Pro-Amnesty "Conservatives" Targeting Senator Mike Lee

See the following article in the Wa Po about many of the usual pro-amnesty types trying to convince conservatives and House Republicans to support "path to citizenship" mass amnesty etc.
The article says that Lee is an "entrant to the conversation." Lee took a strong anti-amnesty, pro-enforcement stance when he ran. Please call his office and tell him not to flip flop. His number is 202 - 224 - 5444.


Pro-immigration conservative activists plan their strategy

Key event speakers include AOL co-founder Steve Case and anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, along with leaders of various state-based industry groups and the National Association of Evangelicals.

“For years, conservative faith, law enforcement and business leaders have supported the need for a national immigration strategy,” said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, the pro-immigrant advocacy group that has been coordinating the effort he calls “bibles, badges and business.” “Now, their voices are coalescing around a new consensus. And, more importantly, the pressure they bring to bear on Republicans is unique.”
me game

Pro-immigration conservative activists plan their strategy

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Key event speakers include AOL co-founder Steve Case and anti-tax activist Grover Norquist, along with leaders of various state-based industry groups and the National Association of Evangelicals.

“For years, conservative faith, law enforcement and business leaders have supported the need for a national immigration strategy,” said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, the pro-immigrant advocacy group that has been coordinating the effort he calls “bibles, badges and business.” “Now, their voices are coalescing around a new consensus. And, more importantly, the pressure they bring to bear on Republicans is unique.”

Several participants said they had already been holding in-
person meetings with House Republicans and sensing new openings. A primary concern for many conservative lawmakers is avoiding any suggestion that they want amnesty for illegal immigrants. Some have said they would support a legalization plan that includes a fine or other penalties. Others have said they want to help young people brought to the country as children.

The Rev. Luis Cortes, who heads Ezperanza, a large Hispanic evangelical network, and who has met with about a dozen House Republicans, said many are seeking a “workaround” of the amnesty question. At the same time, Cortes said, any compromise could create difficult choices for Democrats and the White House.

“We’re going to have to figure out who can get citizenship,” Cortes said. “The left and the pro-immigrant groups are going to have to figure out, where are they going to trade?”

Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, is another key player in the new coalition. He said finding compromise “is going to take a disciplined coalition of the middle, the moderate conservatives in the Republican Party and the moderate liberals in the Democratic Party who actually want to get something done.”

Lawmakers have begun maneuvering in recent days to lay a foundation for bipartisan talks. Possible GOP point people in the House include Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida and Raul Labrador of Idaho. In the Senate, a new Republican entrant to the conversation is Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, a tea party favorite with credibility among House conservatives.

“Republicans understand that if we don’t get serious about doing this, we’ll be relegated to a permanent minority,” said Labrador, a Puerto Rico native and former immigration lawyer.

The conservative activists coming to town this week are hoping that a dose of pragmatism can have an effect on what has been an in*trac*table issue.

“Those who feel strengthened by the election outcome have to be able to restrain themselves from trying to push for too much,” said Bob Naerebout, executive director of the Idaho dairy group. “And those who feel weakened because of the election outcome actually need to realize they have to come to the table and be willing to negotiate in good faith a bill that has the potential of passing.”

Conservative activists plan strategy on immigration issue - The Washington Post