Administration, Desperate To Get Something Passed, Turns To Immigration

In the midst of all the talk surrounding the use of the budget reconciliation [*] process to pass healthcare reform, the Obama administration is turning to immigration reform in hopes of getting something (anything!) passed before the midterm elections.

The basis of a bill would include a path toward citizenship for the 10.8 million people living in the U.S. illegally. Citizenship would not be granted lightly, the White House said. Undocumented workers would need to register, pay taxes and pay a penalty for violating the law. Failure to comply might result in deportation.

Note the “might”. I am giddy with anticipation at the prospect that lawbreakers “might” be punished.

Democrats are having trouble finding Republican support for the bill. Of course, this is being framed as more “party of no” nonsense. The real reason there’s no Republican support is that the proposed bill does nothing to deal with the underlying immigration issues that Republicans care about. Effectively granting illegals citizenship doens’t discourage illegal immigration. I especially like the bit in the article about charging them a fine. Most illegals came here with nothing and many of them still have nothing. Where are they going to get the money to pay fines? No doubt a program would be set up to assist them with this. More welfare.

The purpose of this bill is simply to shore up support in a latino community that, along with every other group promised a truckload of rainbows and unicorns hope and change, is starting to get restless with an administration that is unable to get anything done despite having every conceivable advantage.
Immigration reform should come in two forms: exporting illegal immigrants and making it easier for legal immigration to take place. Empower federal, state, and local authorities to arrest illegals when they are discovered. Allow businesses to report them when they are discovered during background checks. Deport them quickly. Ease the process for legal immigration, especially for those that posess a useful skill. Welfare seekers should be turned away. Those that want to come to America and contribute to their communities and the nation in general should be welcome. Those that don’t shouldn’t. It really should be that simple.

Craft a bill around those principles and it should be easy to find Republicans who will vote for it.


[*] A quick aside: I’ve noticed that Democrats are winning at least one small skirmish in the healthcare fight. What has long been known as the “budget reconciliation process” is now routinely being referred to without the “budget”. I think it’s important to note that the tool being discussed by the Democrats was designed to bypass gridlock over budgets, in order to ensure that goverment could continue to function. That it is being used for healtcare “reform” is something that should be getting more attention.

(Crossposted from Say Anything)