Thread: Chaffetz Wants to 'Get Some Things Done' on Immigration

The Utah Republican says he'll continue several of Darrell Issa's investigations on the Oversight committee

Jan 16, 2015 6:48 AM PST
by Benjamin Tenerella-Brody

Republicans can have a "lively debate," but they'll have to get over their divisions and lead on immigration, Representative Jason Chaffetz said Friday.

"We were elected to put on our big boy pants and actually get some things done," the Utah Republican told Bloomberg's Peter Cook.

Speaking in Hershey, Pa., where congressional Republicans are wrapping up a retreat to set an agenda and address internal divisions, Chaffetz said that immigration is a source of debate in the caucus but that it's time for Congress to act. "We have the obligation to pass meaningful immigration reform," Chaffetz said. "Legal immigration in this country is broken."

Chaffetz said Republicans can get together issues like border security, and he expressed support for a bill the House passed which would roll back President Barack Obama's executive actions halting some kinds of deportations. "I don't believe in granting amnesty," he said.

He did not say how else they might fix the system.

Chaffetz, who is the new chairman of the House Oversight Committee, also drew a distinction between himself fellow Republican Representative Darrell Issa, who formerly ran the committee and famously used it to confront the White House on issues such as Benghazi. "I'm going to approach the media a little differently," Chaffetz said.

He was adamant that the committee would still investigate several issues that Issa had pursued, including the IRS's treatment of conservative political groups. "It's a target-rich environment," he said.

Chaffetz, a longtime supporter of Mitt Romney, waved off doubts from many Republicans about a possible third Romney candidacy in 2016. Chaffetz said Romney's fundraising base would make him the best person to run against Hillary Clinton, but he warned that Romney can't just rest on "buyer's remorse"–the hope that the public feels regret for choosing Obama over him in 2012.

"Mitt Romney's going to need to get out there and explain what he would do differently," Chaffetz said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/ar...on-immigration

He did not say how else they might fix the system.

The only real fixes to this system are an Executive Branch that enforces immigration laws, something we haven't had now for at least 5 Presidents, and clarity on the rights of States to enforce immigration laws, something they can do without any additional personnel or resources.

Yes, there are more laws we need like E Verify and a prohibition on granting automatic birthright citizenship to children of illegal aliens, but if we were enforcing the laws we have, there would be no illegal aliens in our job market or children of illegal aliens being born in the US.

So, while of course we need to keep pushing new legislation like E Verify and Steve King's bill to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens to perfect the system and our union in the process, we must figure out how to elect Presidents who are rational, have common sense, hold an unwavering loyalty to the American People, and are committed to utilizing all available personnel and resources including those in the States to enforce US immigration law.

Originally Posted by Judy

The only real fixes to this system are an Executive Branch that enforces immigration laws, something we haven't had now for at least 5 Presidents, and clarity on the rights of States to enforce immigration laws, something they can do without any additional personnel or resources.

Yes, there are more laws we need like E Verify and a prohibition on granting automatic birthright citizenship to children of illegal aliens, but if we were enforcing the laws we have, there would be no illegal aliens in our job market or children of illegal aliens being born in the US.

So, while of course we need to keep pushing new legislation like E Verify and Steve King's bill to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal aliens to perfect the system and our union in the process, we must figure out how to elect Presidents who are rational, have common sense, hold an unwavering loyalty to the American People, and are committed to utilizing all available personnel and resources including those in the States to enforce US immigration law.

I agree, just enforce the darn laws as written! Why do all of these idiot politicians insist our immigration system is broken? How can they judge something as broken that isn't actually being used as designed? I would like to hear just one political hack in Washington admit it's not the system that is broken, it's our politician's will to ensure our immigration laws are enforced as written that is broken!

Any 'investigatioins' handled by Chaffetz or Issa will go nowhere and only be dog and pony shows because both Issa and Chaffetz have the same immigration and amnesty plans as Obama because all three serve hidden masters that are wrecking America.

There will be no justice from any body an illegal alien amnesty supporter like Chaffetz or Issa are in charge of.

W

Seems most 'investigations' done by them are 'dog and pony shows.'