Thread: FAIR LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

From: Federation for American Immigration Reform Date: 2006/02/06 Mon PM 05:10:43 EST
Subject: FAIR Legislative Update February 6, 2006

FAIR Responds to President's State of the Union Speech

Lawsuit Challenges Napolitano’s Proposition 200 Ruling

Proposition 200 Proponents Rally At Arizona Court


February 6, 2006


In this update:
Bush Renews Call for Guest Worker Amnesty in State of the Union
Coming Soon! Hold Their Feet to the Fire 2006
House Passage of Budget Reconciliation Bill a Win for Immigration Reformers
Boehner Elected House Majority Leader
Upcoming Events:
Bush Renews Call for Guest Worker Amnesty in State of the Union

In last week's State of the Union Address, President Bush renewed his call for a program that would allow millions of illegal aliens to remain here temporarily through the creation of a massive new foreign guest worker program. However, after an all-out White House public relations offensive in late 2005, aimed at selling this idea to the American public, the president's cursory mention of this theme indicates that the administration is beginning to understand that the public isn't buying.

President Bush devoted less time and spoke in less detail about his immigration policy proposals than he did in last year's State of the Union address. However, it is clear that the administration and the special interest lobbies that have been behind a guest worker amnesty proposal intend to press ahead with their efforts in spite of stiff public opposition. Read more and listen to FAIR President Dan Stein's audio response.

This Week's Guest Worker Amnesty Action Request:

Keep hammering your legislators and the Senate Judiciary Committee with phone calls and faxes opposing guest worker amnesty. Ask everyone you know to do the same!
Hold President Bush accountable. Call the White House comment line (202-456-1111) or send an email to comments@whitehouse.gov voicing your objection to the president's guest worker amnesty plan. Make sure to mention that you are not fooled by his rhetoric - any program that allows illegal aliens to participate and become guest workers is amnesty, no matter what the administration calls it.
California Residents: Mark your calendar to attend a "Save the American Worker" Candlelight Vigil at Sen. Diane Feinstein's state office next Wednesday, Feb. 15. (Further details will be provided in a forthcoming California alert.)
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Coming Soon! Hold Their Feet to the Fire 2006

Mark your calendar and start making plans to come to Washington, D.C. this April 22-27 to tell your legislators IN PERSON what you've been telling them over the phone and in letters and faxes…."No Guest Worker Amnesty! America's workers and families deserve better!"

Make a commitment today to take part in Hold Their Feet to the Fire 2006 - a national drive for immigration reform sponsored by FAIR and Roger Hedgecock, top rated radio talk show host in San Diego, California (KOGO/AM600).

Last year's Feet to the Fire event was a huge success, attracting talk radio hosts and immigration reformers across America! Congress heard our call and passed the REAL ID Act which included strong border security provisions and language discouraging states from granting illegal aliens and the terrorists among them driver's licenses. This year's goal is to promote border security and immigration enforcement legislation and to stop guest worker amnesty dead in its tracks! Stay tuned for further details.

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House Passage of Budget Reconciliation Bill a Win for Immigration Reformers

The Budget Reconciliation bill approved by the House last Wednesday, Feb. 1, was a two-part win for immigration reformers. The final conference report did not include Sen. Specter's plan of saturating the workforce and our immigration system with 350,000 plus foreign workers and unlimited dependents. This is a major victory for all who helped defeat the Specter immigration/foreign worker increase!

FAIR is also pleased to report that the final bill included an amendment by Reps. Charlie Norwood (R-CA) and Nathan Deal (R-GA) requiring proof of citizenship before a person can receive Medicaid benefits. Under the approved amendment, states are allowed to accept driver's licenses or other state identity documents as evidence of citizenship, but only if the state requires proof of citizenship before issuing such documents.

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Boehner Elected House Majority Leader
On Thursday, Feb. 2, the GOP elected Congressman John Boehner of Ohio as House Majority Leader. "People who support comprehensive immigration reform got good news today," Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ) said. Boehner has stated that he sees the need for immigration reform to be "business-friendly".

In his press release after voting against H.R. 4437, the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, Boehner explained that he supported the border enforcement provisions, but opposed worksite verification because it would put too heavy a burden on businesses. Flake continued to say that Boehner has a "realistic" view of an immigration overhaul. "He understands that we can't just solve this just by focusing on the border…that we need to give [the business community] better tools," said Flake. While it is too soon to say precisely what newly elected Majority Leader Boehner will do on immigration, stay tuned.

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Upcoming Events
The Investigations Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing this Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 3PM titled "Armed and Dangerous: Confronting the Problems of Border Incursions." The hearing will be held in the Cannon House office building, room 311.
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