Thread: OBAMA: AMNESTY BILL THAT REWARDS ILLEGALS MEANS 'EVERYONE PLAYS BY THE SAME RULES

OBAMA: AMNESTY BILL THAT REWARDS ILLEGALS MEANS 'EVERYONE PLAYS BY THE SAME RULES'

by TONY LEE
26 Mar 2014

After House Democrats filed a discharge petition on Wednesday to try to force a vote on comprehensive amnesty legislation, President Barack Obama praised the bill as one that would "make sure everyone plays by the same rules," even though it would give special treatment to illegal immigrants who have broken the law.

In a White House press statement, Obama blamed "Republicans in the House" for refusing to "allow meaningful immigration reform legislation to even come up for a vote." He then applauded the "efforts of Democrats in the House to give immigration reform the yes-or-no vote it deserves."

"It would make sure everyone plays by the same rules by providing a pathway to earned citizenship for those who are living in the shadows," Obama said. "Immigration reform is the right thing to do for our economy, our security, and our future."

House Democrats need 218 signatures to force a vote, which is highly unlikely, for their H.R. 15 immigration bill that is essentially the Senate's comprehensive immigration bill with looser border security provisions. The discharge petition, at this writing, has 24 of the 218 signatures needed. Reportedly, 200 people have co-sponsored the bill, including three Republicans who have said they would not sign the discharge petition.

Obama stated that the "only thing standing in the way is the unwillingness of Republicans in Congress to catch up with the rest of the country." He added, "I want to thank the leaders in Congress who are doing their part to move us forward."

While he also cited a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report that said the legislation would grow the country's economy, Obama did not mention that the nonpartisan CBO determined that comprehensive immigration reform legislation would actually lower the wages of American workers by flooding the labor market with more legal and illegal immigrants. The illegal immigration problem may not even be solved under the legislation if workers who are granted temporary work permits and visas decide to overstay them. Currently, 40% of all illegal immigrants have overstayed their visas, and there is no indication this would change as the number of visas awarded in various sectors would double or even triple. The Senate Budget Committee found that the Senate's amnesty legislation would increase both entitlement spending and unemployment.

Stephen Miller, the communications director for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who has been a fierce opponent of amnesty, said that the "House Democrats’ bill will enrich the global elites who lobbied for it while slashing incomes and employment for millions of Americans that they apparently believe are not qualified to work.”

“Incredibly, House Democrats have unified behind an immigration bill that would double the inflow of new guest workers competing against jobless Americans in every single US occupation – from engineering to teaching to manufacturing," he said.

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Governm...the-Same-Rules

By SEUNG MIN KIM | 3/26/14 12:27 PM EDT Updated: 3/26/14 3:39 PM EDT
POLITICO


Obama says Republicans are the only thing standing in the way of immigration reform. | AP Photo

President Barack Obama formally endorsed a long-shot legislative gambit from House Democrats aimed at forcing a vote on comprehensive immigration reform as he blamed House Republicans for stalling an overhaul.

In a three-paragraph statement, Obama said he “applauds” the strategy from Democrats to use a discharge petition to get a vote on immigration reform legislation. A successful petition needs 218 signatures — a threshold all but certain to not be reached.

“Immigration reform is the right thing to do for our economy, our security and our future,” Obama said. “A vast majority of the American people agree. The only thing standing in the way is the unwillingness of Republicans in Congress to catch up with the rest of the country.”

Obama’s statement — released the same day that the discharge petition was filed — is unusual. The White House did not release similar statements when House Democrats deployed the tactic on two occasions this year to raise the federal minimum wage and extend unemployment insurance.

A discharge petition forces House leaders to put legislation on the floor for a vote. It needs a majority of House members, or 218 signatures, to succeed. Such efforts are rarely successful because signing the petition is considered a sign of disloyalty for a member of the majority party.

Even if all 199 sitting Democrats endorse the immigration discharge petition, it would still need 19 GOP signatures.

Though they have hinted at the effort for weeks, House Democrats on Wednesday formally launched the discharge petition effort to force a vote on a sweeping bill much like the version that passed the Senate, except that it scales back its so-called border surge provisions. During an outdoor rally in unusually frigid and snowy March weather, a slew of House Democrats and immigration activists urged support for the legislative strategy and pressed for a floor vote on reform.

“Every day that you refuse to act is another day that 1,100 families are torn apart by senseless deportations,” said actress and activist America Ferrera in a message directed at House Republicans. “So we are here, demanding a vote for the families dreading that knock on the door, hoping and praying that they will not be one of the 1,100 today.”

On Wednesday, aides to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) noted comments made by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) earlier this month, acknowledging that Democrats will not secure the necessary signatures. Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said simply: “We agree with Rep. Pelosi.”

Still, Democrats hope the existence of a discharge petition keeps focus and pressure on House Republicans on immigration. The strategy also takes some attention away from the scrutiny and furor that Obama has recently faced from Democratic lawmakers and activists over the rising number of deportations under his administration.

And some activists were highly critical of the Democratic discharge petition, calling it nothing more than a political stunt. The three Republicans who have co-sponsored the House Democrats’ immigration bill have all said they won’t sign it.

“House Democrats should focus on pressuring the White House to halt deportations and provide administrative relief for our families,” said Cristina Jimenez, the managing director of United We Dream, a nationwide coalition of immigrant youth. “They cannot simply seek political cover by gathering meaningless petition signatures while standing on the sidelines and refusing to take action to ease the suffering in our communities.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/0...047.html?hp=l3

[QUOTE"]It would make sure everyone plays by the same rules by providing a pathway to earned citizenship for those who are living in the shadows," Obama said. "Immigration reform is the right thing to do for our economy, our security, and our future."[/QUOTE]

Our immigrants who are coming through the proper channels do not see it as everyone playing by the same rules when the illegals are already here living and working. Immigration reform is not the right thing to do when it puts the illegals to the head of the line, lowers wages for citizens and still leaves millions of American citizens un-employed. It would not be good for our economy as billions of dollars are sent out of the Country to their family members and that won't change. These people claim children that don't even belong to them or even live in our country for tax refunds, these people know ways to screw the system that I couldn't even dream of in my wildest dreams. That is the kind of people you will be getting if you give amnesty to illegals.

I have worked with illegals for over thirty years and they know every trick in the book to get welfare even when they are above poverty level etc. It makes you sick. These people come here illegally and do not respect laws, they receive welfare claiming a one income household through deceit, get cheap housing etc.

“Every day that you refuse to act is another day that 1,100 families are torn apart by senseless deportations,” said actress and activist America Ferrera in a message directed at House Republicans. “So we are here, demanding a vote for the families dreading that knock on the door, hoping and praying that they will not be one of the 1,100 today.”

Senseless deportations? Senseless when millions of our people need jobs? Senseless to deport law breakers who don't belong here in this Country? I don't care how many times they try to make Americans feel guilty for splitting up families, it is not our fault that THEY decided to break the damned law and risk their families being separated. How many times are they going to play that old card anyway? A thousand more? Do they think we are stupid? It's about time illegals pay the consequences of their actions and deport the entire family together. Plain and simple. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. STOP blaming Americans for the actions of illegal foreigners!!