Posted on 05/17/2006 1:49:46 PM PDT by WayneM
WASHINGTON — Sen. Ken Salazar won a small victory on the immigration front Tuesday, when the Senate passed his amendment requiring the president to certify that there's a national security need before a guest worker plan or other proposed immigration reforms can be implemented. One critic dismissed it as nothing but "smoke and mirrors" to justify a guest-worker plan that opponents equate to "amnesty." But Salazar argued that it was an important part of the comprehensive immigration reform he favors.
Salazar's amendment, which passed by a bipartisan 79-16 vote, would require that the president make a formal determination that it's in national security interests before he can implement a proposed guest worker plan or other measures intended to grant legal status to millions of people who entered the country illegally. It was mostly symbolic, since President Bush already has stated that he thinks comprehensive immigration reform including a guest-worker plan is in the national security interest.
"We ought to know, as an American government, who it is that is living within our society," Salazar told colleagues in this morning's debate. "We cannot know when you have 11 million people living out in the shadows...They need to be brought out into the sunlight."
Salazar's amendment was offered to counter one by Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., who proposed a requirement that the Department of Homeland Security certify dramatic improvements in border security and immigration enforcement before a guest worker provision or other immigration provisions could take effect. Isakson's amendment lost on a 40-55 vote and was a setback to conservatives who favor an enforcement-only approach similar to one approved last year by the House of Representatives.
During the floor debate, Isakson scoffed at Salazar's proposed alternative: "That's well and good, but it has nothing to do with the security on the border."
After Salazar and Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., engaged in a friendly dialogue about the need for Salazar's amendment, Isakson said, "They're both great senators and both great lawyers, and both understand smoke and mirrors." Despite his skepticism, Isakson ultimately voted for the Salazar amendment. Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Loveland, was among 13 Republicans and 3 Democrats who voted no.
Salazar's amendment also drew criticism from Will Adams, spokesman for Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Littleton, the most vocal critic of the White House-backed guest worker provisions.
"Ken Salazar is giving President Bush the green light for amnesty first, enforcement later – or never," Adams said. "His amendment highlights the fundamental difference between the McCain-Kennedy-Salazar approach to immigration, and the House’s emphasis on getting control of our borders. We think there’s a border security crisis that demands our attention; they don't."
Salazar spokesman Drew Nannis disputed Tancredo's description of the pending Senate legislation, which will be debated over the next two weeks.
"The comprehensive immigration reform before the Senate addresses border security and does so in dramatic fashion – adding 12,000 border patrol agents, creating additional fencing, improving technology at the border and other provisions," Nannis said. "To state that the Senate’s bill doesn’t address border security conveniently ignores a major component of the legislation."
Most or these Republicans voted Nay. The others failed to do their job by not being present for the vote (I suspect they would have voted against it but did not want to go on record for voting No.
I was taught growing up that we are judged by the company we keep. By voting Nay, these RINOs decided to kept company with senators Kennedy, Durbin, Leahy, Biden, Harkin, Clinton, Schumer, and Kerry.
Next to each name is a phone number for their Senate office.
I have made 20+ phone calls to various senate offices over the past several days to express my personal displeasure with the Senate. I am telling them that their actions will not be forgotten at election time. I am also reminding them that they work for me, not Vincente Fox or the illegal aliens. I will keep calling, and I am now requesting that you do the same.
Bennett (R-UT) (202) 224-5444 Brownback (R-KS)(202) 224-6521 Chafee (R-RI)(202) 224-2921 Coleman (R-MN)(202) 224-5641 Collins (R-ME)(202) 224-2523 Craig (R-ID)(202) 224-2752 DeWine (R-OH)(202) 224-6121 Graham (R-SC)(202) 224-5972 Hagel (R-NE)(202) 224-4224 Lugar (R-IN)(202) 224-4814 Martinez (R-FL)(202) 224-3041 Murkowski (R-AK)(202) 224-6665 Shelby (R-AL)(202) 224-5744 Snowe (R-ME)(202) 224-5344 Specter (R-PA)(202) 224-4254 Stevens (R-AK)(202) 224-3004 Voinovich (R-OH)(202) 224-3353 Warner (R-VA)(202) 224-2023
Not Voting Cochran (R-MS)(202) 224-5054 Gregg (R-NH)(202) 224-3324 Lott (R-MS)(202) 224-6253 McCain (R-AZ) (202) 224-2235
Thanks for the post...starting my calls now.
"since President Bush already has stated that he thinks comprehensive immigration reform including a guest-worker plan is in the national security interest."
I don't recall him saying "security" interest but I'm sure he would. Doesn't wound like he has to table this with DoD, CIA, etc. Rove will fix up some words.
Notice that none of these Senators are from border States nor up for re election in 2006.
Things moving fast this article is already an old story!
Help me anyone - does the new guest worker proposal require employers to take out health insurance for the imported workers?
Or will this cost be dumped on the states and counties too?
Millions of people are trying to get into this country.
Let's make some big bucks on that fact.
First....set a number of legal immigrants each year...say 1,2 or 3 million.
Second....run a lottery that's open to the whole world.....criminals not eligible......
Each chance will cost $1000 and the drawing will occur every 3 months.
Potential immigrants can submit as many chances as they want....so the richer people have an advantage.
I'd be conservative if I said the government would make several $billions each year.....
money that could be invested in tighter border security, more guards or fences.
This would work if illegal entry was punishable in every instance with a severe fine and or instant deportation.
Children born to illegals while on American soil would not become instant citizens...
This plan would be much fairer than allowing a disproportionate number of Mexicans to cross the border.
It would take some backbone but it would send a clear message to the entire world that a life in America is a privilege.
The alternative will mean civil war.
When the economy cycles into the next recession, Mexicans and Anglos will be literally fighting hand to hand for the few available jobs!
Sigh... there's always a way for politicians to circumvent of the will of the people. Bush will, of course, claim the 'national security' issue is that if cheap labor ceases it will drive prices too high for Americans to afford.
However, the President will never reveal the full truth about how the presence of 20 million illegals creates a massive tax burdon for each and every American household, and how insurance premiums skyrocket because of millions of uninsured, illegal drivers, and how the costs to fight the war on drugs and other crimes are increased dramatically due to the presence of millions of illegal drifters from Central and South America who bring their drugs, their crime, and their Third World mentality with them.
What good is a partial truth, Mr. Bush? Partial truths are still lies. Amnesty for 20 million hispanic invaders is insanity, and only the likes of Ted Kennedy and George W. Bush can spew the flawed logic behind this insanity and actually believe in what they're saying.
That plan is against Mexicans :)
Currently only Mexicans have a chance to come here illegally. It's not like you get on a plane on get here illegally from, say, Poland.
Rush mentioned the same thing I have been saying on his program today: Namely that we need to target every single Rino at every primary for the rest of their careers with the aim of replacing them with a real conservative. That's the only way we maintain control of congress and yet get rid of these traitors. Yes it will take a long time but better to win slowly than lose the whole ball of wax by voting for a 3rd party and letting the rats have control.
Even though he didn't vote McCain should be added to the 18 above. (He is pretending to be conservative because he thinks we will forget and nominate him in 2008).
It is a myth that the "Will of the People" is being circumvented. But it is NOT a myth that this country is NOT a Democracy. Since it is a republic representatives do not conduct a poll to see what the "people" want.
Missing from the picture, the "backbone."
I can't imagine HOW any amnesty worker program would be vital to national security, unless Bush pulls a Clinton to justify the most menial/unskilled tasks. You know, all those jobs Americans won't do.
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