As many of you know, those smooth operators in D.C. are again trying to slip amnesty by us dummies in flyover country. And the most cyncial part is they are trying to do it by amending the war funding bill.
For instance, Congress including in the domestic-programs amendment a provision that would help pave the way for undocumented agriculture workers to win legal status, an amendment that could reopen Congress’ rancorous debate over immigration policy.
The supporters of the so-called Ag-Jobs measure, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Larry Craig (R-Idaho), say the five-year program is needed to keep farms operating and crops growing. The provision was added by a 17-12 vote.
But critics say that it amounts to amnesty for people who entered the country illegally, and warn that it could imperil support for the underlying bill.
Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, a conservative Democrat who voted against the Feinstein-Craig amendment, said it raises a “red flag.”
The quoted passage is a microcosm of what is wrong with the Republican Party. A Republican participates in this backdoor conduct, and it takes a Democrat to call it a “red flag.” (Okay, the Republican is “naughty boy” Larry Craig, but he’s still our burden.)
As they often do, our “leaders,” Republican and Democrat alike, have been busy stuffing all kinds of unrelated amendments into the “war funding” bill - everything from more Katrina/Rita recovery money, to heating assistance for low-income families, to extension of unemployment insurance, to funding for tracking sex offenders. Our own Kay Bailey Hutchison has tacked on a $100 million amendment for border security.
All these programs might be justified, and they all certainly have backers who can make credible arguments in their favor.
What bothers me is that our elected officials want to pile these unrelated provisions on the back of this bill because they believe it means a clear path to approval - after all, would President Bush veto a war funding bill?
But in the process, Congress sullies itself by looking like backroom dealers, passing cash to each other behind closed doors, away from the scrutiny of the people who elected them. They, by and large, hope that the deal is done before most folks even realize the game was on.
Can’t we bring these issues up on their own merits, and in the light of day? Can’t we let this amnesty plan or that, this spending proposal or that, be debated in the public square, without being forced to decide whether to scuttle a war funding bill because of the crap appended to it (assuming we are aware of all the crap before it’s too late)?
Yes, yes, it happens all the time, but that does not excuse it. And it is particularly galling in the case of the immigration provisions. Everyone in Congress well remembers the knock-down-drag-out fight that just occurred over the amnesty proposals championed by President Bush, the bitterness of both sides, and the ultimate defeat of the plan - because the public didn’t want it.
So to now try an end run around the American people by piecemealing immigration proposals through amendments to other bills is dishonest and insulting.
Aren’t you fed up with politicans who justify this sleazy conduct by insisting that “their” programs are really needed, and are so pressing, that whatever it takes to get them passed is worth it, even when it means giving the one-fingered salute to public awareness?
Then again, these are the same people we keep re-electing more than 90 percent of the time.
35 Responses to “Senators tag amnesty amendment to war bill”
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May 16th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Yes Rick it’s frustrating and a huge reason why the Democrats ” change” message resonates with the populace. Most of these people wanting change, want what you describe. They want their vote and voice to count. Stop the shenanigans, end games, believing that they are so superior and so much smarter than the average tax payer. I would bet, 50% of those who want Obama for change, have no idea he will take us down a Marxist path. They just know the Republicans didn’t listen.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
No, he won’t, and that’s good. What’s bad is that neither would he veto an amnesty bill.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
1 aw
I think you may be right. Peggy Noonan had the most depressing “pre-obituary” for the GOP today.
GOP, RIP:
http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html
May 16th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
1 and 3
texpat just posted a piece on Noonan’s column.
May 16th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Larry Craig, I believe, helped pass this bill out of the appropriations commitee. Anyone remember when young whipper snappers (when I was one) called anything they didn’t like “gay”? (I think it’s still fairly common to do that). Well, this attachment of amnesty to a war spending bill is “gay” and in light of Larry Craig’s support for the amendment, that makes this attachment really gay, in a wide-stance sort of way.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
5.
LOL. I wonder if his amendment applies only to male agricultural workers?
May 16th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
ONLY YOU CALLS CAN STOP THIS AMNESTY..? JAM THE SWITCHBOARDS TODAY!
There is a RED ALERT today as Leading Democrats, trying to force on the American public another AMNESTY, without public knowledge. Go here to read about this current travesty of Immigration laws. This will give millions of aliens, fast access to your tax dollars in welfare payments. You decide at WWW.numbersusa.com. Toll free your Democratic representative at 202-224-3121 )
Only unrelenting American patriots can stop the move towards any AMNESTY. State laws such as Arizona, Georgia, Oklahoma and Rhode Island has shown that by closing the doors to illegal immigrants, their unemployment rate was reduced. With illegal aliens fleeing these states, predator employers have had to hire legal citizens and green card holders. Here is an amazing exposure of Arizona economic recovery!
(http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/05/15/striking-changes-in-arizona-as-illegal-immigrants-flee-the-state/#comment-62672 ) Just read this disturbing revelation of costs, that our government skims from our paycheck to pay an illegal’s. (www.eagleforum.org/sources)
URGENTLY PASS THIS ON TO EVERYBODY…?
May 16th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
This bill was supposed to have been voted on today. But the House (they’ve been stellar on this issue) did something to block that vote. It will probably be held on wednesday. That’s more time to contact your senators. In honor of BigJolly, that’s “coctact”
May 16th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Uh, yeah.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
RickG;
Was that on this war spending bill? I thought it was to the Miranda bill. Or is that dead?
May 16th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Apparently 90% of the people aren’t.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
10. Darren
I don’t know. The Hill article says Hutchison’s amendment is to the war funding bill. She may have also tacked it on elsewhere. If I see more, I’ll put it here and you do likewise.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Meanwhile here in Hawaii, we’re still trying to decide what method of mass transit we are going to waste $5 billion dollars on.
May 16th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
13.
Underwater, pneumatic tubes to shuttle you between the islands.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
The reality is, Feinstein is determined to address the emergency situation we currently have in the AgJobs industry.
Last year 13,280 US farms shut down. Many farmers have moved their operations to Mexico. We need a solution.
This is NOT an amnesty bill. Read the legislation. What is your side´s problem. Afraid of a few brown people? That is the real issue isn´t it.
Roy Beck and his puppets will try as they might to stop this bill but he is not going to fool Congress or the American Public this time!
I wrote about this on my blog. More and more of us TRUE AMERICANS understand what Beck and others like you are really trying to accomplish!
May 16th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Dee ” the you people” you are addressing are very aware of the cost of the ” brown people” you mention. And Dee, I own a farm, so I think I have a little more invested in this,than you do. The emergency you speak of is getting cheap labor from Mexico to pick vegetable crops. I can assure you, the corn, soybean, wheat, rye farmers are fine. It is not my problem, that you have chosen to rely on illegals or have not pushed congress strongly enough to allow more green card workers. It is yours. You have not worked to secure healthy workers, nor have you worked to secure the safety of the Americans who buy this produce. Do I need to quote the numbers of disease caused by unclean immigrant workers? Pay a decent wage, Americans will absorb the cost.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
15.
Wow, that’s original. Can’t you libs come up with some new material? Haven’t you figured out yet that you are no longer intimidating anyone with your race-baiting?
Not only is it weak, it’s intellectually lazy.
And, it is amnesty. Illegal workers given legal status. Pretty simple to understand, really. Even for a Democrat.
But it’s good to see you stop by so we knuckledraggers can see what a “True American” is like. One who apparently idolizes Diane Feinstein.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
#15 Rewarding ILLEGAL immigration is NOT the answer! And your insinuation that we are “afraid of a few brown people” is outrageous. Go to any us hospital e-room and you will find it packed with illegals getting routine free health care and clogging the system to the detriment of the genuine emergency cases. We have serious gang problems here in Houston and it is far worse in California/Mexifornia. No one would care if “a few brown people” were here if they would just ASSIMILATE AND LEARN ENGLISH. Unfortunately many of those “few brown people” just take their failed practices/beliefs/culture here from there and make it worse here. WE have enough problems of our own without being the poverty outlet/relief valve for our neighbors to the south. I say we should ENFORCE our immigration laws that are on the books with just as much vigor as they enforce theirs. Take your race-baiting pre-composted fertilizer somewhere else.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Upon further reflection,I must apologize to the regular LSTers; I fed the troll.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
15.
By the way, since you are in Dallas, surely you know the vast majority of those on this blog are in the Houston area, and most have lived and worked here quite nicely for many years.
Making your foolish statement all the more ridiculous.
Are those the kind of “insights” you share with readers of your blog?
May 16th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Dee - there are plenty of Americans that will do the job. This is a typical liberal lie that those that want the immigration laws obeyed and ILLEGALS to be sent home are racists and “afraid of brown people”. What garbage.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
This isn’t about Bronw Peoplephobia or anything of the sort. Seal the border and then talk about guest workers.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
My grandparents grew up on a farm as did my father. I vsited G&G every year of my life growing up and as much as possible after we move to Texas. I’ve NEVER heard of a farm problem ecept for farm subsidizing corn causing shortages and the price of food to rise.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Darren, there has been a outcry from the produce farmers, complaining not enough illegal workers are coming in to pick the crops, and the produce has rotted, or they fear it will. In fact, there have been articles about Border Patrol being told to not stop anyone coming through a certain sector so the illeglas can make it to the farms, to pick the crops.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I’m with DCGirl, Americans will take the jobs, if the produce farmers will pay a decent wage. Also, these produce farmers need to modernize and not depend on manual labor………. they need to push for new types of pickers. I’ll pay 50 cents more a head of lettuce…… shoot look what I pay for gas!
May 16th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
RickR;
I really do hope Hutchinson did not use this Iraq spending bil to attach the $100 million dollars for our border agents. If this amnesty part is not removed completely, I will not support the bill.
Time for line item veto power anyone? I know it won’t help this bill as Bush wants amnesty but that should help balance this unfortunate but legal political maneuvering to add pork spending and amendments to a bill completely unrelated to the bill at hand.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
American woman #24;
Ah, so it’s about using slave labor. Got it.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
27.
Sadly, that’s more or less correct. And the GOP can’t point he finger too much on this one - a lot of “Republican interests” want that cheap labor, too.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
nope they dont care about this country so now i just throw my trash out the window if they dont care neither do i!
p on them
May 16th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I think it’s been calculated that paying a decent wage to farm workers would increase a head of lettuce by no more than 50cents. I’d gladly pay it.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
30. aw
Ditto. And you are right. In fact, I believe those calculations have been made as to other crops as well, and the additional cost per item is relatively small at the end of the day.
May 16th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Tom Waits said it all.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Hey gang, no need for apologies for responding to Troll Dee. Y’all slugged the troll, and it hasn’t come back.
As for those of us who haven’t visited its blog, don’t bother. It will only enhance the hit count, which is probably the intent of the troll visit in the first place.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
We are obviously going to get Immigration reform especially after THIS election. So the thing to focus on is the line past which we will NOT allow things to go… That Line, I believe, and have spoken about for the last year+, is citizenship for 20,000,000 illegal… The problem lies, of course, in the plans of the Dems to have these folks registered to vote democrat by this time next week; if they could…. On the other side are the Repubs who, knowing the plans of the Dems, do not want to be seen as the spoilers now; who will be remembereed later after the Dems change the law in favor of citizenship………. The only ‘hope’ as I see it is the punishing of illegals by NEVER letting them become Anything but ‘guest workers’. If we multiply 20,000,000* 10,( the low number of relatives who would be allowed in per new Citizen . The ‘experts will say that each year has a quota and that only the ‘quota’ would be allowed in each year. They should remember that the immigration service ’spends’ Quotas, like Congress spends borrowed money. They take from future quotas. So i think we should we should be prepared to So no to congress and ONLY relent when they negotiate guest-worker only status for illegals AS their PUNITIVE pay off. That of course after getting rid of the criminals and closing the border except at proper crossings. The other thing about this proposal, woulkd be that some of them might be willing to go home and wait for an upgradeable work visa.
May 17th, 2008 at 1:34 am
#33
I visited the trolls site after her “HATE Sites Advocating Race War between Latinos and Blacks!” link came in an email. Talk about a bunch of race-bating propaganda. Her blog is so full of hate: “Hissy Fits”, “Race Wars”, “Race Riots”,
“…drooling over the possibility of a Brown vs Black Race War.”
“…more drooling and lusting for race war”
Then she states “I am about Peace and Unification! As Always!” LOL
But we appreciate all the traffic she sends by putting links to ALIPAC in ALL of her little jabs
…
Amnesty Amendment to Iraqi War Funding Bill-
You only have to meet ONE of the following three criteria to get the amnesty:
*Earned $7,000 working in agriculture during the 2004-2007 period.
*Or worked 863 hours in agriculture during the 2004-2007 period.
*Or worked at least a little bit in agriculture on 150 different days during the 2004-2007 period.
That amounts to an average of $1,750 per year …
*… or 216 hours per year (the equivalent of 4 hours per week) …
*… or parts of 37 days per year.
How did they figure such low requirements for this amnesty and why would they need them if that’s all that’s required of the illegal worker?
And I still don’t understand how this amendment can be related to the war in Iraq?