Thread: House to Vote on Bill Without Guest Workers

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/ ... U184.shtml

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2005
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(AP) The House is to vote next week on legislation that strengthens border security and requires workplace enforcement of immigration law but does not offer a guest worker program, a goal of President Bush and many in Congress.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., who crafted the bill, said he supports a guest worker program, which would provide temporary visas for unskilled labor. Some guest worker proposals would allow illegal immigrants already in the country to participate, although Sensenbrenner has not stated a position on that issue. But he said that without a clear consensus on what that program would entail, "I believe it is wise to move cautiously."

The committee is expected to vote on the measure, which also imposes tougher penalties for both smugglers and illegal immigrants, on Thursday. The full House will take up the bill next week, committee aides said.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has pledged to consider immigration reform in February. Frist, R-Tenn., said his plan is to introduce a border security bill and use that as a base to debate guest worker ideas.

Bush traveled to the Mexican border last week to promote the need for both tighter borders and a guest worker program. Under his proposal, undocumented workers would be able to get work visas for up to six years but then would have to leave the country to apply for a new visa.

Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., a leading proponent of taking up a comprehensive bill, questioned the strategy of leaving the guest worker issue for another day.

"Enforcement alone will not work," he said, noting that border crossings continue to rise despite a tenfold increase in resources along the border. "It also does not address the millions of people already here and living in the shadows."

The Sensenbrenner bill incorporates border security legislation sponsored by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Peter King, R-N.Y., with new penalties for violators and new requirements on employers who hire non-citizens.

Among the penalties, it makes illegal presence in the United States, currently a civil offense, a criminal felony. Some immigration experts estimate that 40 percent of illegal immigrants enter the country legally and then overstay their visas.

It places mandatory minimum sentences on smuggling convictions and attempts to re-enter the country after removal, and subjects all non-citizens, legal or illegal, to deportation if convicted of three or more drunken driving offenses.

The legislation also provides reimbursement for local sheriffs in 29 border counties who transfer illegal immigrants to federal custody and would make non-citizen gang members deportable.

The enforcement provision expands and makes mandatory a volunteer program set up in 1996 under which companies, by computer or phone, verify that a worker is in the country legally.

Employers would check Social Security numbers and alien identification numbers against Social Security Administration and Homeland Security Department records. Companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants or fail to verify could face penalties of not less than $5,000 a person. Currently the maximum fine is $2,000.

The border security part of the bill approves the hiring of 1,000 new border patrol agents, up from the current 11,000, and approves new state-of-the-art surveillance technology, including sensors, satellite and unmanned aerial vehicles to ensure 100 percent coverage of borders.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., a leading proponent of tougher measures to stop illegal immigration, said the Sensenbrenner bill was only a first step, and urged the GOP leadership to allow a robust debate during which such ideas as building a fence or deployment military technology will be on the table.

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The bill is H.R. 4437

On the Net:

Congress: http://thomas.loc.gov/

It's progress but only to the extent of stalling the issue giving the enemy more time to cook the books of illegal immigration; open borders; increased legal immigration.

That's true BUT it also give US the chance to marshal our forces and begin a campaign while our representatives are back in their districts for the CHRISTMAS holidays! Maybe we could actually MEET with them then. I REFUSE to MEET with DOLE and maybe even Burr but I would LOVE to meet with COBLE!

Just caught the promotion for Coats for Kids on WRAL. It's a great program and they raise thousands of dollars, but how sad is that? The wealthiest nation n the world and we have children in the capital of North Carolina that don't have a WINTER COAT. It's 25 degrees here right now.

Salvation Army is running its annual fund raise to buy HEATING OIL. Last year it took until February for them to reach their goal.

And of course, the Fire Departments have their TOYS FOR TOTS without which children wouldn't have even one little present to celebrate our Christmas Season.

COATS, TOYS, HEATING OIL---beyond the means of millions of Americans but there is a LABOR SHORTAGE required Guest Worker Programs?

Pleeease.

The Globalists have really UNDERESTIMATED our ability to add 2 + 2 and get 4. Or subtract 4 - 2 = 2. Or work with negative numbers 4 - 6 = -2 (that means you're in the hole, in the red, bankrupt, eh?)

Why yes indeedy.

Speaking of heating oil--did you see, on the news last night, a segment about Chavez and Citgo delivering cheap heating oil to New York now? And, he says that he is considering expanding the program to help the poor in America!

I think the Coats for Kids is a WONDERFUL program and you bring up SUCH a good point about POOR CHILDREN right here in America that don't even have a warm coat. It makes you want to CRY. But, our government can afford to give 4 million dollars to La Raza--1 million of which they are using for lobbying. Why can't THEY provide coats for poor children. Why can't ALL OF THESE "faith-based groups" provide for the poor in our own country? It seems like every single one of them is using the money that WE are providing for purely POLITICAL, RADICAL CHANGES.

They are using the smokescreen of a "charity" to use our money to end our nation.

Now, HOW does something like that happen?

COATS, TOYS, HEATING OIL---beyond the means of millions of Americans but there is a LABOR SHORTAGE required Guest Worker Programs?

On WTVD they're now asking everybody to give to a food drive.

Is there anything poor Americans are NOT going without?

After we get past this guestworker/amnesty campaign, we really need to start pressuring our representatives about those faith-based "charities" that are selling us OUT. We really need to do some extensive research on all of those groups that are getting taxpayer funding and start trying to find out exactly HOW they spend OUR money. If all of them are like La Raza and New Community, those are POLITICAL ACTION GROUPS--NOT charities. Those groups are PAC's plain and simple and I just don't see how the regulations allow the type of activities they are pursuing. And, if what they are doing falls into the category of "charities", then it seems to me that ALIPAC is doing the exact same thing as they are and we should be able to get government funding as well.

These congress critters still don't get it. We don't need a guest worker program. There is no labor shortage, it's a total farce. I'm all about strengthening our borders and cracking down on illegals and their employers, but don't think for one second that afterwards it's ok to just start bringing on the huddled masses of the third world. These congress critters need to know that not only does illegal immigration need to end, but we need to drastically reduce the numbers of legal immigrants that come into this country. We are stretched thin on resources and living space. We have millions of unemployed citizens and we have many states in the red on debt spending. We need to get these citizens back to work and reduce the numbers of immigrants down to pre 1965 levels so we can better take control of this mess.

ZERO PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

THEN, they can start bringing more LEGAL ones in.