Susie
04-27-2007, 01:11 PM
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/nationworld/article_1670542.php
Bush pledges to help push immigration bill
Hispanic lawmakers reach across party lines to work together on measure to legalize millions of undocumented workers.
By DENA BUNIS
The Orange County Register
WASHINGTON – Hispanic members of Congress came away from a meeting at the White House Wednesday with the belief that President Bush will personally try and round up the Republican votes needed to ensure that a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration system is enacted this year.
"The president was absolutely clear – he wants a bill done this year,'' said Rep. Louis Gutierrez, D-Ill., who along with Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., has authored a bipartisan bill that includes the broad elements the president has said he is looking for in an overhaul bill. The meeting with Bush had been requested by the Hispanic members of Congress.
For the first time since 1993, said Rep. Luis Fortuno, R-Puerto Rico, members of the Democratic Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Republican Congressional Hispanic Conference have gotten together on an issue. Rep. Joe Baca, D- Rialto, who heads the Democratic group, said there were 23 House members and two senators at tWednesday's more than hour-long meeting.
Lawmakers were unwilling to be too specific about which elements of Guttierez's STRIVE act Bush could support. All the House members at the meeting are co-sponsors of that bill, which includes enforcement, a new worker program and a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants here now. Gutierrez said Bush promised to "take a look" at the bill.
"Nothing is locked in stone,'' Fortuno said. "The president made it clear that we'll need flexibility to get the votes we need.''
One issue the group did say was raised by several members was the estimated $10,000 fines that illegal immigrants could be forced to pay in order to legalize their status. Such fees were contained in a White House draft of a plan circulated two weeks ago among lawmakers.
"Members spoke about not disenfranchising millions of people who would otherwise legalize their status because the fees ascend into the tens of thousands of dollars,'' Gutierrez said. "We want a process that allows them to legalize and earn their legalization here but not one that isolates and disenfranchises large portions of the community in order to do that.''
"It was very clear,'' Fortuna said "that the president wants to provide some working space so at the end of the day we have a bill. He made it clear that he will not close the door on anything right now.''
Bush has dispatched two cabinet members – homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to negotiate details of a bill with Republicans and Democratic senators. Many in Bush's Republican party have split with the president on this issue. All five GOP Orange County House members oppose Bush's plan as well as those being talked about on both sides of the Capitol.
Baca said he suggested to Bush that he might have to solidify as many as 75 GOP votes in the House. Baca said Bush told them that he would also try to get the votes of members of the Blue Dogs, a coalition of Democrats, many of whom have taken the enforcement-only approach to immigration change.
It's still unclear when a bill will emerge from the rump group of senators that have been meeting in recent weeks. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said Tuesday that he believed a bill could be ready as soon as next week. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has set aside the last two weeks in May for floor debate on immigration.
"I think a lot is going to depend on the Senate action,'' Gutierrez said. "If he (Bush) made nothing else clear to us, it's that the Senate will act first and then we will be able to engage him in a more contentious more spirited conversation as they focus on the House.''
Contact the writer: (202) 628-6381 or dbunis@ocregister.com
Bush pledges to help push immigration bill
Hispanic lawmakers reach across party lines to work together on measure to legalize millions of undocumented workers.
By DENA BUNIS
The Orange County Register
WASHINGTON – Hispanic members of Congress came away from a meeting at the White House Wednesday with the belief that President Bush will personally try and round up the Republican votes needed to ensure that a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's immigration system is enacted this year.
"The president was absolutely clear – he wants a bill done this year,'' said Rep. Louis Gutierrez, D-Ill., who along with Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., has authored a bipartisan bill that includes the broad elements the president has said he is looking for in an overhaul bill. The meeting with Bush had been requested by the Hispanic members of Congress.
For the first time since 1993, said Rep. Luis Fortuno, R-Puerto Rico, members of the Democratic Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Republican Congressional Hispanic Conference have gotten together on an issue. Rep. Joe Baca, D- Rialto, who heads the Democratic group, said there were 23 House members and two senators at tWednesday's more than hour-long meeting.
Lawmakers were unwilling to be too specific about which elements of Guttierez's STRIVE act Bush could support. All the House members at the meeting are co-sponsors of that bill, which includes enforcement, a new worker program and a path to citizenship for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants here now. Gutierrez said Bush promised to "take a look" at the bill.
"Nothing is locked in stone,'' Fortuno said. "The president made it clear that we'll need flexibility to get the votes we need.''
One issue the group did say was raised by several members was the estimated $10,000 fines that illegal immigrants could be forced to pay in order to legalize their status. Such fees were contained in a White House draft of a plan circulated two weeks ago among lawmakers.
"Members spoke about not disenfranchising millions of people who would otherwise legalize their status because the fees ascend into the tens of thousands of dollars,'' Gutierrez said. "We want a process that allows them to legalize and earn their legalization here but not one that isolates and disenfranchises large portions of the community in order to do that.''
"It was very clear,'' Fortuna said "that the president wants to provide some working space so at the end of the day we have a bill. He made it clear that he will not close the door on anything right now.''
Bush has dispatched two cabinet members – homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to negotiate details of a bill with Republicans and Democratic senators. Many in Bush's Republican party have split with the president on this issue. All five GOP Orange County House members oppose Bush's plan as well as those being talked about on both sides of the Capitol.
Baca said he suggested to Bush that he might have to solidify as many as 75 GOP votes in the House. Baca said Bush told them that he would also try to get the votes of members of the Blue Dogs, a coalition of Democrats, many of whom have taken the enforcement-only approach to immigration change.
It's still unclear when a bill will emerge from the rump group of senators that have been meeting in recent weeks. Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said Tuesday that he believed a bill could be ready as soon as next week. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has set aside the last two weeks in May for floor debate on immigration.
"I think a lot is going to depend on the Senate action,'' Gutierrez said. "If he (Bush) made nothing else clear to us, it's that the Senate will act first and then we will be able to engage him in a more contentious more spirited conversation as they focus on the House.''
Contact the writer: (202) 628-6381 or dbunis@ocregister.com