Posted on 06/14/2007 11:16:52 AM PDT by kristinn
A spokeman for the Bush administration sent an e-mail to Jim Robinson and myself confirming the authenticity of a post on Free Republic this afternoon regarding the immigration bill currently before the Senate as having been posted on behalf of the White House.
The spokesman, Nicholas Thompson, works for the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives. The Politico reported yesterday that Thompson and Kerrie Rushton, associate directors in the Office of Strategic Initiatives who work under Karl Rove, would be engaging the blogosphere on the immigration bill.
Thompson's post is on the thread titled Penalty Mitigation in the Immigration Reform Bill, a vanity posted by philman_36. Thompson posted at comment #53.
Thompson's e-mail to Free Republic included a brief introduction and the text of his posted comment:
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know that I just posted a response to the post "Penalty Mitigation in the Immigration Reform Bill."
The White House appreciates the opportunity to respond on Free Republic.
Response:
I would like to point out that the Secretary is authorized to reduce or mitigate penalities against employers who in good faith are trying to comply with the law. Certainly, we understand that not all employers knowingly hire illegal immigrants; this will remain the case, especially before the bill’s new secure documentation requirements are fully phased in. We do not seek to wrongly penalize honest employers who unknowingly hire illegal immigrants, therefore we reserve the right to reduce or mitigate their penalties if the employer can show good faith compliance in following the law.
For those employers who do knowingly hire illegal immigrants, please know that we intend to penalize these employers strongly, and the Administration has already stepped up these penalties in the last couple of years. For example, a 2005 program, “Operation Rollback,” assessed $15,000,000 in civil fines to employers, an amount greater than the sum of administrative fines collected in the previous eight years and was the largest worksite enforcement penalty in US history. In the first quarter of FY07, criminal and civil forfeitures have totaled $26,700,000 for employers.
As a reminder of what’s in the bill, fines for hiring an illegal worker are $5,000 maximum per illegal worker for the first offense, $10,000 maximum per illegal worker for the second, $25,000 maximum per illegal worker for the third , and $75,000 maximum per illegal worker for the fourth. In addition, the bill increases the maximum criminal penalty for a pattern or practice of unlawful hiring twenty-five-fold, from $3,000 to $75,000, and would impose a prison term of up to six months. This represents a significant increase in fines for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Nicholas Thompson
White House Office of Strategic Initiatives
It brings to mind an old quote, "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with ********."
this will be a rolling thunder thread
Dane and a handful of others will make a valiant Chapultepec last stand and be crushed under the weight of dissent
I’m thinking Cervantes and windmills here.
They can post and spin all the cr*p they want, but I don’t buy it, I don’t like it, I don’t trust them and I’m furious. I will never again dontate money or vote for any politian who supports this Zamnisty bill!!!
Like father, like son.
At least Nick had the balls to identify himself, and not hide behind a stupid screen name like Hemingway’s Ghost or something.
We? Do you have a mouse in your pocket?
And BTW Mr. Bush, I want my donation to your campaign refunded.
I didn't know I was giving money to pursue treason.
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Ditto.
This administration is woefully out of touch. I voted for Bush twice but am now looking forward to 2008.
This bill takes aways the sovereignty of the USA. No other way to say it.
And please Mr. President, name me one other country where I can go, stay there illegally, and become a citizen should I want to?
This bill is a joke, but made even worse by you and your minions telling us it is “good for the country”
BS
I intend to reply to this, as soon as my Anger Management training kicks in.
Message to the White House.
Throw the bill out and furrgettaboutit ! I voted for George W. Bush in my first election in 2004. I was 18. I am in Ohio and I felt like my vote really mattered. Now I and others feel hurt and betrayed. I didnt think I was voting for a liberal in a elephant suit. This bill is an insult to myself and other Americans who are just trying to get by and make lemonade out of lemons.
Please listen to the will of the good people on this one folks.
I have simple advice in return.
Post less. Read more. Listen closely. Heed the base.
Unless, of course, you just used the base to get elected twice and now could care less about them since Bush will never stand for re-election again.
No? Good, let's keep it that way.
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