Thread: House conservatives warn Bush of immigration's cost

House conservatives warn Bush of immigration's cost

http://www.washingtontimes.com/apps/pbc ... 40047/1001

By Jon Ward
June 24, 2007


Rep. Peter T. King, New York Republican, said a confrontation from the White House on immigration "could affect the vote on the Iraq appropriation."

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Conservative leaders among House Republicans say that President Bush's upcoming showdown with them on immigration could threaten support for the Iraq war as well as for the president's other top policy goals.

"The White House should keep in mind that if they have a direct confrontation with House Republicans on [immigration], it could affect the vote on the Iraq appropriation in September," said Rep. Peter T. King, New York Republican. "It will not affect me. I intend to stand by the president. But I do think it is something they should keep in mind for other Republicans who are borderline."

Mr. King last week introduced legislation that would focus on border security while eliminating many of the guest-worker and path-to-citizenship provisions in the Senate proposal, which he called an "amnesty bill."

Rep. Adam H. Putnam, Florida Republican, warned that a lackluster immigration bill could do "irreparable harm" to House Republican support for the president.

"If the president makes it clear he'll sign any immigration bill that gets to his desk, no matter what it looks like, then it certainly will do more harm than good," said Mr. Putnam, who as chairman of the House Republican Conference is the third-ranking House Republican.

Mr. Putnam said that a speech by Mr. Bush in Glynco, Ga., last month — which the president's conservative base perceived as harsh criticism of its opposition to the immigration bill — was a "major step backwards."

Rep. Brian P. Bilbray, California Republican, said: "The president is obviously looking for a legacy on immigration. He's looking for a legacy on Iraq. And I'm not so sure the legacy that he's striving for is what he's going to get."

Mr. Putnam said the president's promise to veto bloated Democratic spending bills could soften the damage. House Republicans are "grateful for [the president's] strong stance in regard to vetoes," he said. Mr. Bush has vowed to veto nine out of 12 appropriations bills that the Democrat-controlled Congress plans to pass with spending totals exceeding the president's requests.

Many House conservatives are eager to reclaim the mantle of fiscal responsibility, and some see this as one way that a politically weakened, second-term president could reconcile with conservative House Republicans.

The president's relationship with congressional Republicans is important to sustaining funding for the war in Iraq as well as to achieving Mr. Bush's remaining policy goals: renewing the No Child Left Behind Act, investing in alternative fuels for energy independence and revising the tax code to make health care more affordable.

Robert Hoffman, vice president of congressional affairs for Oracle Corp., said Mr. Bush will remain relevant to Republicans on Capitol Hill "because the veto pen is so important to their agenda."

"I don't know that [the immigration bill is] going to cause any residual damage on other issues, especially when the president is demonstrating a strong stance on controlling spending," said Mr. Hoffman, who worked on Capitol Hill for 13 years. "That's something an overwhelming majority of Republicans would embrace."

White House officials were confident that the president could continue working with House Republicans after an immigration standoff.

"Even when there are strong disagreements on some issues, we have the ability to work together on others," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.

Republicans have demonstrated that they have enough votes to sustain a veto on spending bills and will work with the president on the issue. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican, said 147 House Republicans — one more than necessary — have signed a pledge to uphold Mr. Bush's vetoes on the nine spending bills.

The House Republican leadership delivered the pledge letter to Mr. Bush on Wednesday at the White House, during a meeting about the spending showdown with Democrats.

Mr. Hensarling acknowledged that many House conservatives would oppose the Senate immigration bill, but that immigration may not come up for debate in the House until late next month or early August.

"Right now we are certainly united with the president in trying to get these over-budget, bloated spending bills vetoed," he said. "There are so many fights here, you've got to focus on the one in front of you and not the one down the road."

"If the president makes it clear he'll sign any immigration bill that gets to his desk, no matter what it looks like, then it certainly will do more harm than good," said Mr. Putnam, who as chairman of the House Republican Conference is the third-ranking House Republican.

He would sign ANYTHING. The bill could say this and he'd sign it:

All illegals get immediate citizenship and future illegals as well, and there will be no border security or penalties for employers and those Americans who refuse to accept this will be put into detention centers until they accept it.

~~~~~~ ~. ~~~~
George W. Bush
The Decider of the United States of America

In fact he'd probably think that would be the "perfect bill".

Bush is pushing for his North American Union and 1639 gives him permission to go ahead with his plans. If no other reason this should be enough reason for the senate to reject the bill. Many senators are going crazier than they have been for years. We need to do Constitutional admendments to change our government that when the congress and president fall below a specific poll level that the people get to a no confidence vote and the leaders leave. Maybe then they will listen to the people or at least we have a way to get rid of them.

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Let's vote out of office ANYONE who votes in favor of amnesty! Let's also let them know that as well!