Immigration Reform: Too Controversial for Congress
It appears that immigration reform or any controversial issue will be placed on the back shelf for a long time, especially since these are the issues that won’t win re-election. What? You mean addressing the topic of illegal immigration won’t win re-election…at least, that is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s logic. Pelosi promised her fellow Democrats in the House that they will not address controversial issues unless the Senate acts first. When Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) introduced an immigration bill recently, Pelosi wouldn’t allow the chance for this bill to be heard. It seems to me that Pelosi is more focused on protecting her precious Speaker of the House position, don’t you think?
Ruben Navarette addressed this issue in a recent Real Clear Politics article, where he took Pelosi and Virginia’s own Gerry Connolly to task on their avoidance of addressing illegal immigration. Connolly hailed Pelosi for her stances on avoiding the controversial issues, such as immigration reform.
The Hill quoted Rep. Gerry Connolly, president of the freshman class of representatives, as being in agreement with Pelosi’s abdication of leadership. Connolly said that “freshmen, particularly, are not enamored of the idea of being asked to walk the plank” on a controversial issue such as immigration reform.
Of course, we know Connolly has never seriously addressed immigration reform, especially while he was Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. In fact, he chided Prince William County Chairman Corey Stewart on the way he handled illegal immigration. To date, Stewart’s reforms have been successful.
If Connolly is speaking on behalf of the freshman class, I wonder what Tom Perriello and Glenn Nye must be thinking about Pelosi’s decision to avoid controversy to win elections. We, the People, elected our Congressional representatives to advocate and work on our behalf addressing issues of importance, albeit controversial or not. Perhaps, it is time to send representation to Washington that will not be afraid to address both controversial and basic issues with common sense.
Category: Government
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In my opinion, Ben Loyola is the only candidate running in Virginia who is uniquely qualified to address immigration. During a recent campaign event, he related his story about his family escaping Castro’s Cuba, immigrating to the US and then facing overwhelming odds to become a legal citizen. As the Republican campaign moves into the Primary season, immigration is a topic that all candidates should address, as it is an important factor in our economy, health care and our standard of living.
OK, I’ve waited for others to get the ball rolling but it has not happened. Let me start the conversation.
What fool would attempt to push for immigration reform during the current times of high unemployment? Would we propose making illegal immigrants who can not find a job citizens so that they can join us in the unemployment lines and qualify for those very expensive unemployment benefits?
Who do you think is standing in front and the back of you in the unemployment lines? Illegals are part of our nation’s economic problems, not to mention that they will now be covered by one of the health care bills which will be negotiated between the House and the Senate.
Aletha,
Illegals do not receive unemployment benefits nor would they be covered in the health care bill. There was some discussion that they could participate in the health care exchanges that are being created, however they would only be allowed to use them to PURCHASE insurance without any of the subsidies citizens receive. I am not sure exactly what happened on that (I personally oppose it for reasons I will not go into). They would continue to be able to go to emergency rooms to obtain free treatment just like they already can do right now.
David, the House version allows it, the Senate doesn’t. Where it winds up is anyone’s guess
David,
A time of high unemployment would be a GOOD time to push for immigration reform, if it were the proper reform. Proper reform would secure the borders, deport those who are flouting our immigration laws AND, most importantly, punish companies who are inviting illegal immigration by employing illegal immigrants to undercut the wages of American workers. Those American companies are as much to blame..no, more to blame .. for our immigration problems as the illegal immigrants themselves.