Posted on 04/19/2005 3:45:36 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
WASHINGTON — The Senate today blocked a measure that would have created a path to citizenship for an estimated 500,000 farmworkers and their families, dealing a setback to those who advocate legalization as the key to immigration reform.
The measure's supporters failed to secure the 60 votes needed to prevent a filibuster by opponents, ending the effort by Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) to attach the plan to an $80-billion emergency funding bill that mainly would pay for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Under the plan, any illegal farmworker who could demonstrate that he or she had worked in agriculture for at least 100 days in the 18-month period before Dec. 31, 2004 and meet certain other criteria would be eligible for temporary residency.
Once the worker obtained temporary residency, he or she would have to work another 360 days over at least the next three years and no more than six years to be eligible for permanent residency. The spouse and children of farmworkers who obtained permanent residency would also be eligible for permanent residency.
Opponents attacked the measure as a thinly disguised amnesty program that would only increase the flow of illegal immigration into this country, and said it was inappropriate to try to attach such a sweeping change to an emergency spending bill needed to supply troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I just read my post again and I probably shouldn't have put the words "voted down" in there--because I am not sure, but it seem logical---
I didn't know this, but as the Senate was voting on the passage of the Mikulski's "seasonal worker" amendment, the message board on the bottom of the TV, had a line that said that if this amendment passes, then it would open up the main bill for any other immigration amendments....
Therefore, I figure if it opens it up to other immigration amendments, then why couldn't Craig or Chambliss just re-admit their immigration amendments?
BTW, I saw Sen.Stevens on at the end of today's session, submitting amendments "en block" and some of them are NOT amendments that I think a lot of us on this website would be happy about--- I think one of them is the "gag" amendment that would have the USA finance abortion education all over the world--- I remember Boxer trying to get this law changed to pay for this and was voted down, now I hear Stevens have either the same amendment or one VERY similar submitted "en block"--
Now, if there is anyone on this thread that knows if "en block" means passed w/o vote, or does it mean these amendments will be voted on, on the Senate floor?
I can tell. Maybe your paycheck for spewing pro-amnesty talking points on Free Republic and other conservative forums didn't come in this week. Don't worry, I'm sure that Vincente Fox is good for it. Relax.
That's a phony poll Dane, I can cite you dozens of legitimate ones that aren't a push poll as that was and where the results are as different as night and day.
WW
I'm not pro-amnesty, despite your incessant talking points. It must suck to be so damn bitter all the time.
I watched Sen. Sessions of Alabama pick this turkey of a bill apart on C-Span yesterday evening. That 100 days of ag work could mean as little as 100 HOURS, because an hour of any day counted as a day's labor! The worker could then get green card status and that would have allowed his entire family to move to the USA, so that 500,000 would have atleast been 5 times that many Mexicans getting on the gravy train over here. Larry Craig must have been paid off handsomely in his last run for office by some really big tator farmers in Idaho to have come up with this monstrosity.
The heavily biased poll was sponsored by pro-amnesty National Immigration Forum and American Immigration Lawyers Association. The word "amnesty" was never used. The words "enforce existing laws" were never used. The word "illegal" was only used once to describe illegal aliens. The word "undocumented" was used every other time. The proper legal term under U.S. law is "Illegal Alien".
The Federation for American Immigration Reform debunked this poll in their article "False Choices Yield False Polling Data About Immigration" which I've posted below:
False Choice Yield False Polling Data About ImmigrationApril 7, 2005
FAIR Responds to Sham Immigration Poll
A new poll conducted on behalf of the open immigration advocacy group, the National Immigration Forum, reveals that even reputable polling organizations will conduct push polls to generate revenue in political off-years. The "National Survey of Voter Attitudes on Immigration," released Thursday, also reveals that pollsters can get their clients the desired results by the questions they ask.
In an effort to create the appearance of public support for President Bush's illegal alien amnesty and guest worker proposal, the poll conducted by Lake, Snell, Perry, Mermin & Associates, in conjunction with The Tarrance Group, asked respondents to choose from among very limited options for dealing with the illegal immigration crisis facing the nation. The choices presented to respondents "registering" millions of illegal aliens, or mass deportations of millions of illegal aliens. The poll ignored many other strategies for addressing mass illegal immigration that have wide support among the American public.
"Garbage in, garbage out, is the best way to describe the findings of this poll," commented Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "The only legitimate finding of this poll is that the American public is fed up with the status quo. But everybody already knew that.
"Sometimes what is not asked is more important than what is asked. And what wasn't asked speaks volumes about the objective of the pollsters," Stein added. Notably missing from the options for dealing with mass illegal immigration were questions about cracking down on employers who hire illegal aliens with impunity, and limiting the aliens' access to dozens of government programs that encourage millions of people to remain here.
"Deportation needs to be a component of a strategy to deal with the illegal immigration crisis, but no one seriously believes that that alone will work," said Stein. "Respondents were given the impression that mass deportation is the only enforcement option available. In countless polls of American voters, when people are given the full range of enforcement options, the overwhelming majority always support enforcement of employer sanctions laws, better cooperation with local law enforcement, and limiting illegal aliens' access to non-emergency services and benefits."
Empirical evidence also belies the National Immigration Forum's contention that American voters are comfortable with an amnesty/guest worker program along the lines of what President Bush has laid out. "There were a lot of smart people in the Bush Campaign. It was not by accident that the president's plan, first floated in January 2004, was quickly yanked from the table last year. It wouldn't fly with the voters before the election and it won't fly now.
"With the Minutemen now patrolling the border and dozens of radio talk show hosts from around the country set to come to Washington later this month to oppose amnesty/guest worker legislation, it is quite clear where public opinion stands and no push poll will change that," said Stein.
That's just not what YOU want to call it.
It must suck to be so damn bitter all the time.
Pot. Kettle. Black. Bite me!
Exactly! That's why polls are no good. The integrity of each poll is only as good as the integrity of the person who wrote the poll.
Who spun things? Me? All I did was cite someone else's statement.
What does "DD" mean?
Most paid lobbyists like Larry Craig do make good money as mouthpieces for their bosses.
It must suck to be so damn wrong all the time.
Nah, I'll leave that up to the king of ankle biters, namely yourself.
Fantastic
bumping
www.numbersusa.com
How many dual citizens do we need? And where do they pledge their allegiance.
That is based on a push-poll conducted by Ed Goas where they basically gave the choice of mass deportations or a guestworker amnesty. They left out the most popular option which is to enforce current law against hiring illegals.
It is a totally bogus poll and it doesn't deserve any credence.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.