amnesty

amnesty, Political wind

The pro-amnesty, pro-sanctuary Senate Republicans

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Fellow Republicans booed several Senators last week back in their home states when they spoke about the immigration legislation moving through Congress. They will continue the debate back in Washington this week and the Washington Times points out those Republicans are a little hard of hearing:

Judging by what took place in the first hours of the Senate immigration debate last week, critics are deluding themselves if they expect lawmakers to improve the bill when debate resumes after the Memorial Day recess.
…
Sen. Norm Coleman a moderate Minnesota Republican who cannot possibly be termed “anti-immigrant” or a “bomb thrower” introduced an amendment aimed at closing the notorious “sanctuary city” loophole that cities and states are using to avoid compliance with federal immigration law… With all the talk we’ve heard for close to six years from politicians on the right and left about the importance of being able to “connect the dots” in order to thwart terrorist attacks, Mr. Coleman’s amendment should have passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Instead… Mr. Menendez and Sen. Edward Kennedy defeated Mr. Coleman’s amendment by a 49-48 vote, with eight Republicans Sens. Pete Domenici (New Mexico), Chuck Hagel (Nebraska), Dick Lugar (Indiana), Mel Martinez (Florida), Olympia Snowe (Maine); Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania), George Voinovich (Ohio) and Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) joining 41 Democrats in opposition [emphasis added mine].
…
Sens. David Vitter, Louisiana Republican, and Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican, offered an amendment striking amnesty from the bill. Messrs. DeMint and Vitter sensibly warned that the Senate bill repeats the mistake of the 1986 amnesty. But their amendment was defeated 66-29: Forty-three Democrats voted for legalization, compared to nine voting against it. Disappointingly, twenty-five Republicans, among them prominent lawmakers like Sens. Jon Kyl, John Cornyn and Mitch McConnell, were on the pro-legalization side compared to 20 Republicans who voted no.

Contact your representatives and boo louder.

amnesty

Andy McCarthy speaks for me about immigration reform

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Like him, I need proof, not promises:

If I thought the proposed legalization was really one time only, and that we had figured out a good way to separate the good, decent people from the terrorists, gang-bangers and assorted felons, I’d get beyond my hesitation (and probably my better judgment) to make accommodations for those millions to continue to work hard and enjoy a better life with their families — like my immigrant ancestors got to do. I’d rationalize that it was the humane thing to do even if it might not be the smartest thing to do. But I need, up front, to be confident it is not a ruinous thing to do.