Brownback votes for less-restrictive immigration bill

LJWorld.com weblogs Congressional Briefing

Posted by Joel Mathis March 28, 2006 at 10:01 a.m.

![][1] Let's start with immigration.Sen. Sam Brownback on Monday was part of a minority of Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee who joined Democrats in approving legislation that makes it easier for illegal immigrants to work here lawfully, and for more foreign workers to enter the U.S. temporarily.[The Los Angeles Times][2] reports: The Senate is headed into "a difficult and visceral debate," said Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.).The Senate panel's bill differs significantly from an overhaul of immigration laws approved last year by the House, which focused on tightening security at the border and on toughening law enforcement and did not include a temporary worker plan, a proposal that is unacceptable to many House Republicans.The Senate panel also voted to eliminate a proposal, contained in the House legislation, that would make being an illegal immigrant a felony, rather than a civil immigration offense as it is currently.Supporters of the committee's bill hailed it as a comprehensive effort that includes measures to improve border security by adding technology and agents, and provisions to make it harder for businesses to hire illegal workers."What has passed is much tougher enforcement and a way to take the 12 million out of the shadows," Brownback said, referring to illegal immigrants already in the country.[This press release][3] adds: "The Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously adopted an amendment proposed by Senator Sam Brownback to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act which issues non-immigrant visas (S-2 visas) to persons who provide the United States with critical and reliable information about terrorism, organized criminal enterprises and rogue weapons of mass destruction programs."Of course, getting tough on illegal immigration has become an article of faith among some conservatives -- and it's among conservatives, whose support he'll need in his 2008 presidential run, that Brownback's stance isn't playing well.[National Review's Mark Krikorian][4] has given Brownback the nickname Amnesty Sam, while the conservative [Human Events][5] has the following headline on its Web site: "Brownback Can Kiss '08 Run Goodbye."We'll see.Other links today:Sam Brownback links[(TownHall.com commentary)][6] Tomorrow, he will testify before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property. Chaired by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., the purpose of the hearing is to examine the constitutionality of state laws regulating the sale of ultra-violent video games to children. Three psychologists will testify about the potential link between playing violent video games and copycat violence, and whether the games contribute to aggressive behavior.Pat Roberts links[(UPI) Roberts slams spy bill's referral:][7] Sen. Pat Roberts, Kansas Republican and chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, thinks that congressional officials were mistaken to send a bill on the president's program of warrantless counterterrorism surveillance to another panel. "Chairman Roberts's strong position is that this decision was incorrect," said a senior committee staffer, who asked not to be named. The Senate parliamentarian, a little-known but influential official who makes decisions about the legislative procedure for Senate bills, referred Ohio Sen. Mike DeWine's Terrorist Surveillance Act of 2006 to the Senate Judiciary Committee, after much behind-the-scenes The judiciary committee, which is also working on a very different bill dealing with the program drafted by its Chairman Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Republican, plans a hearing today on the issue. [(New York Times) Iraqi Documents Are Put on Web, and Search Is On:][8] Under pressure from Congressional Republicans, the director of national intelligence has begun a yearlong process of posting on the Web 48,000 boxes of Arabic-language Iraqi documents captured by American troops. All the documents, which are available on fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/products-docex.htm, have received at least a quick review by Arabic linguists and do not alter the government's official stance, officials say. On some tapes already released, in fact, Mr. Hussein expressed frustration that he did not have unconventional weapons. Conservative publications have pushed for months to have the documents made public. In November, Mr. Hoekstra and Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, asked Mr. Negroponte to post the material.Dennis Moore links[(UDK) Moore says humor key in these political times:][9] Monday evening Rep. Dennis Moore said that most of the issues that are facing Congress now are so grave that he has to find humor where he can. He did just that during the open forum at the Burge Union. While he was making his opening remarks, a blue KU Young Democrats banner covering the entire wall behind him came crashing down. He quickly responded, "I hope that's not a sign of things to come." Moore, who has already served in the U.S. House of Representatives for four terms, is planning on running for another term.How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][10] [1]: http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/c/c8/Sam_Brownback.jpg [2]: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immig28mar28,0,3804884.story?coll=la-home-headlines [3]: http://www.earnedmedia.org/irpp0327.htm [4]: http://corner.nationalreview.com/06_03_26_corner-archive.asp#093502 [5]: http://www.humaneventsonline.com/blog-detail.php?id=13557 [6]: http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/rebeccahagelin/2006/03/28/191508.html [7]: http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060327-101938-6403r.htm [8]: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/28/politics/28intel.html [9]: http://www.kansan.com/stories/2006/mar/28/moore/ [10]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed

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Jamesaust 7 years, 1 month ago

What? A voice in favor of high prices? Now that is an umbrella of a different color. And here I thought the middle class benefited from low prices.

I can never keep that straight in my mind - low prices = good? low prices = bad? Is it outsourcing or insourcing that is supposedly questionable? Kansas is spending an extra $1 billion to acquaint the young with the 3R's so they can develop middle class skills or so they can be 'job protected' as middle class convenience store clerks? So very confusing.

I say - imagine the economic growth an additional 20 million consumers will generate! Mostly young, vigorous, hardworking. Miracles really do happen. Now if they could only just be blondes!

ljreader 7 years, 1 month ago

20 million consumers who send much of their money back to their families in their native lands- 20 million who have no health insurance, collect foodstamps, free lunches and in-state tuition. I have not noticed the price of goods and services going down with the 12 million illegals we have. It is estimated underpaid labor from the illegals amount to a savings of less than 1/ 10th of 1% to the consumer. I saw an analyst the other day state that the average family would pay less than $10 extra per month for produce if we didn't have the illegals performing these jobs. Hardly enough savings to the consumers to off set the billions in social services paid by the American taxpayer.

Agnostick 7 years, 1 month ago

Illegal immigrants will never have a problem finding jobs, as long as our government--including jokesters like "Browncrack"--turn their heads away from the businesses and corporations that hire illegal immigrants.

It takes two to tango!

ljreader 7 years, 1 month ago

Absolutely! When they work for less money than businesses can legally pay US citizens, they have an unfair advantage for jobs. Businesses who hire illegal workers are breaking the law and should be prosecuted. It may be true that there are not enough Americans to fill some types of jobs, but I suspect the real problem is not the job, but the lack of pay. When we have jobs to offer noncitizens, they should be reserved for documented immigrants who are following the rules.

Fatty_McButterpants 7 years, 1 month ago

ljreader: it is not that there are not enough Americans to fill some types of jobs. It is that some Americans feel that they are too good to fill some types of jobs. Some have an attitude that it is "beneath them".

ljreader 7 years, 1 month ago

For those with college degrees or other training, I doubt they have any interest in doing farm work, etc. Unfortunately, there are Americans who are not educated, and this is the only work they are qualified to do. Even if those Americans feel such work is beneath them, I still maintain the work should be given to law abiding immigrants, not the ones who ignored laws , snuck in, have fake ID, etc. There are provisions in place to work here legally. At least 12 million decided not to take that route.

Agnostick 7 years, 1 month ago

Those businesses and corporations that hire illegals are also ripping off state and federal governments, by stating on Social Security, FICA, unemployment, and all the other little taxes us law-abiding citizens get "nickled & dimed" out of, on every paycheck. The employee cheats the government, and so does the employer.

That's why I support the Fair Tax, or a national sales tax. Those illegals may not pay taxes like the rest of us... but they damn sure go to Wal-Mart like the rest of us! So, let's get their tax contributions right there--in the checkout line!

Ragingbear 7 years, 1 month ago

Why shouldn't we let more immigrants in? And even moreso, uneducated ones? I mean, there are so many jobs in America that there is no possibility for all Americans to fill them all. Our economy is so strong that even all of Mexico could not fill all the positions....

And if you believe that, I have a nice bridge to sell you.

badger 7 years, 1 month ago

I'm fine with letting in more legal immigrants.

I'm not so fine with the fact that we've built a culture that turns a blind eye to the law and allows the creation and exploitation of an entire class of the population that works for next to nothing, doing backbreaking or dangerous work with few safety protections, that cannot complain of health, safety, or labor violations because they fear deportation, and can't even report a crime or offer help to the police in solving one in most places, without being deported. I'm not fine at all with the fact that we 'talk tough' about immigration, then do almost nothing to companies that employ illegal aliens except deport their disposable workforce.

Enforce immigration laws, if you're going to bother having them. Don't just ignore them and accept the exploitation of thousands of people as part of your business culture, then complain that they're a drain on your society because they have no resources and no protections - but you still give them welfare instead of sending them back.

If we're not going to follow our immigration laws, let's just get rid of them.

ljreader 7 years, 1 month ago

derf, I agree with you about costs to consumers not being decreased. I suspect many businesses increase their profit margins, but do not pass savings from lower overhead on to consumers. I know a guy who was taking bids for a new roof last summer. He knows construction workers, and through word of mouth, got names of roofing companies who hire illegals. He called them as well as other companies who did not employ illegals. Guess what? Sometimes the bids were comparable, but many of the highest bids came from those hiring illegals. Furthermore,they often do not pay these people enough to live on, so that's costing taxpayers billions in social services these folks need in order to get by. So, a few are lining their pockets from exploiting impoverished people, while the rest of us pay big . Yeah, Brownback LOVES illegal immigrants- He thinks everyone should own one.

KsTwister 7 years, 1 month ago

One thing is for certain,Legal Americans will pay up for health care,housing,tuition and every other kind of assistance you can think of. Your politicians could care less what you think,at least I can say that of Brownback and Roberts. Time for American children to go to the back of the line. I hearby promise never to go to Mexico and make everyone speak English either. Corporations are definitly running this country.

jimincountry 7 years, 1 month ago

Brownback is probably learning to speak spanish. If he runs , he'll be the one who made Kansas turn blue if the dems can find a non-screamer(Hillary,Dean,Gore) or a non-whiner (Kerry,Reid, Pelolosi) to speak for the party. Bob Beckle seems to be the only guy who shows up on tv as a non-lying democrat. Republicans don't have much going for them either.Bush has really hurt the party.

jimincountry 7 years, 1 month ago

OOPS! forgot the supreme whiner, Dick Durbin.

assistant1234 7 years, 1 month ago

For those of you who are against the McCain-Kennedy bill that Brownback voted for in the Senate Judiciary Committee, please visit his website and either call, write, or e-mail him how you feel. His website is http://brownback.senate.gov/. Let him know you will not support his presidential run in '08 if he continues to vote in support of this worthless legislation that is hurting our economy and national security. Tell him to secure our borders first, and worry about existing illegal immigrants later.

bill_priff 7 years, 1 month ago

Ryun was on the Abramoff/Delay gravy train - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/29/AR2006032901883.html

"Rep. Jim Ryun on Wednesday denied allegations by Democrats that he received a "sweet real estate deal" when he purchased a town house from a nonprofit group with connections to lobbyist Jack Abramoff."

Originally repported here - http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000207.php

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