration bill before adjourning at the end of the week, Specter and McCain sounded more optimistic about movement during a lame-duck session. “Perhaps after the election, [lawmakers] can put people ahead of politics,” said Specter, who also vowed that if Congress fails to act on legislation in November, he would press for action next year.
The senators and religious leaders today also dismissed House Republicans’ efforts to attach border security provisions onto must-pass legislation this week ahead of the midterm elections. “Let the word get out loud and clear to the House, we have a bicameral system in this country and we’re going to get a comprehensive bill,” Specter said.
September 28th, 2006 at 9:16 am
GUEST WORKERS???
Just another issue for the WORD TWISTERS.
I submit our system already provides a means for non-citizens
to enter America temporarily. Just as Mexical provides a way
for Americans to visit Mexico.
When I visit Mexicao I complete documents provided for that
purpose. No SPECIAL LAW needed.
Folks from many other countries have entered America with
just the same documentation as imposed on Americans when
we enter another country.
KEEP THINGS LEGAL as we guard our borders.
All who enter do not come here for peacful purposes.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:57 am
I do not think that a guest worker program would end illegal immigration. An undocumented worker evades payroll taxes. Not paying payroll taxes gives him an unfair price advantage over a documented worker. The higher the payroll taxes, the larger the underground labor market.
There are many ways to evade payroll taxes. One way is to have a partnership subcontracting for other subcontractors. When the partnership gets paid they cash the check and split the proceeds. A check cashing store takes much less than the federal government.
Another way is to work day labor strictly for cash.
I do not believe any scheme for payroll taxes can eliminate the underground labor market. The problem is identical to Prohibition or the war on drugs.