http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3279364

Ontario, CA, 12/5/2005

Dreier still under fire for immigration stance
By Gary Scott, Staff Writer

In a speech on immigration reform two years ago, President Bush talked about the plight of the undocumented worker toiling away in the shadows for a piece of the American dream, doing the work American citizens will not do.

When Bush unveiled his immigration reform plan last week, a plan political experts say mirrors his earlier proposals, he framed the issue as one of enforcement and tighter border security. Bush used variations of "enforce our laws" and "secure our borders" more than 30 times in one speech alone.

No one understands the shift in emphasis better than Rep. David Dreier, R-Glendora, whose political fortunes are closely linked to the success Bush might have in building consensus around a reform bill.

"I think the president has focused on the priority, which is border security," Dreier said recently. "The No. 1 responsibility of the federal government is our nation's security, and border security is an essential part of that."

In his 2004 re-election campaign, Dreier weathered a series of blistering attacks from conservatives who adamantly oppose the president's proposal to offer temporary work permits to those living in the country illegally. They see the permits as amnesty cards for lawbreakers.

Since the guest worker program remains a part of the Bush reform plan, and Dreier continues to support it, the question for Dreier will be whether this emphasis on enforcement will provide him cover in 2006 from the kind of political backlash he received in his last election.

"The same people who were upset with him on this issue in the last election are going to want to see continued proof of his commitment on the issue going forward," said Dan Schnur, a prominent California Republican political strategist.

In the last year, Dreier has tried to push a tough anti-illegal immigration agenda by introducing bills to beef up border patrols, punish employers who hire undocumented workers and create tamperproof Social Security cards.

In addition, House Speaker Dennis Hastert has committed to giving Dreier a visible leadership role if and when comprehensive immigration reform legislation begins to take shape.

"The common denominator right now is border security. Everyone agrees we should have secure borders," said Hastert spokesman Ron Bonjean.

Whether the new packaging will be enough to satisfy Dreier's critics back home remains to be seen.

"There is anger that his voting record isn't strong, that he isn't listening to the people in his district, that he is more interested in the views of the White House than the people living in San Dimas," said Stephen Frank, a GOP strategist from Simi Valley.

Frank said Dreier would do best to split with the president on the work-permit issue, or at least push for a more restrictive law.

"No one is complaining that the president wants to close the border for criminals coming across it," Frank said. "The problem is the guest-worker program. It is amnesty. It does reward criminal activity."

There are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the country and representatives on both sides of the aisle have felt increasing pressure to do something to stem the tide. Conservatives have been especially vocal about the drain illegal immigration has on social, health and education programs.

But business influences in the GOP have been just as insistent that some form of temporary worker permit program is needed to meet the demand for millions of low-skilled workers.

"This isn't just a matter of dividing moderates and conservatives in the Republican Party. This divides the business community from the party's grass-roots base as well," Schnur said.

"The challenge for the Bush administration is to convince conservatives that getting tough at the border is enough to balance off the other aspects of the proposal," Schnur added.

Dreier faces a similar challenge. In 2004, radio talk show hosts John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou of the "John and Ken Show" made Dreier a surrogate punching bag for those fed up with the president's perceived inaction on border security.

"Fire Dreier" rallies were staged across the district, with bloggers and Dreier's Democratic opponent joining the chorus to call for Dreier's defeat.

The 12-term congressman spent $1.3 million in the campaign, winning re-election by the smallest margin in his congressional career and the smallest margin of any incumbent congressman in California.

"When you have to spend over $1 million in three weeks to win re-election you know you are in trouble," Frank said.

Although he said there are no immediate plans for another "Fire Dreier" campaign, Kobylt said Dreier has yet to take on illegal immigration in a serious way.

"Dreier is an open-borders guy," Kobylt said. "He will dress himself up as a fighter against illegal immigration, but he is a fake."

Dreier, who described the president's plan as "enforcement plus," said he will continue to move ahead with what he believes are responsible and tough immigration reforms despite his critics.

"I haven't changed my position on these issues, even though I was attacked pretty harshly," Dreier said.

"I know there are some people in the party who are opposed to a responsible, non-amnesty-granting, temporary-worker program," he added. "The reality is there are 11 million people here illegally. I don't want to give them amnesty, and we should do everything we can to penalize them. But we also have to recognize we can't round up 11 million people and just get rid of them."