Governor Mitt Romney On The Senate Immigration Agreement (He's against it)

MittRomney.com ^ | 05-17-2007 | Mitt Romney

[loreldan]

Boston, MA - Governor Mitt Romney issued the following statement on today's U.S. Senate agreement on immigration reform:

"I strongly oppose today's bill going through the Senate. It is the wrong approach. Any legislation that allows illegal immigrants to stay in the country indefinitely, as the new 'Z-Visa' does, is a form of amnesty. That is unfair to the millions of people who have applied to legally immigrate to the U.S.

"Today's Senate agreement falls short of the actions needed to both solve our country's illegal immigration problem and also strengthen our legal immigration system. Border security and a reliable employment verification system must be our first priority."

[GOP Poet]

He is right about this. Good for him for coming out solidly and clearly against this.

[technomage]

The Senate believes the correct way to start your career in the USA is to break the law.

[Andy'smom]

I was waiting for one of them to see the opportunity here and denounce it. Mitt is anything but stupid.

[Don Corleone]

A thousand page Bill which almost no one has read! Thats our Congress for you. Vote ‘em all out at the very first opportunity.

[TomGuy]

McCain said at the last debate that he has never supported amnesty, but he sure didn’t miss the photo op with Kennedy and Specter today to show his support for this bill, which is basically an amnesty bill.

[Clintonfatigued]

This is good news. Hopefully, he’ll be vocal about his opposition.

[JCEccles]

Bump.

[gubamyster]

ping

[TomGuy]

A thousand page Bill which almost no one has read!

Almost any Senator: "We don't read no stinkin' bills. That's the job of staffers."

[spectre]

Way to go, Mitt! Now, go forth and spread the word.

sw

[lonevoice]

I’m very glad to know that Mitt’s opinion has been heard. What would really thrill me to hear would be for him to say what he would do as President if this bill made it to his desk.

[GOP Poet]

As a southern Californian, I would add deportation and/or verification in every area including housing, schooling, and ‘free’ medical care are critical. We also need to reverse the law regarding foreign born babies in our country or atleast add a clause.

I know this is harsh, but it is time folks, we are overrun and unless we do some very vital and effective pushing out of these illegals and stop the flow to a trickle it is not good for the SW and eventually the entire nation as they are moving into your hometown USA everyday. When you realize this it will be to late.

It is no longer just Mexifornia, but the United States of North and South America or just Mexico North for short.

We are no longer protecting citizens of our own country. Us southern folks know because it has already begu--the decimation of our towns, cities, and states. In LA our mayor is out as a protester against our police chief for defending our citizens from some of these illegals in appropriate behavior.

[Clintonfatigued]

“What would really thrill me to hear would be for him to say what he would do as President if this bill made it to his desk.”

Based on what I know, it deserves to be burned.

[Republican Red]

NRO Corner has a few other Statements:

Rudy Guiliani's press secretary released the following::

"Rudy's top priority and main objective is to ensure our borders are secure and to stop potential terrorists and criminals from coming in. The recent Fort Dix plot is a stark reminder that the threat of terrorism has made immigration an important matter of national security. We need to know who is coming in and who is going out of this country if we are going to deal with those who are here illegally.”

IMO, the most interesting reaction is from Senator Cornyn - I thought he helped negotiate this bill:

"While I appreciate the hard work by my colleagues as we spent countless hours negotiating this very difficult issue, I have serious concerns with the principles outlined in today’s announcement.

I simply cannot, and will not, support any legislation that repeats the mistakes of the 1986 amnesty. So we have to make a basic determination: Will this bill restore respect for our laws? Or will it have the opposite effect, and encourage still more disregard for our immigration and border security laws, placing us within a few years in the same untenable position we’re now in?

I believe today’s announcement is somewhat premature because specific legislative text has yet to be drafted on a number of key details. Until I have the opportunity to review this text, I will withhold from making more detailed comments. Clearly, however, there will be an opportunity to introduce amendments to this legislation, and I expect there will be a number of areas where that will be necessary.”

[Parley Baer]

Good for Mitt. Somehow we have to find 41 votes in the Senate to defeat this.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Well said, Mitt!

[Gritty]

Good call by Romney. It shows guts and that he knows where the American people stand. It speaks well for him.

[Plutarch]

Who wants to chide Romney today for supposedly being a RINO? McCain stands with Kennedy. Bush applauds the bill. Giuliani will make no such statement.

Romney forthrightly opposes the amnesty instead of hiding in the tall grass.

[Republicus2001]

Go Mitt!