Thread: American Seniors Assn. opposed to Immig. Bill

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American Seniors Association Announces Opposition to Immigration Legislation;
ASA Launches Grassroots Campaign to Defeat Immigration Legislation in U.S. Senate; Calls Long-Term Effect on Social Security 'Catastrophic'

ATLANTA, June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Seniors
Association (ASA), a conservative grassroots advocacy organization
representing tens of thousands of U.S. seniors, today announced its formal
opposition to the "Secure Borders, Economic Opportunity and Immigration
Reform Act of 2007" (S. 134. It announced a national grassroots campaign
utilizing the Internet, talk radio, direct mail, and phone banks to defeat
the bill because of the long-term financial danger it poses to Social
Security and retirement security.

"This Ted Kennedy-sponsored immigration bill proves yet again that
Washington just doesn't get it," said American Seniors Association (ASA)
founder Jerry Barton. "The immigration bill is a dagger aimed at the heart
of Social Security and retirement security for millions of American
seniors. We will do everything in our power to defeat it."

In announcing the grassroots campaign, Barton pointed to a study by
Heritage Foundation Senior Research Fellow Robert Rector that found that
"the cost of retirement benefits for amnesty recipients is likely to be
very large. Overall, the net cost to taxpayers of retirement benefits for
amnesty recipients is likely to be at least $2.6 trillion."

ASA also opposes the bill because of a little-known agreement with
Mexico that would obligate the United States to credit 12-20 million
illegal aliens granted amnesty and a path to citizenship with full Social
Security benefits as if they had worked legally in the U.S. their entire
lives. According to an analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies, "The
proposed totalization agreement with Mexico imperils the future solvency of
the U.S. Social Security system and, therefore, the retirement security of
America's seniors."

"The immigration bill pending before the U.S. Senate, combined with the
secret treaty with Mexico and the fiscal crisis facing Social Security and
Medicare, combine to create a perfect storm for American seniors," Barton
asserted. "This bill is not just bad immigration policy; it is bad
retirement security policy."

The totalization treaty with Mexico -- which has not been submitted to
the U.S. Senate for ratification -- is entirely one-sided. Benefits for
U.S. workers would be miniscule compared to the Social Security benefits
received by upwards of 20 million illegal aliens. It will involve massive
and uncalculated liabilities for Social Security and Medicare, two programs
that are already facing fiscal crises in the years to come. (Source: Center
For Immigration Studies, "Social Security 'Totalization': Examining a
Lopsided Agreement with Mexico," September 2004)

"Why has AARP been silent on this immigration legislation?" asked
Barton in announcing ASA's opposition. "It seems to be another example of AARP claiming to represent seniors while failing to speak out for their protection." Barton thanked U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia for
proposing an amendment to the immigration bill requiring Congressional scrutiny of the agreement with Mexico.

American Seniors Association is a grassroots advocacy organization
representing U.S. seniors. It works on behalf of public policy that will
insure the health, financial security, and retirement for seniors.

Contact: Audrey Mullen at 703-548-1160

Why did they come out so late?

Be that as it may, its a very good sign.

We could have used them last week but better late than never.

And where the h*&! is the AARP ??? Have they taken a position? I thought they were supposed to care about the solvency social security!