Thread: US Senate Convenes (9:33am ET) - Getting Starting

Fatboy speaks...


We do need a GW program, the real issue is size of the program.

Mentions H2b (seasonal program) - modest increase.

H1b Visa - 150k to 180k increase

Total increase to about 300k

Safe to say about 500k are able to jump border and land jobs here.

That is reason for current number in legislation.

Council of Economic Advisors say level should be close to 1 million.

(comments on Bingaman's proposal - cautious approach to beginning program with modest numbers, etc)

He did not support this last year, but wants to commend him for good presentation and thoughtful idea. He doesn't tend to support it.


Mentions time set for voting (2pm ET).


Yields to Specter...


Specter speaks...

Re: "Grand Compromise".. we thought figure (GWs) was correct.

Bill proposed had great deal of give-take.


No doubt, we are facing substantial criticism - even before the bill was printed. Even after people had a chance to read it. A great of analysis done at the present time [!!!]

Do we have a problem? We have a border that is porous. We have anarchy in imm. system at present. Critics say proposed idea is amnesty.
It is not: people are fined, ahave to learn English,

But fact is - the 12 mil. IAs will be here whether we pass this or not.
It is not practical to deport 12 mil people.

Outlines steps in apprehending, deporting...

At least we would move toward regulation.
Implementing border security. - By fencing, obstacles, sensors, etc.

It is not possible to structure it to stop all border jumps.

Mentions employer sanctions - can be done.

Eliminates 'magnet' of illegal employment.

Preconditions to having GW program, or processing 12 IAs.
Since 1986 reform, no leg. have enforced the law.

Ideas offered to more to enforcement. We have some structure here.
Is bill an improvement ? yes.
Will there be a better time to improve the system? no.

After this, then we focus on appropriations process.
If not now, then never.

Re: Bingaman amendment his preference is to stick with bill.
Hopes ti will be approved.

[blah, - importance of GWs in our economy...]

Yields floor...


Sen Whitehouse (D-RI) has floor...

Thanks fellow senators.

Rises in opposition to Grassley amend S1166.
(revocation of Visa)

No redress for Fed Judicial review.

PhredE wrote:

We do need a GW program, the real issue is size of the program.

Mentions H2b (seasonal program) - modest increase.

H1b Visa - 150k to 180k increase

Total increase to about 300k

Safe to say about 500k are able to jump border and land jobs here.

That is reason for current number in legislation.

Notice how he failed to mention the H-2A visa program which is for agricultural workers. There is no limit to the number of agricultural workers than can come to his country under the H-2A visa program. The farmers don't like to use it because of cost and benefit requirements (got to have cheap labor). I believe the current cap on the H-2B program is 66,000.

[Senate break / transcriber break]

Originally Posted by PhredE

Fatboy speaks...

Safe to say about 500k are able to jump border and land jobs here.

That is reason for current number in legislation.

That was my favorite part. That kind of logic is what will give Big Business the cheap labor they want, and will continue to bone the U.S. worker.

If 500k robberies occur every year I guess 500k people need to leave their houses and cars open and greet them on the way in so they use the front door and not the backdoor. That is insane thinking.

Thanks for the comments everyone.

While I'm here keystroking, you can be calling!

Call early and call often! (do some for me wouldya?)

Thanx,

PhE

PS. Please forgive me if I am not able to respond to each comment you leave here - just not enough time....

Originally Posted by PhredE

Thanks for the comments everyone.

While I'm here keystroking, you can be calling!

Call early and call often! (do some for me wouldya?)

Thanx,

PhE

PS. Please forgive me if I am not able to respond to each comment you leave here - just not enough time....

I was e-mailing and faxing vets to try to get them invloved while watching GREAT JOB PHRED!!

Thanx Sosad!

Deliberations resume...


Sen Nelson (D-FL) has floor...

Speaks on WH nomination - [unrelated to immigration/current debate]

Yields floor...

Clerk calls roll...

[Note during pause here - remember folks, that you can also mention in your calls whether or not to support these individual amendments to the main bill as well. For example, both the Grassley and Bingaman amendments look preferable from our perspective - although, to be honest, adequate time is needed to study the text in detail. But, on the face of things, it probably would be ok to urge senators to support both of these (and maybe future) amendments... my 0.02 cents -PhE]

Resumes...


Sen Brownback (R-KS) has floor...


I'm glad were addressing immigration issue.

(Outlines previous involvement..)

Is a difficult issue. We are a nation of justice and compassion.

We think there are 12 mil IAs in US.

Since 1995 Illegal arrivals has outnumbered legal arrivals.

Some people think solution : amnesty as in 1986 - that won't work.
Other people think deportation is solution. this won't work.


DRO - Detentio and Removal Office - 6700 employees chaged with removal.

ICE - Removal 180k+ in 2006 from US. 28 deported per DRO empl. / yr.

It will take 25+ years under current system of finding/deporting IAs here.

We need to solve this problem NOW.

Current bill goes a long way to addressing current problems now

Multifaceted approach needed - compromise in current bill, but does have some flaws - which I'd like to change (to see if I can support final product or not).

1. Border security must be done - was absent in 1986

2. Trigger conditions must be inplace BEFORE allowing GWs in under program.

(lists trigger conditions...)

The details really matter - nat'l strategy for security in bill.

[lists SLATED improvement - not funded ones]


We have to focus on what happens on workplace - must be 'smart and tough'. Must reduce magnet of illegal employment.

Increasing penalties of employers who knowingly hire.
SS admin to share info with DHS.
Secure ID
Electronic verification of employee auth. to work.

Will reduce - doc. fraud.


Most sig change in bill policy:

Toward Merit-based system. Educ. should be a factor.
Educ, employment, English, family -

Current bill ends extended chain migration (ok for immediate family, but extended not desired). We should blindly support extended family preference.

Temp GW program - need to reform imm. system; esp to address legal way to come to US to work.

Requires employers to advertise jobs,
" to provide prevailing wage levels,
Preventing GWs from working in areas which have high Unemployment.


Needs improvement:

Section 6 - Probationary benefits/status; background check and processing - tends to assume 'best-case' scenario. Provides benefits up-front, not AFTER.

Problem in 9/11 view - not wise.
No evidence DHS can accomplish large number of background checks.
Background checks - more than 1 business day is needed to do check correctly.

Bill should require follow-up checks in extended Z visa in following years.

Should have removal proceedings for ineligible Z visa applicants.

from bill..."Nothing shall require DHS to begin removal proceedings''
(very problematic)

2 Reasons:

Separate those with good vs. bad intentions.

Provide a legal status

When found ineliglbe - they should be removed.!

Bill is not perfect and needs amending.

Yields floor...


Sen Obama speaks...

Asks for time upcoming...

Last year, spoke at marches in Chicago - saw diverse people in group.
(blah, blah) What I know is, these are people we should embrace.

We can and should be able to fix our broken immigration system - in an 'American' way.

The bill here is a fine first step - but strongly believe it needs changes.

I believe we must enact tough and practical reforms.

We must respect the humanity of blue-collar workers, students, etc.

We are a nation of immigrants, and must respect that history.

We must fix the system that does not revisit problem in 20 years, we must fix border security, workplace enforcement.

We must also address factors that push workers here.

With regard, to 12 mill IAs, we must create and earned path to c-ship.

By supporting earned path that illegal entry must go unpunished.

It is wrong and must be punished.

[Blah, sob about plight of IAs...]

I am heartended by agreement we've made so far, applauds those who have ade compromise.


Problems with current bill:

> Mandatory with employment verification status.
Needs to have DHS input, involvement. The current one gives DHS too much power to screening everyone.

> GW program: proposes 400k/yr, at end of temp status, at end of 1st 3yrs, only tiny fraction would be allowed to stay. Sets us up for failure in future - many will try to stay illegally. I will support Bingaman amend.
and workers should have chance to stay though.

> Point-system is most troubling to him. Doesn't value family ties.
Refers to Australia, Canada -we need to consider more than economics.
Need more emphasis on family; no preference to someone that has a US citizens relative. It is wrong.

> Also places job skills over work ethic. He is offering an Amendment to remove arbitrary points awarded, more emphasis on family ties.
If it goes forward, then result should be studied after that fact - say in 5yrs.

Summary - we must construct a product that has broad bipart support, and time is now to fix broken system.

Yields floor...