Vulnerable Dems Tell Leadership to Avoid Amnesty in 2010
Vulnerable Democrats Tell Leadership to Avoid Amnesty in 2010
On Wednesday, November 4, The Hill ran an article indicating that moderate Congressional Democrats who may be vulnerable in the upcoming 2010 midterm elections "want their leaders to skip the party's controversial legislative agenda for next year to help save their seats in Congress." The Hill noted that these vulnerable Democrats "don't want to be forced to vote on...immigration reform...which they say should be set aside so Congress can focus on jobs and the economy." (The Hill, November 4, 2009). These comments all reflect the feelings of the American people who, with the national unemployment rate now above ten percent for the first time in 26 years (Bureau of Labor Statistics, November 6, 2009), are adamantly opposed to "comprehensive immigration reform" - Democratic Leadership's euphemism for granting amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.
The Hill article quoted several Democrats who may be vulnerable in 2010 as expressing reluctance with taking up amnesty legislation with the economy and unemployment in its current state. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) stated: "[T]he most important issue in front of us is the economy right now, and that's where most of us really want to stay focused, the economy and jobs, that's what our constituency is concerned about." Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC), a moderate Democrat who is considering challenging Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) in 2010, said that "[t]hree things ought to be the top priority: jobs, jobs and jobs." Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) echoed Etheridge's sentiments: "[J]obs should be our top priority and we shouldn't do anything that detracts from that." (The Hill).
The Hill piece noted that "[s]ome Democrats are worried the [Democrats'] ambitious agenda could make winning reelection [in 2010] that much harder," adding that "[o]ne Democratic senator facing election in a Republican-leaning state said he does not want to see the issue of...immigration reform...on next year's agenda." The article went on: "A group of vulnerable Democratic lawmakers see...immigration reform as [a] desperation pass[] down the length of the political playing field. They acknowledge that healthcare reform may very well pass, but they say...immigration reform [has] dim prospects." (Id.).
The Democrat leading the charge for amnesty in the Senate, however, does not appear to sympathize with the concerns of his colleagues. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Immigration Subcommittee, told reporters on Tuesday, November 3 that amnesty "is still on the agenda for the 111th Congress." The Hill noted that "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has called immigration reform his No. 3 priority after healthcare reform and global climate change legislation." (Id.). It is curious that Reid, who is also up for re-election in 2010, has chosen to place such an emphasis on amnesty: Data released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics in October indicate that the unemployment rate in Reid's home state of Nevada is one of the highest in the country at 13.3 percent. (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
http://www.rightsidenews.com/2009110972 ... -2009.html
