No Joke-Action needed NOW!
E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central tool in fight against illegal immigration is in Sen. Reid's hands
By
Roy Beck, Monday, September 22, 2008, 12:16 AM
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has two honorable choices:
- No. 1: Go around Sen.Menendez who has a "hold" on H.R. 6633, the "clean" E-Verify re-authorization bill passed by the House. Sen. Reid can bring this back-room filibuster to the Senate floor for a vote. If he does this, there easily will be the 60 votes necessary to stop Menendez and allow an overwhelming majority vote to pass H.R. 6633. (Reid reportedly doesn't want to do this because he doesn't want to force some of his Democrats to have to go on record just before the election.)
- No. 2: Avoid a vote altogether by talking to Menendez privately, persuading him that what he is doing is threatening the reputation of the Democratic Party just before elections and get him to withdraw his "hold" on H.R. 6633. (This way, Reid could then bring H.R. 6633 to the floor in the "hot-wire" fashion which will pass by voice vote.)
Either way, the American worker and public wins. It is all about Reid doing one of those two things.
This is why we want you to put particular pressure on Democratic Senators to put an end to Menendez' shameful grandstanding. Fortunately, Senate Republicans are standing firm against Menendez.
The weakest and most vulnerable American workers -- and non-workers -- will benefit the most from your willingness to step forward and take action this week.
SEN. MENENDEZ' E-VERIFY BLACKMAIL DEAL
After we told you that some Republican Senate staffers were working with Sen. Menendez (D-N.J.) for massive increases in foreign workers, you hammered Republican offices for not holding the line for a "clean" E-Verify bill.
Your efforts really worked. By the end of this last week, Republican Senate staffs were going into negotiations with Democrats and making it clear they were united in oppositiion to a foreign-worker surge at this time of 5-year-high unemployment and financial industry collapse.
Sen. Menendez apparently is not bothered by the 5-year-high official unemployment rate -- or even by the 292,000 additional American workers who went on unemployment in August alone. He is insisting that if we keep E-Verify, then we have to add another 550,000 foreign workers next year to the 1.1 million immigrants already scheduled to come.
(AS A REMINDER: E-Verify is the central tool for taking away the job magnet from illegal immigration. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants to kill it so outlaw businesses will have more freedom to hire illegal workers. E-Verify is the on-line system that businesses can type into for each new hire and find out if they are an illegal alien.
(If you live in Arizona, Oklahoma, Georgia -- or any other of the places that have started mandating that businesses use E-Verify -- your efforts to combat illegal immigration will be halted. )
THE MENENDEZ/SESSIONS WRESTLING MATCH
Thursday night on the floor of the Senate,
Sen. Sessions (R-Ala.) tried to "hot-wire" a Senate bill re-authorizing E-Verify. This is a procedure that if nobody is on the floor to object, you can get a bill through. It is supposed to be for non-controversial bills. Sessions' point was that it shouldn't be controversial to simply continue this proven E-Verify program.
But Sen. Menendez stood up to object, saying that H.R. 6633 (the House-passed re-authorization) was better than the Senate one Sessions was offering.
Sessions then said that was fine and that he was changing and offering H.R. 6633.
At that, Menendez suddenly turned on the bill he had been extolling and said he wouldn't allow a vote on E-Verify unless the Senate agrees to add another 550,000 permanent greencards to the 1.1 million already slated for next year! He offered his bill with that surge, and Sessions stood firm saying "NO WAY."
This is what we have known about Menendez from the backrooms for some time, but it is the first time Menendez has exposed himself so clearly and publicly.
We cannot allow the enemies of America's workers to blackmail us. Even though E-Verify is essential in the fight against illegal immigration, we still have to be willing to let it die this week rather than allow massive increases in permanent foreign workers.
No, I am not being stubborn instead of practical.
Consider that the point of E-Verify is to protect American workers -- and communities -- from too many foreign workers.
Does it make any sense to get E-Verify passed by giving away hundreds of thousands more U.S. jobs to other foreign workers?
The point of our fight is to protect American workers and communities. E-Verify is the best tool going (although Congress needs to make it mandatory for it to really start pushing millions of illegal workers to go home). But we will have accomplished nothing by re-authorizing a voluntary E-Verify while flooding American occupations with another 550,000 foreign workers through Menendez' bill.
ROY BECK is CEO & Founder of NumbersUSA
Views and opinions expressed in blogs on this website are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect official policies of NumbersUSA. Subscribe to our Blog Feed
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Ryan9568 of WA
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 6:48pm
Re: E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central
If anyone is hesistant to call: This is really easy to take so little time to do.
Both of my Senator (WA: Murray and Cantwell) staffers said they would pass the information on. It sounded like Murray may be getting a lot of calls. There was no answer at her Bellevue office but a voice message with a Seattle number that NumbersUSA doesn't have: 206-553-5545 (and a toll free that I missed). I left a message in Bellevue and called Seattle where when I said E-verify with no strings attached, the staffer asked "is that HR 6633?"
Our future depends on it! It takes only 2 minutes to call them both. We have an initiative gathering signatures in WA and the hard work in other states that depend on this!!!
I simply said: "my name is ________ calling from ________ and I would like to ask that Senator ________ help bring E-Verify to the floor with no strings attatched." Short, simple, but at least I got my first calls in! So easy that I am moving on to the Senate leadership calls (suggested by Bay Buchanan at Team America PAC):
Republicans:
Mitch McConnell: (202) 224-2541
John Kyl: (202) 224-4521
Democrats:
Richard Durbin: (202) 224-2152
Harry Reid: (202) 224-3542
Deloris5489 of CA
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 5:55pm
Re: E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central
Bennie of MO. I agree with you, hope you have a blue tarp (those show up really well) safely attached to your roof. When anyone asks you why you have a tarp instead of a new roof, that is your opening to tell them who you hire to do your work and who you DO NOT hire. Start building your soapbox.
On May 1, 2006, Mexicans and others walked in the streets of our US. flying the Mexican flag as they let their intentions be known loud and clear. Their motto "One day without a Mexican". After that date, there are no house cleaners here.
Thomas2924 of IN
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 3:34pm
Re: E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central
Roy, I think you have made the right call on this. I am a Democrat, and I am disgusted by the cynical games my party plays with immigration. It is time for Harry Reid and the party to behave responsibly. I think that is the absolute minimum expectation of a party that is asking us to let them lead the country. We send these people to Washington to serve, but once they get there a lot of them seem to think their only job is to find ways to stay in Washington. Thanks to their calculated blindness on immigration and the irresponsibility of Menendez the party is going to take a hit on this, but it is their first responsibility to do what is right for our country. Tens of millions of American workers and their families shouldn't have to take the hit in lost jobs and lower wages. It is time for elected Democrats to remember what it is to be a Democrat. Let us be proud of them again, instead of ashamed.
Deloris5489 of CA
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 3:13pm
Re: E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central
Mr. Beck, very good analysis and thank you for all the work you do.
Please name all Republican Senators who allowed/encouraged their staffs to join with Senator Menendez in his efforts to increase permanent green cards by 550,000,in addition to the already 1.1 million allowed for 2009. Thank you in advance.
Michael6395 of NJ
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 2:52pm
Sadly we are represented[?]
Sadly we are represented[?] by the Senator whose position on e verify is the source of the problem. His pal , Lautenberg[Sen], is on board with him. So I ask you, how effective would a fax to their offices be? I suspect it is a waste of time but I will be sending it to them if you encourage it.
NumbersUSA Moderator: Communicating with your elected officials is never a waste of time. Even if a Representative or Senator is unlikely to support our positions, your calls and faxes can (and often do) make them pause before committing themselves to something they know is unpopular. Keep those calls and faxes going!
Joyce3503 of FL
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 1:01pm
Re: E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central
I do not want illegal aliens taking our jobs.
They should all be sent back,except the people who came here legally.
Doris1281 of CA
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 12:58pm
Re: E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central
I agree with the need to wxtend EVerify to protect the American worker. We are in a financial mess right now and we don't need 550,000 more foreign workers in this country to take away jobs from Americans and increase the services required for the foreign workers paid for by American taxpayers. It is time to think about Americans first.
MD2510 of MA
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 11:48am
Re: E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central
Most white collar jobs who will be consuming these half million plus green cards already check for legal status so E_Verify does not help the American workers affected.
Essentially Menendez is asking for a real permanent giveaway for a promise of action - something that has already failed in our entire financial system as we know very well last week. The law is already on the books - E-Verify is simply one tool.
Let it die - this compromise is NOT required and NOT worth it.
Don9868 of IN
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 11:23am
Re: E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central
I will call all my Senators and Representatives one more time.I am going ro call Senator Reid and Senator Menendez office also.We can't let them forget about this issue and that there will be consequences at the voting booth for not listening or not taking action before recess.Thanks to everyone fot keeping on-keeping on!
Let's give E-Verify a push to victory this week with our phone calls and faxes.
Bennie5880 of MO
Mon, 09/22/2008 - 11:16am
Re: E-VERIFY WILL DIE IF CONGRESS DOESN'T ACT THIS WEEK: Central
To All Americans. I live in southwest Missouri where we are becomming over-run with known illegal Mexican workers with families. Most are somehow getting welfare with free doctor care and welfare. I called my two Senators this morning to talk about the House approved H.R. 6633 E-Verify Bill that is now in the Senate being held up by one Senator, New Jersy Menedez. Both staff members I talked to said they are receiving calls about this subject from the time they open till the time they close. I ask you all to not be afraid to call your Senators. Talking to a staff member is easy to do. They will listen and are requiered to report all calls and faxes, etc. If you are to shy to talk to a staff member you can call early in the morning and leave a message. They also are all heard and reportted. I at this time am watching Presidential runner McCain talk about Immigration reform. He is saying that we need these foreign workers for the good of America. But what he is not talking about is the millions of American's out of work already from the illegals here now being hired by greedy owners of factories and all businesses. Right now I need a new roof put on my home because of the tornados that hit our area. I called out to my home 5 contractors and ALL had Mexican worker crews. I asked all if they checked to see if they were leagally here to work and ALL 5 said they did not care. I was floored by this and told them all what I thought of them and of course did not hire them. We all need to do this. I need my roof fixed bad but I cannot and will not hire any foreign workers to do the job. Please use Nummbersusa's tools to fax, call, or write your Congressmen/womwn. It does matter. I have a file full of return letters from mine that I keep so I can go back on them if they do not vote for American's. P.S. I am voting For Bob Barr. He will not win but we can all send them in Washington a wakeup call in November !!
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