Thread: IL - Rowe business group rallies forces for immigration reform

March 5, 2015
Greg Hinz

Though Congress this week just barely funded the Department of Homeland Security because of a continuing row over immigration reform, a big business group here hasn't given up the cause. In fact, it's scheduled an event next week with some very big-name politicians in hopes of rallying the troops.

The March 9 rally, formally being called a roundtable discussion, is being put together by the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition, headed by Exelon Chairman Emeritus John Rowe. Among those whose offices say they will attend are Gov. Bruce Rauner and Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill. Among the others the organizers say have confirmed to be there to lend their support are Roman Catholic Archbishop Blase Cupich and three GOP congressmen: suburbanites Adam Kinzinger and Bob Dold, and Peoria's Aaron Schock.

The goals of the group are a bit ambiguous. The flier for the event says the group wants "common-sense immigration reform that grows the economy, moves our state forward and keeps families together." But coalition Executive Director Rebecca Shi says they are agreed on two things: visa expansion so that more foreign workers can come here, and "legal status for the undocumented"—something that some conservatives label "amnesty."

While the event probably will be of political help to some of those attending—for instance, Kirk is expected to face a tough re-election race next year—the group has not dropped its resolve to actually get something done, hopefully this year, Shi said.

"When credible conservative lawmakers lend their support like this, we believe it will create room for Boehner and McConnell," she added, referring to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "It can offset" figures such as Ted Cruz, the very conservative Texas Republican who for months led the effort to block funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security because it failed to overturn some of President Barack Obama's executive orders legalizing status for some immigrants.

Others listed on the event's host committee include officials from DePaul University, Crate & Barrel, the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, Presence Health System and Duchossois Group. Getting an eclectic group like that to endorse anything really specific will be difficult, but we'll see.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/artic...gration-reform

Rauner and Kirk are turning themselves from red meat to dead meat. Why in the world would they attend such an event? I guess they're stupid and think illegal aliens put them in office.

What a shame. A big state like Illinois with a Republican US Senator and a Republican Governor both kissing foreign butt at a big business rally to sell out out country.

God Help US.