Thread: Programs urged by Bush not in border bill

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Programs urged by Bush not in border bill
Consensus absent on guest workers

Billy House
Republic Washington Bureau
Dec. 14, 2005 12:00 AM

WASHINGTON - As the U.S. House moves toward an anticipated vote Thursday on legislation to tighten control of the nation's borders, any plan to expand guest-worker programs for undocumented foreigners is notably absent.

Such programs are something President Bush has been urging for almost two years, and immigrant advocates and U.S. business leaders maintain that the programs are essential to the success of any border-security strategy.

Arizona lawmakers are among those pushing for last-minute changes to the bill that range from adding a guest-worker provision to making the border-enforcement measures even stronger.

The bill already bundles measures that toughen penalties for employers who hire undocumented immigrants, require employers to authenticate employees' Social Security numbers, and allow the government to detain for a longer time undocumented immigrants who could pose a threat to Americans.

Other provisions increase penalties for smuggling immigrants; reimburse 29 county sheriffs along the U.S.-Mexican border for costs tied to detaining immigrants and turning them over to federal custody; render multiple drunken-driving offenses a deportable offense for undocumented immigrants; and mandate the detention and deportation of "alien street-gang members."

But why, after almost two years with no action, is the Republican-led House pushing ahead with a bill without incorporating a guest-worker plan?

One reason, according to House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., is that there is no clear consensus of what a guest-worker bill should say.

But other lawmakers and lobbyists say they believe that House leaders, with the White House's acquiescence, have decided it is more important right now to give conservative members a "get-tough" border bill to crow about as they return home for the Christmas break.

Under that scenario, House leaders would rely on the U.S. Senate to address the more politically thorny issues, such as guest workers, in its own bill early next year. House Republicans then could, probably in a vote by spring, gain political cover by claiming the guest-worker provision was forced on them in return for the tighter border controls. Both chambers must agree on any final measure before it goes to the president.

In the Senate, John McCain, R-Ariz., is a co-sponsor of a bipartisan bill that includes a guest-worker provision and would allow millions of undocumented workers already in the country to earn permanent residency by registering with the government and paying fines or fees. Arizona's other GOP senator, Jon Kyl, is a co-sponsor of a separate measure that emphasizes border security.

In the House, Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., said he has warned the leadership that there are "no guarantees" that lawmakers who this week vote for tougher border provisions would next year, an election year, agree to vote for anything "less restrictive."

But Arizona GOP Rep. J.D. Hayworth is among those who suspect that a House vote next year on the guest-worker issue is the White House strategy.

He said this week's vote is to allow members to go home for Christmas, tell their constituents that they've backed tougher border enforcement, "and then, post-Christmas - bingo! - it's guest-worker time," he said.

Kolbe and Hayworth do not believe the House bill goes far enough, but they disagree as to why. Both lawmakers on Tuesday were pressing House leaders to allow votes on various amendments.

Kolbe said that he wants a vote on an amendment he is co-sponsoring with Rep. Howard Berman, D-Calif., to allow guest workers.

As Kolbe sees it, "no bill should pass without including temporary workers and the 11 million illegal immigrants that are already in the country." He wants a full and open debate on the issue on Thursday.

Rep. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican who has sponsored guest-worker legislation with Kolbe, would support Kolbe's amendment if it went to a floor vote, spokesman Matthew Specht said.

But Hayworth, who flatly opposes a guest-worker bill, said he is pushing for a vote on seven separate amendments to put "more (enforcement) teeth" into the bill.

Those range from increasing the number of Department of Homeland Security employees to investigate sanctions on employers who hire undocumented immigrants to disallowing Social Security benefits for illegal work.

"(House leaders) view this as a political problem to be managed or finessed, rather than an invasion to be stopped," Hayworth complained in an interview.

Hayworth is not alone among conservatives who would place even tighter restrictions on immigration.

Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., is proposing a number of amendments, including one that would end the right to automatic citizenship for any baby born on U.S. soil and provisions that would authorize local enforcement of federal immigration law.

Other lawmakers' ideas include a call for construction of a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.

But it is the absence of broader legislation that includes a guest-worker plan called for by Bush that has drawn most of the attention.

White House spokesman Blair Jones said Tuesday that "the president is pleased that Congress is continuing to address this important issue, and he will continue to work with Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform."

But he added, "It is critical that any immigration reform addresses border security, enforcement and the economic reality of demand for willing workers.

"Reform must address these three aspects to be effective and must do so in a way that does not allow amnesty."

TAKE THAT, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU ARROGANT NINNY!!!

SOMEBODY is looking out for us.