Thread: Dianne Feinstein to push guest worker bill

The pro illegal hag is at it again. Click the link to find out the story:
http://www.fresnobee.com/business/story/119626.html

Feinstein to push guest-worker billSenator to assure that farm legislation is a priority in today's Fresno appearance.By Michael Doyle / Bee Washington Bureau08/23/07 01:23:48
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WASHINGTON -- Get ready for another ride on the immigration roller coaster.

Today, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein will be assuring a San Joaquin Valley audience that Congress will once more take up a big agricultural guest-worker bill. A top priority for Valley farmers, the bill soon could resurface on Capitol Hill.

"Agriculture is going to push this thing," Manuel Cunha, president of the Fresno-based Nisei Farmers League, said Wednesday.

The agricultural guest-worker package is getting its second wind two months after comprehensive immigration reform collapsed in the Senate. It still faces very steep odds. However, political optimists can sketch out a scenario for snatching success from seeming defeat.

Dubbed AgJobs, the legislation first introduced in September 2003 culminated years of negotiations among farmers and the United Farm Workers. It would offer legal residency, and eventually U.S. citizenship, to 1.5 million illegal immigrants now working in agriculture. It also would streamline an existing guest-worker program.

Step one in the plan for passage calls for farmers and their allies to emphasize anew the dangers of losing an agricultural work force.

One-third or more of U.S. farmworkers are in this country illegally, according to conventional estimates.

"You can't pick peaches or operate a canning plant if you don't have the people," Cunha said.

An active player in immigration negotiations, Cunha will be watching Feinstein's appearance today at Fresno's Sunnyside Country Club. Recently, Cunha took part in an immigration conference call with White House officials who are maneuvering in their own way.

Step two relies on the latest promise by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that he will help pass an agricultural guest-worker bill this year. With Senate floor time limited, and the legislative calendar running out, a commitment like this becomes essential.

"I am committed to doing something about AgJobs," Reid declared in late July, in response to Feinstein's questions. "I hope we can do something soon."

Revealing one potential but controversial new tactic, Reid specified he "will do everything" he can to include the agricultural guest-worker package as part of a larger farm bill. The House already has passed its version of a farm bill, without immigration provisions.

The Senate will take up the issue next.

But with billions of dollars of agricultural subsidies at stake, the farm bill has a political constituency that may be hesitant about getting bogged down in immigration.

"There are some issues that are going to require some major amending before we will be agreeable to bringing that bill up on the farm bill," Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia cautioned during debate.

If the farm bill doesn't work out as a vehicle, Reid added, he will try to bring up the 109-page agricultural guest-worker bill as a "freestanding" bill or perhaps attach it to something else.

"There is no industry in the United States that faces the crisis agriculture does right now," Feinstein declared.

Step three in the AgJobs game plan relies on employer anxiety over a new Bush administration plan for cracking down on companies that hire illegal immigrants. Two weeks ago, the White House announced plans to send out tens of thousands of so-called "no-match" letters.

These letters will notify employers that an employee's name and Social Security number don't match government records. Potentially, employers could be fined for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. More than one agricultural lobbyist believes the White House hopes that angry business leaders will now lean on Congress to change the immigration laws.

"I think that's going to increase the motivation," Cunha said.

Thirty senators currently co-sponsor the AgJobs bill, although Feinstein said she believes she has the 60 votes needed to overcome a potential filibuster. Even so, the House would then have to approve its own version of the bill, which is something that Reps. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, and George Radanovich, R-Mariposa, have urged House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to do.
The reporter can be reached at mdoyle@mcclatchydc.com or (202) 383-0006.

Article stated in part:

Step three in the AgJobs game plan relies on employer anxiety over a new Bush administration plan for cracking down on companies that hire illegal immigrants. Two weeks ago, the White House announced plans to send out tens of thousands of so-called "no-match" letters.

These letters will notify employers that an employee's name and Social Security number don't match government records. Potentially, employers could be fined for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. More than one agricultural lobbyist believes the White House hopes that angry business leaders will now lean on Congress to change the immigration laws.

"I think that's going to increase the motivation," Cunha said.


The loophole in this is that the Social Security Administration has laws that says it can't give out private information to anyone, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. Thus, they employers aren't going to be in any jeopardy until they can get that ironed out IF EVER.

The administration knew that, but they didn't count on FOX NEWS to bring it to light today by William La Jeunesse.

i have too be sorry for all you people who live in calif. oops mexyfornia. they are taking your state over and your own government isn't doing aNYTHING. FEINSEIN IS A JOKE, SHE IS ONE OF THE RICHEST WOMEN IN CONGRESS. SHE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE ORDINARY AMERICAN who has too go too work everyday and pay his morgage. you all better wake up and get involved. we all are being sold out lock stock and barrel

Originally Posted by johnp

i have too be sorry for all you people who live in calif. oops mexyfornia. they are taking your state over and your own government isn't doing aNYTHING. FEINSEIN IS A JOKE, SHE IS ONE OF THE RICHEST WOMEN IN CONGRESS. SHE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE ORDINARY AMERICAN who has too go too work everyday and pay his morgage. you all better wake up and get involved. we all are being sold out lock stock and barrel

You got that right johnP (Welcome). Pelosi is also very wealthy with mult-million dollar holdings in the wine business. Guess who picks her grapes. No the Dems are big business too.

Originally Posted by johnp

i have too be sorry for all you people who live in calif. oops mexyfornia. they are taking your state over and your own government isn't doing aNYTHING. FEINSEIN IS A JOKE, SHE IS ONE OF THE RICHEST WOMEN IN CONGRESS. SHE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE ORDINARY AMERICAN who has too go too work everyday and pay his morgage. you all better wake up and get involved. we all are being sold out lock stock and barrel

It's so true and we're stuck w/this traitorous hag for FIVE MORE YEARS!
AAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggg ggggggggggghhhh!