Thread: Lou Dobbs interviews Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)

Senator Cornyn, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, tells Lou Dobbs he will vote against ending debate on any immigration bill which includes an amnesty program, or doesn't provide "border security". That means Cornyn would filibuster the current Judiciary Committee bill for example, which contains a liberal Guest Worker Program.

it takes 60 Senators to over-ride a filibuster. The House has already passed a tougher immigration bill with no Guest Worker program. Senator Cornyn certainly stands by what he says!

From the program transcript at cnn.com:
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DOBBS: This weekend, during our SPECIAL REPORT from Cancun, we asked you to vote on our poll. That question -- who do you believe has the greatest influence over U.S. immigration policy? The results were overwhelming. Seventy-five percent of you responding that corporate America, in your judgment, has the greatest influence on U.S. immigration policy.

Interestingly enough, only four percent said President Bush himself.

The Senate is only days away from its vote on immigration reform. If things go as it now appears they will. Congress granted amnesty to illegal aliens back in 1986, despite warnings it would only encourage more illegal immigration. Senator Ted Kennedy as much as acknowledged the impact of the last amnesty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: In the 1980s, the rate of illegal immigration was 40,000 people a year. Today it's half a million.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOBBS: And that is a conservative estimate. Joining me now is Senator John Cornyn. We appreciate you being here, senator.

You met today with the liaison and Karl Rove over at the White House. What did you-all figure out?

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R-TX), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: Well, I'm not sure we figured out much. Other than that it's important that this debate provide an opportunity for people of -- with all sorts of different views to express those views, to file amendments, to have a full debate, and then to vote.

If there was a pressure to prematurely jam this bill through, I think there are going to be an awful lot of frustrated senators. And I think the country will have been denied the full and fair debate we really need in order to try to build a national consensus.

DOBBS: I have said on this broadcast, senator, as you know, something that probably resonates with you, because you and Senator Kyl put together, what I consider to be, at least, personally, the most sensible legislation advanced. I'm not suggesting it's perfect or -- nothing ever is. But it seems to me to be the most practical and sensible and rational legislation.

But I've said here, how in the world can our Congress and our Senate even talk about reforming immigration if the United States government can't control immigration and how in the world can we control immigration if we can't first establish secure boarders? Can you tell me what's wrong with that logic?

CORNYN: I think your logic is -- is perfect. The truth is, that the federal government has a credibility problem when it comes to our commitment to deal with the issue of illegal immigration. We are a nation of immigrants, obviously. We're proud of it. We've all come from somewhere, but we're also a nation of laws.

Frankly, the American people were sold a bill of goods in 1986 with the amnesty, which everyone acknowledges is a failure, and I thin they do not want to be fooled again.

DOBBS: Well, when I hear about Senator Cornyn, Senator Kyl going up to meet with Senator Frist, with Karl Rove and the White House liaison, congressional liaison, I get a little concerned, because I know what they're about. What they're about is a guest-worker program, it's full amnesty.

This is the same group of people who have the president mouthing the words, willing workers and willing employees when they're talking about importing poverty from Mexico. They are talking about the desperate need in this country for illegal alien work forces when in point of fact nothing could be farther from the truth.

They're talking about we need uneducated illegal aliens brought into this country illegally, obviously, to replace aging baby boomers who are highly educated, highly affluent, and highly productive. How in the world did we get to such a distorted mess based on this debate?

DOBBS: Well, it was simply neglect over the last 20 years, and the federal government failed to step up and do the employer verification, employer sanctions, and you rightly point out that the solution is not a repetition of what happened then but, rather, something different: border security, interior enforcement, work site verification.

Ultimately, I think, everyone recognizes that the final solution here is going to be worked out in a conference committee, once the Senate passes a bill and tries to work out its differences with the House, which as you know, took a different and more focused approach on border security.

But, surely, we can rise to the challenge here and surely we can come up with something that reflects our values, both as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.

DOBBS: That may be true. But there is no -- can you tell us, Senator, I mean, where is the indication that there's any rationality or honesty in this debate. I mean, you have, for crying out loud, the president of the United States mouthing these aphorisms that are unconnected to reality, willing workers and working employees.

We're watching corporate America dominating both the Democratic and the Republican parties and exploiting illegal labor. We're watching labor unions seeking more illegal aliens into this country, and the principal people who are hurt by this are working men and women in this country, and particularly at the lowest-income levels.

CORNYN: What I find in my state, Lou, in the great state of Texas, talking to my constituents, one-third of whom are Hispanic. Many of them feel most in jeopardy because they are legal immigrants, but yet, they are competing with jobs with people who come to the country in violation of the laws and people who are willing to work for less money. So they drive down their wages. So this is something that crosses ethnic and other lines, and should cross across party lines and challenge us to rise to our very best.

DOBBS: There have been threats of filibusters. Let me ask you this -- I'll ask you only to speak for yourself, rather than your co- sponsor of the legislation. Are you going to demand border security, real border security, and why should anyone have any faith in anything this administration or this congress says about enforcing the law when this administration and this congress has tolerated the United States government ignoring every law on immigration and border security?

CORNYN: Well, I'm certainly not going to vote for any cloture on any bill or close off debate or vote for any bill that provides an amnesty, that does not step up and provide border security, which is national security.

And which doesn't require bona fide verification of eligibility of prospective workers at the workplace and sanctions for those who hire people illegally. I think otherwise we are just going through the motions and really not serious. And I'm serious about trying to find a solution to this problem.

DOBBS: How about -- let me ask you just a crazy idea. How about making it a felony for an employer to hire illegal aliens?

CORNYN: Lou, there was three -- I think three employer-sanction cases in the 20 years since 1986. And the reason why employers say they are unable to determine eligibility is because OF fake documents that are presented by prospective workers.

And laws that prohibit those employers from asking whether that person is bona fide holder of those cards. You know, there's just so many problems with the status quo that I don't think all the blame is -- can be placed fairly at the feet of any certain group. But frankly, I think there's a lot of people that share that blame.

DOBBS: You and I certainly agree on that, Senator Cornyn. And we appreciate you being here. We look forward to watching the process, no matter how displeasing on occasion and frustrating that process may be. We look forward to representation on Capitol Hill working for the working men and women in this company. Are you hopeful it will happen?

CORNYN: I am hopeful, and we hope it will happen. We are trying to help. We're actually trying to move things in the direction I think that you and I and the rest of the country would be proud of.

DOBBS: Well you and Senator Kyl have got an interesting stake in this. It will be fascinating to watch. Senator Cornyn, thanks for being here.

CORNYN: Thanks, Lou.

Welcome to ALIPAC Illegals Out Now.

W

Thanks - I'm normally an independent however I believe Senator Cornyn, Rep. Tom Tancredo and other supporters of the House bill do have have the best interests of the country in mind. That goes for Lou Dobbs as well.

However Senator McCain, Kennedy and the "Guest Worker" supporters in the Senate are clearly catering mostly to big business and agricultural interests. American voters soon figure that out, and if the "Guest Worker" bill becomes law that will probably be reflected as a negative for Republicans running for Congress in the November elections.

Also immigration could be the biggest issue of this century for America - this may be only the beginning!

I wouldn't put too much faith in Cornyn; he has been back and forth on this issue.

Forgive me my cynicism -

I am glad someone is talking - that's always a good thing. The media and politicians have pretended it didn't exist for so many years.

While we do say a thanks to anyone who steps up and speaks out - we need to make sure they aren't pulling a 'good cop - bad cop' routine on us here.

I am from Texas. This senator knows that Texas has been hip-deep in this problem for about 20 years. Why has he been so silent on it for so long???

Yes, let's hope they get something done - the right something.

Let's be sure they aren't just going to filibuster it - and then say 'Well, we tried, but we can't do anything about it until after elections.:

I personally think we need to clean house, all of them except Tancredo. Tancredo has been stepping up to the plate and taking the hits for a very long time. I am less impressed with those that are willing to come out now when it is a little safer.

BUT - definitely, if something isn't done that includes prosecution of employers, beginning deportation, some solution to the children born here, and absolute control of the border - and absolutely NO guest worker program, they are out of here.

If they can't get that done - they need to go - everyone of them - except Tancredo.

it takes 60 Senators to over-ride a filibuster. The House has already passed a tougher immigration bill with no Guest Worker program. Senator Cornyn certainly stands by what he says!

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for Cornyn to do anything. He is up and down like a yo yo and he was one of the FIRST to PROPOSE a guest worker program. I think the pressure is on him and he wants to look good but he's just as much a globalist at heart as the rest. He is a first termer, I believe (I am not a native Texan) and he would like to keep his job. I have personally written him MANY letters asking him why he would turn his back on the people who voted for him knowing that 80% of them are against illegal immigration.

Originally Posted by illegals_out_now

Senator Cornyn, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, tells Lou Dobbs he will vote against ending debate on any immigration bill which includes an amnesty program, or doesn't provide "border security". That means Cornyn would filibuster the current Judiciary Committee bill for example, which contains a liberal Guest Worker Program.

it takes 60 Senators to over-ride a filibuster. The House has already passed a tougher immigration bill with no Guest Worker program. Senator Cornyn certainly stands by what he says!

From the program transcript at cnn.com:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[...]
CORNYN: Well, I'm certainly not going to vote for any cloture on any bill or close off debate or vote for any bill that provides an amnesty, that does not step up and provide border security, which is national security.

And which doesn't require bona fide verification of eligibility of prospective workers at the workplace and sanctions for those who hire people illegally. I think otherwise we are just going through the motions and really not serious. And I'm serious about trying to find a solution to this problem.

Cornyn might vote for a bill that grants amnesty to illegal aliens. See above.

I think Cronyn is talking out of both sides of his mouth.

It is good he is saying something - but the criteria for keeping them in office should not be if they SAID anything, but did they get the job done.

I would exempt Tancredo from that as he has been tryin to do something for years now.

The rest all all just electineering - and that don't get the job done. Our elected official should be doing what is right all the time - not just when they are fearful of the votes.

V.O.T.E. - Vote Out The Encumbents

Encumbents

Is there any such word? Now you are gonna drive me nuts until I find out. LOL