The Republican Party is in a pickle about immigration. They know that they can't stand in the way of comprehensive immigration reform if they are ever to woo minority voters. However, they also know that if they support a reform bill, the GOP base will make them pay at the polls. The big question is what to do to appease both sides. Enter an agreement to beef up border security, better known as the "Border Surge".
I knew something was wrong when I heard that the agreement was favored by the likes of Bill O'Reilly.
 |
| Sen Bob Corker (R-TN) |
Can you believe that the Hoever-Corker Southern Border Security Amendment, the formal name of the proposal, will cost taxpayers $30 billion dollars? Here's what you'd get for your money: an additional 20,000 agents at the Mexican Border, 700 miles of border fencing, and implementation of mandated electronic entry/exit system international entry points. Yes, this comes from the Republican Party that calls itself concerned about government spending. It's unbelievable.
Consider that in 2006, the government spent $18 billion which was 24% more than the cost of all other federal law enforcement agencies combined. That included the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U. S. Marshalls.
This
isn’t new this week but it bears repeating, because, as the gun debate showed,
it doesn’t matter what public opinion says or what other external factors
exist, members of Congress will ultimately prioritize the outlook of their
constituents over whichever way the national conversation is leaning. If they
don’t, they up the chances of losing their jobs. Redistricting has contributed to a situation in
which many House Republicans represent safe GOP districts in which the threat
of a primary is worth more worry than being defeated in the general election. A
vote for immigration reform could become an easy way for potential challengers
to get to the right of incumbents in some Republican districts. And rest
assured, GOP members will not lose sight of that.
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| Sen Rand Paul (R-KY) |
Oddly enough, at the same time the Republicans came up with the $30 billion "Border Surge" amendment,
Sen.
Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced an amendment to the immigration bill
that would effectively strip the measure of its path to citizenship and require illegal immigrants to apply through regular channels.
The
“No New Pathway to Citizenship Act” amendment
would allow illegal immigrants to remain in the United States as Registered
Provisional Immigrants — a new work visa category — but force them to apply as
though they were still in their home country.
It is clear that Immigration Reform is not supported by the majority of Republicans, regardless of their claim that they believe reform is necessary. What they really believe is that they'll do whatever necessary to get re-elected to Congress in future elections and those with their eye on 2016 will do anything to catch the public eye.
I wonder what will it take to "Stop the Madness".
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