FAIR Legislative Update Week of June 19th

From: Federation for American Immigration Reform Date: 2006/06/19 Mon PM 02:02:15 EDT
Subject: FAIR Legislative Update 6-19-2006


Latest News Releases

Arrests Part of Amnesty Strategy
(June 15, 2006)

Top Ten Worst Provisions of the Senate Amnesty Bill
(June 9, 2006)

FAIR Congratulates Brian Bilbray on His Return to Congress
(June 7, 2006)

Latest Version of Our Side by Side Comparison of Immigration Legislation (PDF)
(June 6, 2006)


Check out our Stein Report for the latest immigration news and information!



June 19, 2006


In this update:
Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) Will 'Blue Slip' Senate's Amnesty Plan
House Immigration Reform Caucus Now 101 Members Strong
Colorado Governor Bill Owens Signs Two Immigration Measures
Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano Vetoes Bill Making Illegal Immigration a State Crime
New Cosponsors of Key Bills
Recent Floor Statements
Press Releases
Upcoming Events
Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) Will 'Blue Slip' Senate's Amnesty Plan
When the Senate passed their massive guest worker amnesty proposal in May, they included tax provisions for former illegal aliens on their "path to citizenship." The Senate sold the idea as illegal aliens paying back taxes for at least three of the last five years they have been present illegally. These back tax provisions quickly drew fire from House members because the Origination Clause of the Constitution requires that all tax revenue measures originate in the House of Representatives.

The House Ways and Means Committee has jurisdiction over all tax provisions in the House. Like other members of the House, Chairman Bill Thomas has expressed his concern with the Constitutional implications of the Senate tax provisions and has threatened to 'blue slip' the Senate's passed immigration bill. This procedure called 'blue-slipping' allows a Representative to offer a resolution to return the bill to the Senate because it violates the Origination Clause. The process is called 'blue-slipping' because the resolution printed on blue paper. In response to complaints from House members, Senate Democrats suggested the House ignore the Constitutional issues raised by the tax provisions and simply begin the conference committee. However, Chairman Thomas has confirmed he plans to assert the House's Constitutional right to initiate tax provisions.

It is uncertain how 'blue-slipping' will affect the looming conference committee. There have been quiet discussions in the Senate about how to use procedural maneuvers to avoid raising Constitutional questions. Nevertheless, FAIR will keep you informed as Congress moves on immigration policy.

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House Immigration Reform Caucus Now 101 Members Strong
Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) announced Friday that the House Immigration Reform Caucus (IRC), which he chairs, is now more than 100 Members strong. When Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA) was sworn into office last week, he immediately re-joined the caucus and he was joined by Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH), Rep. John Campbell (R-CA), Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Rep. Charlie Bass (R-NH).

Rep. Tancredo stated, "As the IRC has grown, so has the illegal immigration issue in Americans' consciousness. When I started the Caucus in 1999, we had few friends and allies in Congress. Today, the IRC is one of the largest and most active caucuses in the House. Our size and the force of our arguments dictate that we have a seat at the table."

If one of these House Members represents you, call their office to thank them for standing with 100 other Members of the House who want our borders secured and to end illegal immigration!

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Colorado Governor Bill Owens Signs Two Immigration Measures
Early this month, Colorado Governor Bill Owens signed into law bills that would create an immigration unit in the Colorado State Patrol and mandate state contractors use the federal Basic Pilot program to verify workers' immigration status. Twelve state troopers will be the first unit that will receive Immigration and Customs Enforcement training on human trafficking and alien smuggling. The officers will also help other state troopers respond to immigration cases. The unit will expand to 24 officers next year.

A total of seven immigration measures have been signed into law by Gov. Owens including legislation that now makes human smuggling and human trafficking state felonies.

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Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano Vetoes Bill Making Illegal Immigration a State Crime
A legislative package that would have made illegal immigration a state crime passed the Arizona legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Janet Napolitano who said the legislation "offers no constructive new ideas." The legislation would have increased money for border enforcement and made it a felony to be an illegal alien in Arizona. Arizona state representative Russell Pearce who authored the legislative package told Reuters new service, "[The governor] is proving to be the illegal alien governor. Her motto is 'leave no alien left behind.'"

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New Cosponsors of Key Bills

The following members signed on to good immigration legislation this past week. If your legislators are listed, please use the phone numbers provided to thank them for supporting good legislation. Follow the links below to learn more about these bills.

Thank these members for supporting good reform legislation!

H.RES. 20 - House Resolution Disapproving of the U.S./Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement

Rep. Charles Dent (R-PA) (202) 225-6411
H.R. 1438 - No Social Security for Illegal Immigrants Act of 2005

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) (202) 225-2231
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) (202) 225-2576
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Recent Floor Statements
Rep. Ted Poe(R-TX) commented on Illegal Entry Into Tucson, Arizona (June 14, 2006)
Rep. Tom Osborne(R-NE) commented on Immigration (June 14, 2006)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) commented on Problems With Senate Immigration Approach (June 14, 2006)
Rep. Ted Poe(R-TX) commented on Matricula Consular Card (June 12, 2006)
Rep. Charles Rangel(D-NY) commented on The Issue Of Criminal Aliens, How Their Deportation Affects Their Homeland (June 12, 2006)
Rep. Tim Ryan(D-OH) commented on Important Issues Facing America (June 12, 2006)
Sen. John Cornyn(R-TX) commented on Immigration (June 12, 2006)
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Press Releases
Arrests Part of Amnesty Strategy (June 15, 2006)
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Upcoming Events
Senate Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship Subcommittee will hold a hearing on "Immigration Enforcement at the Workplace: Learning from the Mistakes of 1986." When/Where: June 19, 2:00PM, 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Protecting U.S. Workers "Is the Labor Department Doing Enough to Protect U.S. Workers?" When/Where: June 22, 2:00PM, 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.
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I just heard Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) on the Laura Ingram Show 660 AM. The interview topic was immigration. He said, "people are mad". They are upset about the lawlessness and non-enforcement of our laws. He said they were upset about the people comming over the border that are potential terrorist and gangs... He said, they feel that "government has let them down".

When asked about blue slipping S2611, he said he would regreat loosing the security measures like the work site verification system and he didn't say much else about it.

Dixie