Thread: Symbolism That Matters-Signing Chaffetz/Kratovil Anti-Amnest

Symbolism That Matters -- Signing the Chaffetz/Kratovil Anti-Amnesty Resolution

By Roy Beck, Thursday, January 21, 2010, 6:09 PM EST - posted on NumbersUSA

I'm hearing complaints that H.Res. 1026 doesn't do nearly enough to correct our immigration problems.

You are right. It doesn't do nearly enough. Yes, it is only a "sense of Congress" resolution. It is non-binding. It does not fix any problems. But it does provide us an opportunity to get Members of Congress on record without having a vote on an amnesty bill. Here is why that is important . . .

Because NumbersUSA activists and others have been so successful in pressuring Congress the last two years, we have been spared the trauma of having an amnesty bill on the floor of the Senate or House for a vote.

But that means we have no record of where Senators stand on amnesty since 2007 and for House Members since 2005, unless they have co-sponsored a pro-amnesty bill.

As Members of Congress face challenges in their Party's primaries this spring and summer and then from the other Party in the fall, voters need to know precisely where the incumbents stand on amnesty.

Until today, we couldn't really provide a good read on most Members. Now, however, the anti-amnesty resolution tells us which Members will publicly oppose all kinds of amnesty, plus insist on attrition through enforcement to move illegal foreign workers out of their jobs.

Almost everybody will say they oppose "amnesty." Even most of the Members who are co-sponsors of Rep. Gutierrez' (D-Illinois) pro-amnesty bill tell the public that they oppose amnesty.

But what is their definition?

The Chaffetz/Kratovil bill takes away the wiggle room.

First, it says Congress should not "legalize, grant amnesty for, or confere any other legal status condoning the otherwise unlawful entry or presence in the United States of any individual."

And then to make it even more clear what the signer thinks should happen to illegal aliens, it calls for mandatory use of E-Verify by every employer for every employee so that none of the illegal aliens can keep their jobs and support themselves in this country.

Friends, this resolution is a promise with teeth.

We will soon find out which Members of Congress were faking it the last few years in promising us that they wouldn't vote for an amnesty.

http://www.numbersusa.com/content/nusab ... tid=243939

ROY BECK is Founder & CEO of NumbersUSA

Views and opinions expressed in blogs on this website are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect official policies of NumbersUSA.

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