By Andy Kirchoff
Between CPAC and the Obama Administration?s recently announced sham-compromise regarding the Health and Human Services birth control mandate, political junkies can be excused for missing the big news from the U.S. Senate chamber during the past week. Given how immigration has become an issue in the GOP primary, however, I think it?s worth noting how some Republican Senators are currently dealing with the issue ? especially since it contrasts so sharply with the ?anti-illegal immigration? rhetoric oozing from certain GOP presidential candidates *cough RICK SANTORUM cough*.
Since December of 2011, Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) has been quietly leading efforts to streamline the process in which would-be Irish immigrants obtain work visas. He?s getting some help from Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY). Essentially, if Brown?s bill passes, Irish immigrants won?t have to wait the 10+ years it normally takes to come to the United States legally. According to the Boston Globe, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is playing devil?s advocate, but is reportedly working with Brown to remove what he considers to be objectionable provisions. The latest version of Brown?s bill has also attracted the attention of Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), who is co-sponsoring the legislation along with Sen. Brown and Sen. Kirk.
Sen. Brown is generally not someone I?d point to as a ?pro-immigration reform Republican.? He voted against the DREAM Act in the 2010 lame duck session of Congress, and when talking about immigration issues, he tends to tout his opposition to ?amnesty.? However, this new bill would merely expedite the legal immigration process; if nothing else, it proves that Scott Brown, like most other Republicans, is supportive of efforts to reform legal immigration: ?You have a lot of folks trying to come here, and they?re trying to do so illegally. This will basically fix that inequity.? Good on the junior Senator from Massachusetts for recognizing this!
Alas, for many ?anti-illegal immigration? groups, even the slightest change in immigration law is an incentive to panic. The xenophobic clowns over at NumbersUSA have come out in opposition to the bill, and the eugenicist-backed ?immigration reform? group FAIR has predictably attacked Sen. Brown?s efforts as well. Naturally, I would prefer a more comprehensive approach to immigration reform, and I?m sure many other fellow Cafe con Leche Republicans would agree with me on that point. Nonetheless, the adage that ?the enemy of my enemy is my friend? holds true in this case. FAIR?s criticism is a badge of honor for the Senator, and I?m glad to see Sen. Brown take positive steps toward real immigration reform. Here?s hoping he?ll have open ears when more comprehensive bills are introduced in the future.
Source: http://cafeconlecherepublicans.com/senator-scott-brown-flexes-his-pro-legal-immigration-muscle
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