Morning Briefing
For June 13, 2013
1. No More Games
So many conservatives have been dancing around the issue of Senator Marco Rubio’s collaboration with Chuck Schumer to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
We have blamed his staff. We have blamed Democrats. We all like and respect the Senator, even if we disagree on this issue. We do not want to blame him for the mess the GOP now finds itself in holding a legislative tiger by the tail.
But having, by virtue of my radio show, listened over and over to those awful pro-immigration reform ads between my monologues, I think we need to stop playing games.
I say this because either Marco Rubio is being played the fool or we are being played the fool by Senator Rubio. He has become the face of support for this legislation and much of the support of the legislation from those on the right has come because of the good will so many of us have for Senator Rubio.
I am in the awkward position of being to the left of the Republican base. I support immigration reform that leaves illegal aliens in the United States and provides them a path to legal work, though not citizenship. I know a number of illegal aliens and represented a good many of them when I was a lawyer. They, having been unfairly treated by others due to their status, relied on me to redress clear wrongs against them.
These were good, hardworking people who wanted to comply with the law, wanted to work, and wanted to send money home to support families in their native countries. They did not want citizenship. They wanted a paycheck. I am to the left of my readers in supporting their right to stay here and earn a paycheck. I am to the left of my readers in that I oppose mandatory E-Verify. In my mind, no employer should ever have to ask the government if it can or cannot hire a worker.
But I am to the right of the Senate Republicans and Senator Rubio. The solution they propose will do nothing to stem the tide of illegal aliens coming into this country. This law will expand bureaucracy and will, claims to the contrary notwithstanding, expand the welfare state.
What’s more, Senate Republicans and Democrats are now collaborating on “improvements” to the legislation that do not actually improve the law, but rather provide cover for various Democrats and Republicans to make sure the votes are there for passage while ensuring those in tough spots can still vote against it and claim they opposed what they really, privately support.
Senator John Cornyn, chief among the Republicans now, is playing that game. He is offering up an amendment that supposedly will secure the border before setting up a pathway to citizenship. His amendment really does not do that, but provides a cover for Republicans to claim the amendment, and the law once the amendment passes, would.
That brings us back to Senator Rubio. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
2. The Statue Quo is Eminently Better Than Bad Legislation
Speaker Boehner announced that he will bring the farm bill to the floor and personally vote for it. This is a sharp departure from his previous statements railing against the Soviet-style subsidies and productions quotas for sugar and dairy farming. Hence, he is caving on one of the few issues for which he has always shown intrepid conviction. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
3. Wisconsin Democrats looking at “Anybody But ME!” for Governor race?
Democrats in Wisconsin want you to know: they’re going to be on the stick for 2014!
"Wisconsin Democrats repeatedly made the argument at their state convention over the weekend that Governor Scott Walker needs to be defeated in 2014."
Hear that! They’re tanned! Rested! And ready to go!
"However, there continue to be few hints about exactly who will take on that challenge in the coming months."
…Oh. Right. One of them will have to actually volunteer to walk into the buzzsaw. . . . please click here for the rest of the post →
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