While Democrats Lead, Republicans Play Politics with Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON, May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — As President Bush,
Republicans in Congress and the GOP presidential contenders continue to
play politics with immigration reform, Democratic leaders in Congress are
moving forward with a comprehensive plan that offers a practical, tough,
and fair solution. Today, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
announced that the Senate will vote on Tuesday on whether to debate the
strong, bipartisan immigration bill passed last year - a plan that was
supported by 62 Senators, including 23 Republicans.
Majority Leader Reid’s strong leadership on immigration reform
contrasts sharply with President Bush’s decision to cave to extremists in
his Party, threats from Senate Republicans to filibuster the vote, and the
cynical efforts by Republican presidential candidates to play politics with
this critical issue. Not only have Republican White House wannabes like
John McCain and Sam Brownback backed away from their support for the
reforms in this bill, but four of its Senate Republican architects sent a
letter trying to avoid a debate. [Washington Post, 5/11/07] In its place,
President Bush and his Senate allies are pushing a completely unworkable
bill that the Wall Street Journal editorial board says is “worse than no
reform at all” and the New York Times called a betrayal of family values.
[Wall Street Journal editorial, 5/2/07; New York Times editorial, 4/30/07]
“While strong Democratic leaders like Majority Leader Reid continue to
fight for a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform plan that is tough,
smart and practical, Republicans are still playing politics with this
critical issue,” said Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda.
“America needs comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens our
borders, protects U.S. workers and their wages, and allows immigrants who
pay taxes and obey the law to earn the opportunity to apply for the
responsibilities of citizenship.
“The president’s plan to split families and force immigrants to
self-deport is reckless, unreasonable, and completely unrealistic. Last
November the American people made it clear that they want solutions, not
more divisive politics. President Bush and the Republicans in Congress
should stop putting politics ahead of what’s good for America and join
Democrats in working toward a realistic plan for comprehensive immigration
reform.”
—
Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee,
http://www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any
candidate or candidate’s committee.

SOURCE Democratic National Committee