Posted on 06/20/2007 6:22:05 PM PDT by TornadoAlley3
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration came out strongly against a bipartisan effort by Sens. Charles Grassley and Barack Obama to make the immigration bill easier on employers.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told senators in a letter late Tuesday that the amendment, which makes a new program to stop businesses from hiring illegal workers less burdensome, "would be a serious step backwards in our enforcement effort."
The amendment sponsored by Grassley, R-Iowa, Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Obama, D-Ill. "eliminates needed tools and allows unscrupulous businesses to continue to freely hire illegal workers," Chertoff wrote in matching letters to Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., two architects of the bill.
In an angrily worded reply to Chertoff on Wednesday, the unlikely allies sponsoring the amendment dismissed his criticism as "erroneous and misleading," and defended their proposal as one that would improve a deeply flawed system.
Their amendment is one of a limited list of two dozen the Senate would consider adding to the immigration measure under a plan to revive the stalled bill before the July 4 recess.
Consumed with a debate on energy policy, the Senate is unlikely to turn back to the bill until early next week. When it does, skeptical senators in both parties will get the lion's share of the opportunities to revise it through amendments that could cut to the heart of the measure.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid late Wednesday took the first step toward bringing the immigration back to the floor, filing a motion that would allow him to overcome a possible GOP filibuster.
The proposal by Grassley, Baucus and Obama addresses the worker verification program, which is despised by both labor and business groups. Businesses fear it would wreak havoc with their ability to hire workers and impose exorbitant costs. Labor organizations worry it could result in discrimination against workers.
The same interests are eagerly pushing for the broader immigration overhaul, which would legalize some 12 million unlawful immigrants and create a new temporary guest worker program.
The proposal would ease the measure's strict requirements for employers to verify that all their workers are legal, instead allowing businesses to check only the identities of new employees and those existing ones who the Department of Homeland Security has reason to believe are unlawful.
It would strip a requirement that employees present a federally standardized "REAL ID," instead allowing them to produce other driver's license or identity cards. Workers denied a job under the system could appeal to Department of Homeland Security for lost wages.
Chertoff called that proposal "a poorly concealed effort to make DHS avoid tough enforcement."
In their letter to the Homeland Security Secretary, the three senators wrote, "We strongly support creating an effective, mandatory employment verification system for all employers to verify the legal status of their workers. But the design, implementation, and oversight of the system as proposed in the pending immigration bill are flawed in several respects."
Meanwhile, a paper released Wednesday by the White House's Council of Economic Advisers made the case that immigration has had mostly a positive economic impact on the United States.
For the most part, immigrant workers find employment that tends to complement — not replace — the jobs held by workers born in the United States, the paper says. On average, native-born U.S. workers' wages have been boosted as immigrant workers have helped to expand the nation's overall economic pie and thus its wealth by billions of dollars a year, the paper says.
The paper acknowledges the challenges of U.S.-born workers with little education, but adds that "it is safe to conclude that immigration is not a central cause of those difficulties, nor is reducing immigration a well-targeted way to help these low-wage natives."
The report came as a coalition of labor groups announced their vehement opposition to the immigration bill, denouncing it as "anti-worker." Those unions argue that the temporary worker program will create an underclass of guest laborers who could be abused by the employers and denied a fair chance at becoming citizens.
"It creates a situation ripe for exploitation," said Richard L. Trumka, the AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer.
Immigrant-heavy service unions, on the other hand, are supporting the bill, which would swell their ranks.
This is BS and a fig leaf attempt by Chertoff and Jorge to show that they are for border enforcement after all.
A deal breaker. Change it ... I’ll VETO it!
I agree.
I can’t believe Grassley and Bacus would put this admendment out.
If I was an Iowian, I’d be outraged.
Why is it that I don’t trust this Administration with any issue invoving immigration?
All ready posted!
Is it because they can't be trusted?
They only selective enforce the laws on the books now. New ones won’t get enforced either.
This Secretary Jerkoff was on Rush today and lied through his teeth regarding the Smugglers Gultch in San Diego, all the BS they are allegedly doing to promote Border Security and the “mistruths and misconceptions” that We Peons do Not seem to understand.
BY THE BY!!!! THE BILL IS NOW SENATE BILL S1639.
Kennedy signed and changed the designation.
NO LONGER REFER TO S 1348!!!
THE BULL IS NOW S 1369!!!!!!
How about making the tax bill easier on employers?
“Give us what we want, and we’ll go away.” George, Harry and Teddy (AKA: Legion)
`Storm of the Century’
Sorry, I searched the title, did not find it.
Real penalties would entail JAIL TIME ~ at least equal to the amount imposed on those who improperly pay postage!
Grassley has no excuse. He's a big dog in the Senate regarding Postal affairs. He knows what a slimey piece of garbage this bill is and how he and his friends are literally getting away with theft on a massive scale with no real penalty.
NOTE: Other Freepers may notice that there will shortly be some critics in here attacking me for not really understanding Senator Grassly who is, in their opinion, a really great guy and certainly smarter than the rest of us. They'll also deny that he dabbles in criminal daliances with folks who abuse illegal aliens.
These seem to be staff people who work for him. They monitor FR closely lest the slightest negative comments about their boss attract further discussion.
Meanwhile, a paper released Wednesday by the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers made the case that immigration has had mostly a positive economic impact on the United States.
Are their noses growing?
Bump
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Chief of Staff tom_ingram@alexander.senate.gov
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david_morgenstern@alexander.senate.gov
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llee_pitts@alexander.senate.gov
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charles_cogar@allard.senate.gov
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angie_lundberg@Chambliss.Senate.gov
Lindsay_mabry@chambliss.senate.gov
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jenny_manley@cochran.senate.gov
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ta_hawks@cochran.senate.gov
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Margaret_mcphillips@cochran.senate.gov
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lorianne_moss@coleman.senate.gov
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tom_stewart@coleman.senate.gov
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jane_alonso@collins.senate.gov
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elissa_davidson@collins.senate.gov
jen_burita@collins.senate.gov
Kevin_kelley@collins.senate.gov
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN)
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todd_womack@corker.senate.gov
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russ_thomasson@cornyn.senate.gov
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chip_roy@judiciary.senate.gov
matthew_johnson@judiciary.senate.gov
ramona_mcgee@judiciary.senate.gov
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brian_walsh@cornyn.senate.gov
don_stewart@cornyn.senate.gov
john_drogin@cornyn.senate
Senator Larry Craig (R-ID)
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brooke_roberts@craig.senate.gov
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travis_jones@craig.senate.gov
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dan_whiting@craig.senate.gov
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peter_fischer@crapo.senate.gov
pete_fischer@crapo.senate.gov
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kenneth_flanz@crapo.senate.gov
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staci_lancaster@crapo.senate.gov
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susan_wheeler@crapo.senate.gov
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
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bret_bernhardt@demint.senate.gov
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matt_hoskins@demint.senate.gov
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wesley_denton@demint.senate.gov
Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
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greg_gross@dole.senate.gov
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al_garesche@dole.senate.gov
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ryan_meyers@dole.senate.gov
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katie_norman@dole.senate.gov
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steve_bell@domenici.senate.gov
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edward_hild@domenici.senate.gov
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chris_gallegos@domenici.senate.gov
Immigration LA
tara_shaw@domenici.senate.gov
Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
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john_lopez@ensign.senate.gov
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pam_thiessen@ensign.senate.gov
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tory_mazzola@ensign.senate.gov
jack_finn@ensign.senate.gov
don_tatro@ensign.senate.gov
Senator Michael Enzi (R-WY)
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flip_mcconnaughey@enzi.senate.gov
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randi_reid@enzi.senate.gov
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coy_knobel@enzi.senate.gov
elly_pickett@enzi.senate.gov
Immigration LA
wendy_gnehm@enzi.senate.gov
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
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richard_perry@lgraham.senate.gov
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Jennifer_olson@lgraham.senate.gov
jen_olson@lgraham.senate.gov
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kevin_bishop@lgraham.senate.gov
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Jordan_stark@hagel.senate.gov
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chris_campbell@hatch.senate.gov
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bill_castle@hatch.senate.gov
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peter_carr@hatch.senate.gov
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james_christoferson@hutchison.senate.gov
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geoff_embler@hutchison.senate.gov
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beto_cardenas@hutchison.senate.gov
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glenn_powell@inhofe.senate.gov
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aloysius_hogan@inhofe.senate.gov
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heath_garrett@isakson.senate.gov
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glee_smith@isakson.senate.gov
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joan_kirchner@isakson.senate.gov
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lucy_murfitt@kyl.senate.gov
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andrew_wilder@kyl.senate.gov
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marty_morris@lugar.senate.gov
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chris_geeslin@lugar.senate.gov
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joe_oÂ’donnell@lugar.senate.gov
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shellie_bressler@lugar.senate.gov
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andy_fisher@lugar.senate.gov
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andrea_jones@mccain.senate.gov
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julie_adams@mcconnell.senate.gov
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cindy_hayden@sessions.senate.gov
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michael_brumas@sessions.senate.gov
emily_mathis@sessions.senate.gov
Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL)
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vacant
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laura_friedel@shelby.senate.gov
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anne_caldwell@shelby.senate.gov
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katie_boyd@shelby.senate.gov
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rob_epplin@gsmith.senate.gov
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rc_hammond@gsmith.senate.gov
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beth_stewart@gsmith.senate.gov
dan_knezevic@gsmith.senate.gov
lori_prater@gsmith.senate.gov
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seema_singh@judiciary.senate.gov
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vacant
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george_lowe@stevens.senate.gov
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karina_waller@stevens.senate.gov
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courtney_boone@stevens.senate.gov
steven_wackowski@stevens.senate.gov
Senator John Sununu (R-NH)
Chief of Staff
paul_collins@sununu.senate.gov
Legislative Director
mike_oÂ’rielly@sununu.senate.gov
michael_oÂ’reilly@sununu.senate.gov
Press Secretary/Communications Director
barbara_riley@sununu.senate.gov
Senator Craig Thomas (R-WY)
seat is currently vacant due to Senator Thomas’ death.
Senator John Thune (R-SD)
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m_zabel@thune.senate.gov
matthew_zabel@thune.senate.gov
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david_schwietert@thune.senate.gov
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jessica_ferguson@thune.senate.gov
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kyle_ruckert@vitter.senate.gov
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tonya_newman@vitter.senate.gov
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wendy_fleming@vitter.senate.gov
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joel_digrado@vitter.senate.gov
mac_abrams@vitter.senate.gov
Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)
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phil_park@voinovich.senate.gov
Counsel
george_callas@voinovich.senate.gov
doug_dziak@voinovich.senate.gov
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chris_paulitz@voinovich.senate.gov
Senator John Warner (R-VA)
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ann_loomis@warner.senate.gov
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chris_yianilos@warner.senate.gov
Legislative Counsel
angela_stewart@warner.senate.gov
Senior LA
conrad_schatte@warner.senate.gov
Press Secretary/Communications Director
john_ullyot@warner.senate.gov
What freakin effort?
Even more absurd is Grassleys constant claim to Iowans that he would not support another 1986-like amnesty.
REEEAALLY. Just don’t change anything, right Chuck??
White House’s Council of Economic Advisers
who want ti keep their cushy jobs workinf for the head OBL
Bush knows the enforcement aspects of shamnesty will die with future legislation or through lack of policy implementation. Prosecuting employers doesn’t fit well in the big picture of Corporate Socialism and the endless stream of cheap labor. This is just the Bush Administration pretending to toss a scrap to the base, and then it will be back to race baiting and name calling. Meanwhile, Obama might swing some of the Hispanic vote away from Hillary, but he risks angering black constituents who are about to be on the outside of Affirmative Action, looking in.
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