Thread: Fox offer to send Mexican laborers spurned

http://washingtontimes.com/national/200 ... -6774r.htm

Fox offer to send Mexican laborers spurned
By Jerry Seper
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published September 18, 2005

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A Georgia Republican on Friday applauded the assistance Mexico has provided the United States in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but rejected an offer by Mexican President Vicente Fox that Mexican nationals be allowed to participate in the rebuilding of the area.

"Rebuilding our Gulf Coast with labor from Mexico would divert a large part of the estimated $200 billion cost to rebuild -- paid for by American taxpayers -- out of our economy and into 'foreign remittances,' the monies sent back to Mexico from the U.S. by illegal immigrants," Rep. Charlie Norwood said.

"While we appreciate the disaster aid assistance Mexico is providing by sending a military convoy across our southern border, we cannot afford to pay them back with the jobs of our hurricane victims," Mr. Norwood said.

His comments were in response to remarks last week by Mr. Fox, who said the reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged regions of New Orleans and Mississippi was going to require a lot of labor, "and if there is anything Mexicans are good at, it is construction."

Mr. Norwood said at least half a million Americans from the affected areas have permanently lost their jobs, suggesting that it "makes perfect sense" that as many of them ought to be employed as possible in the rebuilding efforts -- "for their personal good and the good of the country."

Earlier this month, President Bush approved a temporary waiver of Davis-Bacon labor rules for the reconstruction of New Orleans and the Gulf states, to allow many of those persons affected by the hurricane to participate in federally funded reconstruction projects as general labor helpers.

"We need to follow that up with providing whatever vocational training is necessary to allow displaced workers to gain the skills necessary to fully participate in those reconstruction efforts," Mr. Norwood said.

He said the "foreign remittances" Mexican construction laborers would be expected to send back to their home country would be significant, noting that current remittance totals from Mexicans now working in the United States "have now surpassed oil revenues as the number one source of income for Mexico -- drawn directly out of our economy."

Immigration analysts have said Mexican nationals in the United States -- both legally and illegally -- send home about $11 billion a year.

"We should not allow our national tragedy to become Mexico's gain. The time for talk is over. The time for pleas for the administration to simply enforce the law is over," Mr. Norwood said. "Hardship has a way of bringing families together.

"If there is anything positive that can come from such an incomprehensible disaster as Hurricane Katrina, it could likely be in forcing us to come back together to help defend each other, instead of letting potential taxpayer-funded jobs for storm victims to be looted by illegal immigrant labor cheered on by Mexican President Vicente Fox."

Congressman Charlie Norwood, 9th District, Georgia


September 14, 2005


Vicente Fox – Hurricane Looter



By Congressman Charlie Norwood





We will be rebuilding the Gulf Coast states for years to come. We will do so with both public and private monies, with cost estimates now running into the hundreds of billions.



Estimates are that at least half a million Americans from the affected areas have permanently lost their jobs, as their workplaces are totally destroyed.



It makes perfect sense that we ought to employ as many of those folks as possible in the rebuilding efforts, for their personal good and the good of the country.



Last week, the President approved a temporary waiver of Davis-Bacon labor rules for exactly that purpose – to allow many of these individuals to participate in federally-funded reconstruction projects as general labor helpers.



We need to follow that up with providing whatever vocational training is necessary to allow displaced workers to gain the skills necessary to fully participate in those reconstruction efforts.



We need a revival of the Civilian Conservation Corps from the 1930’s for this emergency, in which we offer every able-bodied displaced person an immediate training wage on top of whatever other federal benefits they may be receiving, and full-time participation should be mandatory.



We shouldn’t spend any time worrying about those who can work, yet refuse these opportunities.



But there’s already someone else with an eye on those construction jobs – Mexican President Vicente Fox.



“‘The reconstruction of that city and of that region is going to require a lot of labor,’ Mr. Fox said of New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama. ‘And if there is anything Mexicans are good at, it is construction.’� – The New York Times, September 5, 2005



While we appreciate the disaster aid assistance Mexico is providing by sending a military convoy across our southern border, we cannot afford to pay them back with the jobs of our hurricane victims.



Rebuilding our Gulf Coast with labor from Mexico would divert a large part of the estimated $200 billion cost to rebuild – paid for by American taxpayers – out of our economy, and into “foreign remittances�, the monies sent back to Mexico from the U.S. by illegal immigrants.



These “remittances� have now surpassed oil revenues as the number one source of income for Mexico – drawn directly out of our economy.



We should not allow our national tragedy to become Mexico’s gain. The time for talk is over. The time for pleas for the Administration to simply enforce the law is over.



Every police and sheriff’s department in this nation should begin vigorously enforcing immigration law while in the course of their routine duties, and get those people out of our country during this national emergency. For every illegal worker removed, there’s a ready job for the hundreds of thousands of legal American residents who just lost theirs in this tragedy.



The CLEAR Act that we just reintroduced has an excellent chance of passing this session, and if it does, the federal government will be responsible for paying 100% of these local law enforcement costs for immigration law enforcement efforts.



Hardship has a way of bringing families together. If there is anything positive that can come from such an incomprehensible disaster as Hurricane Katrina, it could likely be in forcing us to come back together to help defend each other, instead of letting potential taxpayer-funded jobs for storm victims to be looted by illegal immigrant labor cheered on by Mexican Presidente Vicente Fox.


http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/g ... ooter.html

His comments were in response to remarks last week by Mr. Fox, who said the reconstruction of the hurricane-damaged regions of New Orleans and Mississippi was going to require a lot of labor, "and if there is anything Mexicans are good at, it is construction."

Really?

I thought it was mowing lawns and cleaning motel rooms.

At least, that's what the open borders advocates say.

I guess Americans don't want to do construction work any more, either.

I guess Americans don't want to do construction work any more, either.

Not for six $6.00 an hour

Not for six $6.00 an hour

You got that right.

I see that the person "spurning" Vicente's offer is a Congressman.

Anybody want to make a guess about Bush's position on this. After all, his is the only one that counts.

I'm going to bet that the idea of importing thousands more unskilled Mexican workers making minimum wage is quite exciting to him.

Man Foxie sure never misses an opportunity to ship his own people out of his country! I think he should have a Blue Light Special. Attention all you K-Mart Shoppers! Two good-hearted workers for $6.00 per hour! Get them while they last!

Our only hope is Congress; BUSH IS DONE.

How dare Vicente Fox make this offer. This is beyond belief. These jobs are for the displaced workers of New Orleans and the gulf region, as well as for other United States Citizens from around the country.

It never ceases to amaze me the boldness of this president from Mexico.
It never ceases to amaze me the boldness of this president from the U.S.

Great job Congressman Norwood. The American people sincerely applaud your comments which were based on the principle of decency, common sense and out of respect for the American people.

t never ceases to amaze me the boldness of this president from Mexico.
It never ceases to amaze me the boldness of this president from the U.S.

And it never ceases to amaze me the willingness to be insulted like this by the pantload in Washington.