This was nauseating. The audience today at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing chanted, "Si Se Puede!" after the Gang of Ocho Illegal Immigrant bill was passed.
Senate Judiciary Committee approves immigration overhaul bill
Far-reaching legislation to grant a chance at citizenship to millions of immigrants living illegally in the United States cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a solid bipartisan vote Tuesday night after supporters somberly sidestepped a controversy over the rights of gay spouses.
The 13-5 vote cleared the way for an epic showdown on the Senate floor on the measure, which is one of President Barack Obama's top domestic priorities yet also gives the Republican Party a chance to recast itself as more appealing to minorities.The committee's action sparked rejoicing from immigration activists who crowded into a Senate committee room to witness the proceedings. "Yes, we can!" they shouted as they clapped rhythmically to show their pleasure
In addition to creating a pathway to citizenship for 11.5 million immigrants, the legislation creates a new program for low-skilled foreign labor and would permit highly skilled workers into the country at far higher levels than is currently the case.
At the same time, it requires the government to take costly new steps to guard against future illegal immigration.
There was suspense to the end of the committee's deliberations, when Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat who serves as chairman, sparked a debate over his proposal to give same-sex and heterosexual spouses equal rights under immigration law.
"I don't want to be the senator who asks people to choose between the love of their life and the love of their country," he said, adding he wanted to hear from others on the committee.
In response, he heard a chorus of pleas from the bill's supporters, seconding private appeals from the White House, not to force a vote that they warned would lead to the bill's demise.
"I believe in my heart of hearts that what you're doing is the right and just thing," said one of them, Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill. "But I believe this is the wrong moment, that this is the wrong bill."
In the hours leading to a final vote, the panel also agreed to a last-minute compromise covering an increase in the visa program for high-tech workers, a deal that brought Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah over to the ranks of supporters.
Under the compromise, the number of highly skilled workers admitted to the country would rise from 65,000 annually to 110,000, with the possibility of a further rise to 180,000, depending in part on unemployment levels.
Firms where foreign labor accounts for at least 15 percent of the skilled work force would be subjected to tighter conditions than companies less dependent on H-IB visa holders.
The compromise was negotiated by Hatch, whose state is home to a growing high tech industry, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. It is designed to balance the interests of industry, which relies increasingly on skilled foreign labor, and organized labor, which represents American workers.
AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka attacked the deal sharply as "anti-worker," although he also made clear organized labor would continue to support the overall legislation.
Robert Hoffman, senior vice president for government affairs at the Information Technology Industry Council, welcomed the deal. "We obviously want to keep moving the bill forward and building support for the legislation, and this agreement allows us to do so," he said
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/21/senate-judiciary-committee-approves-immigration-bill/#ixzz2U03mJaMc
Please don't sit back and do nothing. Let's burn up the phone lines to tell them not on our watch! Please Call Your Senators And Tell Them To Vote No! http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
In addition to calling them, please write them, fax them, etc. Let you voice be heard.
Remember.... Silence Implies Consent!
(sample letter)
Senator ________,
I am writing to encourage you to vote NO to this amnesty (immigration) bill.
We have already seen a complete lack of respect for laws already on the books by this administration.
They have:
1) Refused to enforce current immigration laws
2) Tied the hands of ICE and others trying to protect our borders and
3) Shown complete disrespect for the American citizens when this administration released thousands of ILLEGAL criminals back on the streets of our cities and then lied and continue to lie about it.
4) Tried to silence those in law enforcement that don't agree with this legislation
It is a complete farce to think they will enforce laws to secure our borders now or in the future.
We must secure our borders, enforce laws already on the books and demand that citizenship is not a right, it is a privilege that is earned by following our laws.
Sincerely,
(your name)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following article is from this administrations puppeteers that run the Center For American Progress.
They are also the ones that constructed Obamacare, in case you weren't
aware. You can see their fingerprints, as well as LaRaza and Obama's
union minions all over this farce. This is not an immigration bill,
it's another way to load up the voting rolls with illegal voters and
overwhelm the system in order to destroy it. Period!“Sí Se Puede”
A Phrase with a Rich History
By Teresita Perez |
Much to my surprise, over the past few years the rallying cry “Sí se puede” has become pretty ubiquitous. This phrase, which literally translated means, “yes, it can be done,” was the chosen phrase used by participants in the immigration reform marches in 2006. Later on, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) adopted the English equivalent “Yes we can” as his presidential campaign slogan.
Having grown up in the agricultural town of Oxnard, California, the phrase “Sí se puede” has a lot of political significance for me personally. That’s why this month, as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I would like to take a moment and remember where it comes from.
“Sí se puede” is a term rooted in the struggle of working-class Latinos. It was the rallying cry of the United Farm Worker’s Union in the 1970s. Co-founders Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez adopted the motto during a 25-day fast in Phoenix, Arizona where they were trying to organize farm workers to demand fair wages and better working conditions. This mantra was meant to galvanize workers and inspire them. Yes, we can start a movement against all odds. Yes, we can stand up against exploitation. Yes, we can fight for fair wages and medical and pension benefits. Over the years, “Sí se puede” has also been adopted by other civil and labor rights groups involving Latinos around the country.
But use of this phrase comes with the obligation to truly honor its history and deliver on its promise. We simply cannot ignore the fact that Latinos have been left by the wayside and currently face tremendous economic disparities. Consider the following statistics:
- The poverty rate among Latinos was 21.5 percent in 2007 compared to 8 percent among their white counterparts.
- The percentage of Latinos who lacked health insurance in 2007 was nearly three times higher than their white counterparts.
- And in 2007, the median family income for a white family was $54,920, compared to a Hispanic median family income of $38,679.
Our nation faces many challenges today, but a key priority should be to integrate this growing population so that we can capitalize on this demographic change. The next president will therefore need to ensure that we promote more equal opportunity programs and that we make more progress toward reducing these disparities.
With 45.5 million Latinos, the United States has a larger population of Latinos than just about any country in Latin America. What this means is that this voting bloc is emerging as a pivotal constituency for the presidential candidates and will play a key role in our economic future. This is no passing trend. Latinos are projected to become nearly a quarter of the U.S. workforce by 2050, and they will account for almost 30 percent of the projected population of 429 million people in the United States by that same year.
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month this year, let’s not forget the history and power of the phrase “Sí se puede.” As we strive to create a more equitable and just nation, let us remember where it comes from and honor intent of its creators Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez, who have challenged us to create a better society–one that values and provides all its people with equal opportunity to succeed. As Chavez once said:
"We shall strike. We shall organize boycotts. We shall demonstrate and have political campaigns. We shall pursue the revolution we have proposed…We will build power through boycotts, strikes, new union – whatever techniques we can develop. These attacks on the status quo will come, not because we hate, but because we know America can construct a humane society for all its citizens…."
"Sí Se Puede!"
No comments:
Post a Comment