Thread: Northwest lawmakers split on immigration bill

http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APS ... 159755.cfm

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Four of six senators in the Northwest - including Republican Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho - voted in favor of President Bush's plan to legalize as many as 12 million unlawful immigrants while fortifying the border.

Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington state joined Craig to vote in favor of the bill, but supporters fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to keep the measure alive.

Republican Sens. Gordon Smith of Oregon and Mike Crapo of Idaho opposed it.

"Everyone can agree there is a problem that needs to be solved," said Craig, who was one of just 12 GOP senators to back the bill. "Idahoans didn't elect me to be a Dr. No. I came here to solve problems, and I have worked for the past eight years to solve our immigration problems, especially as they relate to agriculture."

Craig said farmers in Idaho and throughout the nation suffer from a severe labor shortage.

"We need to help them sooner rather than later, and I will continue to work toward that end," he said.

Smith said he believes immigration reform is needed, but "our law should reward those immigrants who come to America lawfully. Today's Senate vote is a message to Congress and to the federal government that it must first enforce our laws and secure our borders."

Murray and Cantwell blamed Republicans for the bill's defeat.

"While this bill was far from perfect, I strongly believe that we needed to continue our work. Unfortunately, today's obstruction prevents that from happening," Murray said.

Katharine Lister, a spokeswoman for Cantwell, said Republicans should have let the Senate continue to improve the bill on the floor.

"Sen. Cantwell wanted a final bill that strengthened border enforcement - particularly on the northern border - and bolstered U.S. competitiveness by both establishing a consistent work force for our agriculture industry and retaining American companies' ability to recruit highly skilled foreign workers when U.S. workers are not available," Lister said.

The vote to kill the bill "means America will be forced to continue operating under the same broken old system, and that's neither fair for American taxpayers nor smart for our security," Lister said.

Crapo called the bill flawed, saying it would grant immediate and permanent legal status to individuals who illegally entered the country - essentially rewarding illegal behavior.

"This is not an acceptable or effective means to sound immigration policy," he said.

Craig is a Loser and needs to go! Idaho's citizens passed a lot of laws against illegal immigration and he voted in complete opposition to the citizens of Idaho!! Idaho, rise up and RECALL!!!!

I came here to solve problems, and I have worked for the past eight years to solve our immigration problems, especially as they relate to agriculture."

Bingo! The AgJobs program is the #1 reason Craig supported this bill. He's ready to give farmers 1.5 million slaves! Craig and Feinsteins position on AgJobs make me sick.

People if these are you Senators , you need to get rid of them, that can't be trusted, and they will betray you again.

I am so sick and tired of the agriculture argument especially when they frame it in " THE FARMERS" need labor. Let me tell you folks, using the word farmer is supposed to ellicit feel good emotions about working Americans and I'm not saying there is not any family farms out there but the reference is directly relevant to HUGE CORPORATE farms for massive proffit. Most of the people that put up this "FARMER" argument have never even stepped foot on a farm! The true family farmer has been beaten into submission by the corporate industry.

It gives you an idea of how poorly we are represented in Oregon, Washington and Idaho , the Pacific Northwest!