Posted on 05/18/2007 4:06:39 AM PDT by Reaganesque
Posted by Hugh Hewitt | 6:54 PM
From Mitt Romney.com:
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."
I am not surprised given my interview of Romney from yesterday. Key excerpt:
MR: [First] we secure the border, two, we have an employment verification system, and three, of the 12 million who are here, I’m telling them go register, go get your card, we’re going to have a realistic attrition program. And it’s an RAP, realistic attrition program. If they, for instance, have a child in school, we may let them complete the school year, and then they return home. When they are home, they’re able to apply for permanent residency, or for citizenship, or anything else they’d like to apply for. But they get no advantage by having been here illegally. And that for me is the key thing. If somebody is going to get a special pathway by having come here illegally to be able to stay, or become a citizen, then that’s rewarding illegal activity. It’s not fair to those who stood in line. And in my view, it’s a form of amnesty.
HH: Now Governor, in McCain-Kennedy, there was a provision for the awarding to illegal immigrants of social security benefits for the years they had spent working in this country. Do you favor that?
MR: No, I think that’s another mistake in the bill. There are a number of things that are wrong in it. The provision of social security for illegal aliens, I think, was a mistake. The provision that said that you could get in line to become a permanent resident or citizen by paying three of your last five years of taxes, that was a mistake. And the whole concept that people who are here illegally would receive an advantage towards being able to stay here, relative to people who’ve been waiting in line in their own country, that doesn’t make sense to me, and it says to people globally, hey, if you want to get ahead in coming to America, don’t wait in line in your home country, but go over there on a tourist visa, and stay over. That’s the wrong signal.
Where are Fred and Rudy?
UPDATE: Fred Thompson comes out against the bill:
“With this bill, the American people are going to think they are being sold the same bill of goods as before on border security. We should scrap this bill and the whole debate until we can convince the American people that we have secured the borders or at least have made great headway.”
BTW, has anyone seen a response from Giuliani on this McCain/Kennedy bill? If so, please post it here or elsewhere.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Mitt Ping!
Romney takes a stand.
Words mean little Mitt when your actions
prove otherwise. All a person has to do
is look at Taxachusettes to know what
your ill conceived brand of republican is.
And what is Romney’s record on immigration, since you’re the expert?
Uh huh, sure. The Mass GOP was doing so much better with Jane Swift before Romney showed up. Yeah, she really took it to those Democrats and made everyone proud.
And for that matter what's Fred Thompson's record since he was actually in the Senate at one time?
“That is unfair to the millions of people who have applied to legally immigrate to the U.S.”
Realizing the topic is “Immigrants”, I still want to inject that it is not only unfair, but wrong as well to the American Citizens whom rely upon existing laws to be enforced that are by actions such as this bill swept under the rug.
What is the reasoning? A point for discussion.
Bump!
Until Yesterday, I wasn’t sure I could hold my nose and vote for any of the GOP candidates; However, if Mitt is the only candidate to step up to the plate and oppose amnesty, then I’m going to send him a check.
(And I never thought I would hear myself saying those words after being thoroughly unimpressed with Mitt when he visited Afghanistan.)
Any bill that Kennedy thinks is a good one must be terrible.
From the Mitt Romney Encyclopedia: Mitt Romney Illegal Immigration Quotes
2003
* “The voters have spoken loud and clear on the issue of bilingual education. We need to respect the wishes of the people of Massachusetts and recognize that immersion creates a level playing field in our classrooms that allows non-English speakers to succeed,” Romney said.
o Governor Mitt Romney, 05-01-2003 Press Release
2005
* “For generations of immigrants, learning English has been the key to unlocking the American Dream,” said Romney. “My proposal will give thousands more the opportunity to achieve success for themselves and their families.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 01-28-2005 Press Release
2006
* “The scope of our nation’s illegal immigration problem requires us to pursue and implement new solutions wherever possible. State Troopers are highly trained professionals who are prepared to assist the federal government in apprehending immigration violators without disrupting their normal law enforcement routines.”
o Governor Mitt Romney, 12-13-2006 Press Release
* "It's one more thing you can do to make this a less attractive place for illegal aliens to come to work."
o Governor Mitt Romney, “Romney Wants State Troopers to Arrest Illegals”, 06-21-2006, Yvonne Abraham & Scott Helman, The Boston Globe
* "The current system puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders...and increase legal immigration into America."
o Governor Mitt Romney
* "There's only one condition on getting your Ph.D. here in the U.S. and that is: You leave as soon as you get it," he told New Hampshire Republicans gathered for their annual convention. "Let me tell you, you get a Ph.D. here in one of our great institutions, I want you to stay. . . . It makes no sense that we put up a big concrete wall against those who have education and skills but our doors have been wide open to people that have neither."
o Governor Mitt Romney
* "Immigration has been an important part of our nation’s success. The current system, however, puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory biometrically enabled, tamper proof documentation and employment verification system, and increase legal immigration into America.
o Governor Mitt Romney's PAC
* "The current system puts up a concrete wall to the best and brightest, yet those without skill or education are able to walk across the border. We must reform the current immigration laws so we can secure our borders...and increase legal immigration into America."
o Governor Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney Illegal Press Releases
2003
* 05-01-2003, Romney vows to protect english immersion law 2005
* 01-28-2005, Romney expands adult basic education for immigrants
2006
* 12-13-2006, Agreement permits specially trained State Troopers to enforce federal immigration law
Romney vetoed a bill in 2004 that would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain in-state tuition rates at state colleges if they graduated from a Massachusetts high school after attending it for at least three years and signed an affidavit affirming that they intended to seek citizenship. Romney vowed to veto the bill again if it ever made it to his desk, arguing that the bill would cost the state government $15 million and that the state should not reward illegal immigration. In 2005, the bill was reintroduced to the House, backed by Representative Marie St. Fleur. The in-state immigrant tuition bill was brought to another vote on January 11, 2006 and was overwhelmingly defeated by a total of 96-57 . Romney applauded the decision.
We need:
We must secure our borders first, and then reform immigration policy.
1. Strong border and internal enforcement and security;
2. An enhanced, fair and workable employee verification system that eliminates the burden and uncertainty of the current workplace enforcement system;
3. A temporary worker program that enables willing foreign workers to be matched with participating employers to meet increasing workforce needs;
4. Provisions that will allow undocumented workers to earn legal status so that they can continue to remain in the workforce.
An enthusiastic supporter of legal immigration, Mr. Romney not only opposes illegal immigration, but he told National Review that he is also "against an amnesty and against anything that provides an incentive for people to come here illegally." - http://washtimes.com/op-ed/20060314-095241-8553r.htm
Amen.
the thing about bush is he doesn’t think
while a good man, he doesn’t have or seem to need an integrated world view to function
while he seems to understand the positive incentive for productivity and growth resulting from tax cuts...
he fails to understand the negative incentive that rewards illegal immigration and cheaters, and punishes those that follow the law and play by the rules
unbelievable
Why don’t they recruit the strawberry pickers from those overcrowded prisons in CA?
The second thing concerns President Bush. I know I said it before and then backtracked and apologized. But my God, what is this man thinking. Is he not concerned about the legal citizens? Is he not concerned about the Republican party? Is he not concerned about the law? And it isn't just immigration. Lately, everything seems to be going downt he crapper. Wolfewitz, Gonzales, Iraq, immigration. It's like everything is unraveling. He blasts a Briish reporter yesterday but doesn't say squat to the American reporters who lambast him constantly. It is getting harder and harder to maintain support for him. I think this immigration bill is the last straw.
The last thing is I think this country is getting closer to civil war. And it will not be Union and Confederates this time around. It will be citizens who are near the breaking point. This 'compromise' bill reminds me of the compromises made concerning slavery that eventually boiled over into war. I don't know how it is in your states, but in Maryland, it is now a disaster. The legislation passed and the idiot governor signed into law emmission standards that follow California. The budget surplus and rainy day fund are gone. In the U S House, Pelosi and her gang want to change the rules to prevent debate and voting against her agenda. In the Senate, they meet in secret and try to ram a bill down our throats that - I think - about 90 percent of the population does not want. They are not heeding phone calls, letters, or emails.
I know I am ranting but my frustration meter is just about pinged!
Bump!
With this bill, we all now know that laws don't apply if many people break them. The Dems and Bush have told us we don't matter and bad behavior is to be rewarded.
Claire Wolf, is it time yet?
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