Amnesty update: Feinstein/Craig illegal alien farmworker measure “jettisoned”…for now
Last night, I told you about the GOP letter to Harry Reid pressuring the Dems to strip the Feinstein/Craig illegal alien farmworker amnesty from the Iraq emergency supplemental appropriations bil.
Sometime in the wee hours of the morning, it happened:
President George W. Bush’s request to fund U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan until his successor can take office hit a rocky patch in the Senate.
Democratic leaders were forced to jettison provisions to award work permits for immigrant farm labor and seasonal workers just hours after beginning debate Tuesday on legislation to add domestic programs to President Bush’s war request.
Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, kept companion legislation to fund the war waiting in the wings in an attempt to gain leverage over the White House and Senate Republicans. But it was not at all clear that Reid’s strategy would work, given the Senate’s unwieldy rules.
At the same time, the White House renewed its veto threat, reminding everyone involved that the trouble-filled path to Senate passage is but one more step in an even more hard-to-figure battle.
Reid brought up the domestic add-ons in an unusual move designed to win their adoption — over opposition from the White House and GOP conservatives — before turning to legislation providing $165 billion (€106 billion) to conduct military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan into next spring….
…Reid has signaled he wants the non-war extras to get a vote before the war funding itself, but it’s a high-wire strategy.
“It is going to be extremely difficult for us to get from where we are today to completing this legislation,” Reid said.
Senate Republicans seemed to suggest they’ll let the add-ons advance to a Bush veto rather than filibustering them this week. A key vote on letting the bill advance looms Thursday, just as senators will be eager to leave Washington for the weeklong Memorial Day recess.
Opposition to the Feinstein/Craig provision came from open-borders Democrat Robert Menendez, who complained that the mass amnesty didn’t do enough for illegal aliens:
the Senate’s rules left some non-spending add-ons like the immigrant labor provisions vulnerable, by allowing any senator to knock them out on a procedural move.
Sen. Robert Menendez, a Democrat, objected to the immigrant farm labor provision, added to the measure at a hearing last week by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, and Larry Craig, a Republican. It would allow almost 1.4 million immigrant farm workers to stay in the United States for up to five years to ease a shortage of farm workers that has left some crops rotting in the fields.
Menendez’ move also killed a measure by Sens. Barbara Mikulski, a Democrat and Judd Gregg, a Republican, to extend an expired program to allow seasonal workers to return to the country using H-2B visas.
A spokesman said Menendez acted because the two immigration provisions were tilted in favor of businesses while doing too little to help immigrant workers.
Be sure to read the detailed analysis of the Feinstein/Craig measure from Numbers USA here.
Keep the pressure on. You’re making a difference.
Amnesty: It won’t stay dead.
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Operative words here are “for now.”
No worries, it’ll be back in some other configuration. Just give it time. And when the Dem’s have control over Pres., Senate and House, gonna pass for sure.
.
This kettle has to heat up some more before coming to a boil.
for now.
Yeah, it’s dead for today but who knows what tomorrow brings.
Make no mistake about this, the socialists will keep wanting these items passed. Go to the Numbers USA website, call your federal representatives and push, push, push! Make noise and be seen.
I guess there is not enough give aways and include enough illegals for Senator “my ethnicity above the interests of the US” menendez.
That’s the problem MM it won’t stay dead! I don’t even think silver bullets would help keep it dead.
TREASON comes to mind.
Menendez never returns the usual form response on anything I send to him regarding Illegal Immigration now I know why. Hopefully we can get him out of NJ he wasn’t voted in anyway thank you Corozine!
can somebody please explain to me what part of Hell No Amnesty
don’t they understand . U am thinking about sending Difi a brick to use for the wall i am just afraid i might end up throwing it through her sf office window.
I’m glad someone came to their senses, but I fear that this is only temporary.
This is insanity and unfortunately - our tax dollars at work.
You think with farmers getting 50 billion dollars in subsidies, they would be able to pay decent wages which would then in turn, attract workers of a citizen standing.
Keep up the pressure. It’s working
Looks like they didn’t try too hard. Might be just a ruse to pander to Hispanics and get campaign contributions. It is said politicians often bring up hot button issues like abortion and gun control merely because the campaign contributions roll in afterwards, as predictable as the tides.
OPA! This is like the terrorists though. We can win 99% of the time with little significance, but if they win once, it’s a big deal.
And the libtards say Conservatism is dead. BAH! So, this is 4-0 with another victory for our side, yes?
These attempts will continue to be the norm until the elitist are removed from office.
Good news. Feinstein and co. need to learn that they are there to act as representatives for American citizens, not illegal aliens.
No truer words have been written.
So if McCain is president, will we still be able to stop it?
what am i missing? It doesn’t seem like the “pressure worked” to me. The way i read it we just got lucky that Menendez complained the amnesty didn’t do enough for illegal aliens. If not for that then our lazy senators were willing to let it go to the President so they could get on with their holiday weekend. Did i fail reading comprehension?
Silkyinfamous, # 13, said: ” You [would] think with farmers getting 50 billion dollars in subsidies, they would be able to pay decent wages which would then in turn, attract workers of a citizen standing.”
LOL! Love your sarcasm!
One small skirmish has been won. The larger battles still loom and the war can still be lost.
Hello everyone . The whole ammendment amounted to little more than ’slave labor’ for millionaire farmers.
I honestly do not know how anyone can forward an ammendment for ’slave labor’ be they dim or rep.
Have a great day all
On May 21st, 2008 at 10:40 am, terrig said:
Yeah, it’s dead for today but who knows what tomorrow brings.
THEN WE FIGHT TOMORROW, AND THE DAY AFTER AND THE DAY AFTER THAT.
On May 21st, 2008 at 10:43 am, Surveyor said:
Operative words here are “for now.”
TREASON comes to mind.
VERY MUCH SO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT.
On May 21st, 2008 at 10:49 am, abstractmind said:
Keep up the pressure. It’s working
IT IS WORKING! WE NEED TO NOT STOP AND NOT GIVE UP. WHAT PISSES ME OFF IS I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THAT FEEL THE SAME WAY WE ALL DO ABOUT THE AMNESTY PROBLEM BUT THEY DON’T DO ANYTHING BUT B**CH AND COMPLAIN. THE MORE OF US THAT CALL OUR SENATORS AND REPS, THE MORE THEY WILL WAKE UP AND REALIZE THAT THE MAJORITY OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS DON’T WANT THEM HERE. WE JUST NEED THE MAJORITY TO WORK, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE TO LAZY. NOW I’M GOING TO STOP WASTING MY TIME AND GET MY BEHIND ON THE PHONE CALLING ALL THESE PEOPLE. HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!
I dunno but that is the way I read it too. Not allowing enough illegal invaders to be rewarded for breaking the law and too many politicians too eager to party over the death of any support for We the People.
WACK-A-MOLE!
Amnesty Bill Reason For Defeat STINKS It’s a SHAM!
Something smells to high heaven about the shelving of the Feinstein/Craig illegal alien farm worker measure. I don’t believe for one second that the reason they pulled the bill is because it didn’t do enough for illegal aliens that is a cover excuse. I think they realized the huge opposition to the measure and crafted this excuse to save face and claim it was not due to the outrage of American Citizens. We need to make it very clear that we were the reason the bill failed not the garbage story they are trying to release to save face.
I am calling BS!
Who is this idiot Menendez? Is he an American or is he an illegal alien that made it to the Senate? He must represent the dumbest state in the Union.
#26 Mommieof2girls
THEN WE FIGHT TOMORROW, AND THE DAY AFTER AND THE DAY AFTER THAT
Unfortunately, that’s true. It would be nice if we could elect representatives who would just take care of business while we take care of ours. But, even those who SAY they represent us still require us to watch them like a hawk.
#30 he does NJ and he wasn’t elected he was appointed by Corizone when he became gov of our arm pit of a state. Which by the way the whole state is a sanctuary for illegals!
Oh and Menendez is Cuban so there is some sympathy for the down trodden
Thanks to MM & the other real Americans in the New Democracy. Fifteen years ago this would have passed without a whimper of opposition. Vigilance.
Now, put the stake through its heart and throw some garlic in the box and close the lid !
The trouble is we’re playing defense instead of offense. That’s no way to win. We need to have some of OUR legislation being debated and force them to try to defeat it.
It seems rather difficult to believe that we can get any Conservative efforts successfully started when we are top-heavy with Rinos tearing our party apart and seeing who can fall the farthest left the fastest.
I would like to see it happen Flenser but I am not holding my breath.
On May 21st, 2008 at 11:42 am, WORK949 said:
WACK-A-MOLE!
LOL Isn’t that the truth!
Then, at 9:45 p.m., two black men were shot at Vaughn Street and Bromont Avenue in Pacoima by two Latinos in a white Lexus, Aguirre said.
Oh, open the link. It get’s “better”. Mexico is at war with us.
We must never drop our vigilance on this or they will sneak it through eventually …
I am all in favor of a national day of protest marches carrying US Flags and demonstrating in favor of “LEGAL IMMIGRATION” …
any takers out there? …
Let’s make it happen and dwarf the numbers of the open-borders advocates and show them what the people really think about all of this BS …
I miss Pete Wilson
Thanks for the update Michelle! Nice to now the beast is dead for now. Without Michelle and the new media just think what these lying crapweasels would succeed in smoking past the American taxpayers. Keep the torches and pitchforks handy folks, because we all know we haven’t seen the last of this amnesty crap.
DesertLover
sign me up…. this would be awesome here in MN.
Some time ago I contributed to Tom Tancredo’s presidential campaign and it seems I have become fair game to mine for more bucks but then more might be legitimate if none go to Mc895 or NRC.
The War on Our Borders is Raging…Your donation will help fund the campaigns of pro-border candidates and defeat incumbents who support amnesty!
Eventually they will get something through. Getting greater numbers in congress in November, with a willing president from any of the 3 stooges eager to sign off on “comprehensive immigration reform” it won’t even have to be sneaked through!
The only way to beat them is to vote ‘em all out of office, almost impossible, OR we all become registered Democrats and give them the complete policical control they desire, eliminating the need to massively import potential voters.
After all, that’s what the Dems want. Bring in people to do the voting many Americans don’t want to do.
We can never relax on this issue. And we must work to get conservatives elected in November to congress, to state and local offices.
Unfrickin believable.
Here dumbfrick, come take my house, I mean why not…you want everything else for free for the damn illegals.
Michelle BLESS YOU for keeping this in front so we can call and write in.
I ask, What would have happened without the net and people like MM, our HERO!?!?
“Senate Republicans seemed to suggest they’ll let the add-ons advance to a Bush veto rather than filibustering them this week.” You mean a veto like the McCain- Feingold attack-on-the-first-amendment bill? We notice that that didn’t happen.
Even though I supported W against Gore and Kerry, over the years I’ve been wondering if W isn’t really a closet Dimocrat.
I’d like to know the reason for pulling the bill…I have a RINO senator up for re-election in Nov. like to know how he would have voted. I’ve sent emails and called his office since this shame was revealed…bet the RINO’s are wiping the sweat off their heads, not having had to vote and show their true selves.
MNUSMCDavid
Thanks …
Perhaps our gracious hostess could come up with some organizations or people that could help us make something like that happen …
It would be a real eye-opener if we could pull it off …
I am more than willing to devote time and effort and give up a day of work to make it happen …
Imagine the impact we could have on this issue if we all truly united in a show of our resolve …
If we can keep beating this thing back with phone calls, email, and faxes … what can we accomplish if we take to the streets as the illegals and their supporters have done …
PJ #46..Bush is a Republican, that’s what they stand for now days…middle of the road or left of center. The new feel good party for all.
I’ve suggested before check out the Constitution party’s platform…looks pretty good to me and some others on this site.
Exactly. Just what the libs want. I feel the same way that if we don’t find a way to counter attack, eventually the defense will reveal a weak point the libs will exploit. I think they are simply probing now. We are also having to play defense while the libs attack us wiht charges of racsim. Although it does not bother me anymore, it does many and enough vollies will weaken our defense. Especailly given that the libs have been beating PC into the American people for 30 years now.
Weary Citizen #50, my link in the post above shows who the real racist are.
The newest tactic: The Children are Frightened.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/21/MN9510PLTR.DTL
For those of you that are convinced that California is a cesspool of liberalism, check out the thumbs up/thumbs down response in the comments section. Signs are encouraging.
Vigilance.
What they share knows no political party - elitism. Either they have grown up in it and/or been indoctrinated in ivy league univerisities and infected with it by being in DC too long. They all believe they know better than the unwashed masses.
I’ve come to believe Republican party leadership has been that way since at least the ’70s. The elites in the GOP leadership really wanted Ford and GHW Bush in ‘80 but had to reluctantly ride on Reagan’s popularity and forced Bush on Reagan as a running mate.
Since the so-called “Contract with Ameridca”, the GOP has dangled the carrot of conservatism and tossed the party base an occasional bone here and there but have not often acted conservative or promoted conservatism in action.
It seems to be the time to turn to a party with a real constitutional platform if we can’t get the GOP to act on one.
How about if we establish a list of men and women of honor who will bear the burden of running for and holding office?
I’ll give $$$$ and walk precinct -again-if I am certain that that individual won’t slip to the socialist left.
What ever happened to William Russell-by the way?
We’d prolly get deported….
On May 21st, 2008 at 12:13 pm, John Ansell said:
Then, at 9:45 p.m., two black men were shot at Vaughn Street and Bromont Avenue in Pacoima by two Latinos in a white Lexus, Aguirre said.
Oh, open the link. It get’s “better”. Mexico is at war with us.
I grew up in Sun Valley, right in between Pacoima and North Hollywood. My husband grew up in North Hollywood. This has been going on since I was little. I remember a drive-by on my dead end street when I was 11 years old because of the stupid gang bangers that lived across the street from me. My sister and I was never allowed to play in our front yard or go anywhere without an adult with us. From what I understand it’s only getting worse down there. And your very right about Mexico being a war with us. They have been for a long time. When I was in school in Sun Valley, I would get my a$$ kicked every now and then by mexicans and they would tell me I’m not welcome on their land. Yeah, terrific people huh?
Where they gonna deport me to? Philly?…..lol
I have sent messages to my senators and rep that any vote whatsoever for any type of amnesty will result in me not voting for them and doing everything I can to ensure they are not reelected.
Like Michelle Malikn says keep fighting, and don’t give up your votes or your bodies for cheap!
aj …
Gotta love that CA humor …
MNUSMCDavid …
What … no choice of which war zone? …
Desert…. well, I should stay here in MN…. things are pretty bad here.
I am interpreting the same way as a few others here. They shelved it because it didn’t DO ENOUGH for illegals??? I mean I’m glad it’s shelved but this is kinda like kissing your sister isn’t it?
Removing this piece of cr*p addition to the bill will do nothing to prevent it from being sneaked into some other bill that the “out for themselves” crowd in both parties will be remiss not to endorse. These morons refuse to take “no” for an answer, despite loquacious opposition by average “America First” patriots.
Wait for some late night distraction, and someone (a liberal do-gooder) will insert it again, but only this time, it will be hidden much better. The one thing the Democrats can’t seem to figure out is, who exactly, benefits from sub-rosa immigration legislation…it is surely NOT the average American citizen.
Are newspaper columnists incredibly stupid or deceptively clever? Most continue to write about “immigration” and “immigrants” when it is clear the issue is illegal aliens. Either they don’t know the difference (stupid) or they are attempting to obfuscate issues (deceptive). An editor of the Times-News in Twin Falls, Idaho writes that “Anti-immigration hysteria [is] hurting Idaho’s market share”, and he/she supported the Feinstein/Craig amendment as a life-savor for Idaho. The editorial was pathetically shallow, and I was again left wondering if the shallowness is a sign of stupidity or cleverness. One of the responders to the editor, who apparently shares my frustration, wrote “ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE NOT IMMIGRANTS”, and suggested that the debates will never be honest until this is understood.In any event, Idahoans are lucky that Senator Widestance was prevented from slipping this one through.
Tancredo is trying to knock off Chris Cannon in the primaries, one of the open borders Republicans. That would send a message to the GOP.
To help him, go to Team America PAC and donate.
1.4 million plus their families.
Which crops, exactly, are rotting in the fields??? Living around lots of ag land in central CA, I must say the only thing left to rot are grapes that didn’t get sweet enough for the wine they are supposed to make.
M0mm1e0f2G1rls, I’ve been here in So Cal for about 10 years and I’m strongly thinking of moving back to Illinois. If Gov. Hairspray is jailed, I’ll move back in a heartbeat.
Menendez got electec in NJ by collecting enough money from cuban contributors in Florida. The dems were distressed because it took more effort to get him elected than it should have. I have stopped writing to this idiot because he does write back trying to convince me that of his flawed thinking. When I stick up for legal immigrants, I’m not being compasionate enough towards illegals. It took 2 tries to get menendez to stop sending his newsletter emails to me. This man serves his own agenda which is in direct conflict with NJ citizens.
#32 Menendez was appointed by Corzine to complete his term, then Menendez ran in the ‘06 election and won by a narrow margin. NJ has idiots for gov and both senators!
How many times are we going to have to beat back these moronic attempts to senak in amnesty?
I faxed and called, and called again, and emailed both my Sentors. When will these elitists fools get it that THEY work for US! They have been bought off by big agribusinesses who want to freeload off cheap illegal labor while dumping their school and medical costs on us.
NO! H*LL NO!
Term Limits NOW.
Need to run all these elistist a-holes OUT of DC if they cannot learn to listen to We The People.
No need for me to hector my rep - I have Tancredo! I just call to thank him and tell him how much we are going to miss him.
The reason why there are no farmworkers is because the borderhoppers have taken jobs in construction, landscaping, meatpacking, hotels, etc. Why pick lettuce for pennies when there a better paying jobs in other sectors. Are there stupid pills being added to the water in DC? The congressional clowns have proven that they behave like 2 year olds. No means nothing to them and yet they think they know what’s best for us.
As for as I know , my two Republican senators have voted against any kind of amnesty whenever it comes to a vote. Neither one, hardly makes the news, so I’m basing my little knowledge on what some friends have told me. I bookmarked Open Congress, and Open Congress Blog hoping to find out how they vote, but can’t understand all the lingo. I’ve just been on the computer for about six months, and still don’t understand all of the computer talk.
I know for sure that they’re for the war on terror, smaller govnement, and less taxes, so I’ll keep voting for them when the come up for re-election.
Can anyone help me to find out their daily track record? What I’ve been able to pull up so far is bills from one and two years ago.
Well, if you you want to find what they do each day then I guess the best thing available is Thomas.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/dailydigest
But it takes some pretty good knowledge to figure out whats going on from that site.
If you just want their immigration records, go here to look up your Senators voting record on immigration issues.
You might also want to check out NumbersUSA or FAIR, two sites whose goal is reducing immigration. Sign up with them and they’ll put you on an email list and keep you up to speed with whats going on.
And welcome aboard.
This is going to be an ongoing battle. Battles are never easy - but they can be won.
Animal Magnetism. Now that album brings back some memories.
On May 21st, 2008 at 5:28 pm, John Ansell said:
How is it that your still there? How can you put up with all the crap down there? You must have a LOT of patience. A year after high school my husband and I moved up to Lancaster and our 2 girls were born there. When our first born started kindergarten she was put in an all spanish class because all the english classes were full! We moved to Oregon 2 months later. We have happily lived here for 5 years now and we never think about going back. That place is a cesspool. I wish you all the greatest luck down there.
I AGREE! I also think this is a sham and needs to be strongly confronted and clarified if we’re to avoid just “holding the line.” This excuse of a “reason” only serves the Democrats’/amnesty seekers to move the issue farther to the Left and farther into amnesty territory.
With about half of Mexico’s population in CA — many of the illegally — Dianne Feinstein claiming she needs more “cheap labor” is preposterous. If Idaho needs more, send them half of CA’s illegal population.
Seriously (not that I haven’t been already), we need to start advancing toward this issue with the national costs to taxpayers of illegal aliens, the pressure on employers as to why they are not developing workers right here in the U.S.A. (what, exactly, is REQUIRED of their employees that they have to be here from another country), AND, I do think advancing some sort of legislation that demands that nations of origin pay for their own citizens as to the healthcare, housing, educations of illegals’ children and all that food and everything else for illegal aliens. That is, that, say, Mexico reimburse the U.S. for all the costs that Mexican Nationals place upon U.S. taxpayers for what they use here in the U.S. when here illegally.
AND we really need to force Congress to start removing the “auto citizenship” bestowed upon children born on U.S. soil to illegal alien parents.
These are important areas to start aggressing on…while, hopefully, the Border Security increases as does immigration enforcement.
Thank you,Flenser. I want very much to get involved with my senators activities, and keep close tabs on their votes. Thanks again.
that is why it is despicable that the labor unions are not dead-set against illegal aliens.
the reason that the employment laws were passed in the first place many years ago was to protect American jobs.
but now you have unions siding with open borders pols and the business elites, who sellout this country.
even Cesar Chavez was adamantly opposed to illegal aliens.
what a disgrace today’s politicians, business elites, and labor unions are