[Sabertooth]

DENVER - Twenty-three congressmen warned President Bush in a letter yesterday that he risks an election-year backlash from Republican voters if he continues to press his guest-worker proposal.      

The Republican lawmakers said their congressional offices have received a flood of angry letters, e-mails and phone calls from Republican constituents vowing that they will refuse to vote for the president if his program is approved.      

"Since the President's speech, our offices have been inundated with calls from dismayed constituents expressing vehement opposition to the Administration's proposal," said the letter signed by several members of the House Immigration Reform Caucus.      

"It is a matter of great concern to us that these constituents politically active American citizens are so disillusioned by the proposal that many of them will become disenchanted with not only the Administration, but with Congress as well," said the letter, which also was sent to House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican. "If we do not listen to our constituents on this matter, our influence and effectiveness in Congress could be jeopardized."      

Most of the congressmen signing are conservatives who represent Western, Southern and Midwestern states, including California, Idaho, Texas, Tennessee and Kansas.      

The White House plan, released earlier this month, would give guest-worker status to undocumented aliens who have come to the United States to work. An estimated 8 million to 12 million immigrants live here illegally.      

But critics say the plan would give de facto amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants, exacerbating the social ills faced by many border states while reducing respect for immigration laws.     

 White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan said yesterday that she hadn't yet seen the letter, but stressed the importance of the president's proposal in controlling illegal immigration.     

"The president's temporary-worker program is a well thought-out aimed at improving border security, meeting our economic needs and being compassionate to those trying to improve their situation for themselves and their families," Miss Buchan said. "He looks forward to working with Congress to pass this legislation."
Republicans warn Bush on immigration policy
Washington Times - 1/28/04 - Valerie Richardson

[AmericanInTokyo]

Nice tiger. Thanks tiger.

[Standing Wolf]

Quote: Twenty-three congressmen warned President Bush in a letter yesterday that he risks an election-year backlash from Republican voters if he continues to press his guest-worker proposal. Me, for example.

[heleny]

From that Washington Times article:

...
"Since the President's speech, our offices have been inundated with calls from dismayed constituents expressing vehement opposition to the Administration's proposal," said the letter
...

Besides Mr. Tancredo, the Republican congressmen who signed the letter are:

Reps. Todd Akin of Missouri,
Roscoe G. Bartlett of Maryland,
Ginny Brown-Waite, Jeff Miller and Cliff Stearns of Florida,
Philip M. Crane and Donald Manzullo of Illinois,
Nathan Deal of Georgia,
John J. "Jimmy" Duncan Jr. and Zach Wamp of Tennessee,
Elton Gallegly and Dana Rohrabacher of California,
Scott Garrett of New Jersey,
Virgil H. Goode Jr. of Virginia,
Ernest Istook of Oklahoma,
Walter B. Jones of North Carolina,
Steve King of Iowa,
Steven C. LaTourette of Ohio,
C.L. "Butch" Otter and Mike Simpson of Idaho,
Jim Ryun of Kansas,
and Lamar Smith of Texas.

I agree with them!

[Starwind]

Thanks very much for the pings, and your homework.

[chatham]

I do believe People are really Pissed off and intend to let Mr. Bush know their feelings one way or another.
Bush is great on most things but on this issue he is dead wrong and he might just lose the next election over it.
Millions of Americans including me have worked hard all our lives paid TAXES and lived by the Rules,only to have Bush show us what a bunch of fools we are.
As far as Liberal Judges overriding the vote of the People, I believe the time for that is over, and it is time for those Judges to be put out of office one way or another.
If Bush can't control our Borders then it is time to bring ALL our troops home and take care of our Country first.
In this issue bush is to the left of the Leftist Democrats, kinda sad.
Great Post, Thanks

[Mamzelle]

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