Thread: Immigration reform may or may not be issue in '08 elections

http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/2...23/0/FRONTPAGE

Immigration reform may or may not be issue in '08 elections

Staff Reports
February 11, 2007
By Katherine Ling

Medill News Service

WASHINGTON -- Greeley Mayor Tom Selders wants to know when Congress is going to address immigration reform.

It's a simple question, but the answer is as elusive as the proverbial dog's tail -- a dizzying chase of vague answers and insufficient information.

"It seems to me like people are talking about immigration issues all over the country," Selders said. "I think that it is really sad that the government can't put a priority on it."

The latest source of Selders' frustration was a meeting of business and community leaders in late January with Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.

"We were disappointed with Allard's response," Selders said.

Sean Conway, Allard's chief of staff, said Allard never promised to bring up immigration at this particular delegation meeting.

"What he talked about was that he would be glad, as the process began to move forward and as concerns were brought forth, to pass those concerns on" to the delegation, Conway said.

Conway said Allard would very much like to see the issue brought up in the Senate, but that as far as he knew, it was not at the top of the Democratic agenda. "This is an issue (Allard) very much wants to be involved with and has been involved with," Conway said.

But Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said immigration was a major issue that would be addressed this year, maybe as early as March.

"I think it is just a matter of time as to when we are able to get to it and I hope it is sooner than later," he said. Salazar is working with the Senate leadership on the immigration legislation, which will be sponsored by Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

But for Selders, soon is not quick enough.

"We have frustration here. We see a lot issues and turmoil and some very nasty comments," he said. "(City officials) have all taken oaths of allegiance we will enforce the laws of this land and the frustration is that we lack the resources to do that. The laws are unclear and we lack jurisdiction."

Immigration's National Outlook: Cloudy

Outside of the Colorado delegation, consensus and clarity on when the immigration will receive top billing by Congress is not much better.

Congress, under Democratic control, is actually in tune with President Bush on immigration for the first time in years. Despite this, few observers believe that a comprehensive immigration bill will pass this year.

One of the few is Bob Dane, press secretary for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, who said President Bush and the Democrats were "locked and loaded" to pass immigration reform that included a guest worker program, or "amnesty."

"I don't see how immigration can be an issue leading up to the 2008 election," he said. "It's such a volatile issue. We are guessing that they want to get it done before the election."

But John Keeley, director of communications for the Center for Immigration Studies, a think-tank that researches immigration, was not certain. He said many of the freshman democrats, known as "Blue Dogs," who gave the Democrats the majority, were elected on immigration platforms that were against a guest worker program, favored by Bush and the Democratic leadership of Congress.

"On the horizon of the 2008 general election we tend to think that it is not likely we will see significant legislation," as opposed to last year, he said.

Keeley said instead of landmark legislation, lawmakers will try to pass bills or amendments that only address small pieces of the issue.

That process has already begun. A bill was introduced in the Senate that would set up a guest worker program just for agriculture workers. In addition, a provision has been attached to minimum wage legislation that would withhold federal contracts from any company found hiring illegal immigrants.

But the Democratic leadership is hoping to have a comprehensive immigration bill on President Bush's desk by the end of the year.

Laura Capps, a spokeswoman for Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., said the senator, who is the Senate subcommittee chair on immigration, border security and citizenship, was hoping to have the Senate bill introduced in late February or early March. Capps did not know of an exact date yet.

The real fight is expected in the House, not the Senate, which passed bipartisan legislation last session. The Republican House leadership was uninterested in the guest worker program, however, and only discussed the border enforcement aspect --the so-called 700-mile border fence.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., the chairwoman of the House subcommittee on immigration, border security and claims, plans to begin the committee process "promptly." But her spokeswoman, Kyra Jennings, said no date has been set to begin consideration of an actual bill.



STATE STATISTICS 2006

570 bills concerning immigrants were introduced in state legislatures.

90 bills and resolutions passed the state legislatures

84 of those were signed into law, more than double the amount of 2005

32 states enacted laws, including Colorado

Most states focused on education, employment, identification and driver's licenses, law enforcement, legal services, public benefits, trafficking and voting procedures.

Data provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures

AMNESTY. We want our border secure and our immigration laws enforced.

I can see them sneeking in bits and pieces of immigration reform in other bill so they can hide what they are doing to our country. their already doing that. The AG's bill is nothing more than a big give away to Mexico's poor.

Nodody up on the hill if you ask knows any thing about North American Union/SPP, but they sure new about in the that ag's bill did't they.

Does their lieing never STOP!!!!Its got so bad we don't know who to believe anymore.

WE NEED TO DO SOME SERIOUS HOUSE CLEANING!! OF ALL THE TRAITORS!!!