Washington Times – by Stephen Dinan
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Monday to allow illegal immigrants who get legal status to begin collecting tax-welfare payments, as the panel spent a fourth day working through amendments to the massive immigration bill and party-line splits began to emerge.
In one major change, the committee voted 17-1 to make a third drunken-driving conviction a deportable offense for the newly legalized immigrants if at least one of those offenses occurs after they are approved for legal status.
But immigrant-rights groups called that a rollback of due-process rights for the immigrants and said a drunken-driving incident shouldn’t cost someone a chance at citizenship.
“We cannot and will not support hard-line proposals that take away discretion and limit an individual’s ability to pursue the pathway to citizenship,” said Paromita Shah, associate director of the National Lawyers Guild’s National Immigration Project.
Overall, the committee continued to maintain the delicate balance struck by the “Gang of Eight” senators who negotiated the 867-page bill: Quick legal status for illegal immigrants, but delaying citizenship rights until after the administration spends more money on border security, puts in place a new electronic verification system to check workers’ status, and enacts an entry-exit system to check visas at airports and seaports.
In previous days’ action, two Republican members of the Gang of Eight — Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jeff Flake of Arizona — joined with Democrats to block a series of GOP amendments to stiffen the bill’s security.
But on Monday, the two Republicans sided with their party colleagues on key questions on giving illegal immigrants public benefits.
The 10 Democrats on the committee still outnumber the newly unified Republicans, but the votes signaled tough fights ahead on the Senate floor.
In one vote, Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican, tried to prevent anyone but citizens and green-card holders from being able to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, which uses the tax code to transfer money to the poor.
But Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said that would deny the tax credit not only to legalized immigrants but also refugees, asylum-seekers and other legal workers.
And Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, Hawaii Democrat, said denying the tax credit to legalized immigrants would hurt their children, many of whom are U.S. citizens.
The committee avoided what likely would have been a bitter fight over guns and whether those on the government’s terrorist watch list should be allowed to buy firearms when Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rhode Island Democrat, withdrew his amendment.
“Evidently we think it’s OK for people on the terrorist watch list to buy a gun,” Mr. Whitehouse said.
He said he would try again later when the bill comes to the Senate floor.
Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/may/20/senate-panel-oks-tax-welfare-benefits-for-newly-le/#ixzz2Twx74K5a
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter
“But immigrant-rights groups called that a rollback of due-process rights for the immigrants and said a drunken-driving incident shouldn’t cost someone a chance at citizenship.”
Maybe murder, rape and robbery should cost someone a chance at citizenship either.
“Two Republicans sided with their party colleagues on key questions on giving illegal immigrants public benefits.”
What other country in the world give illegals a tax payer free ride?
“Evidently we think it’s OK for people on the terrorist watch list to buy a gun,” Mr. Whitehouse said.”
WTF? Take the means of self defense away from US Citizens and give it to potential terrorist? This is out f**king rageous.! They must be stuck i stupid.
I am thinking I would be better off giving up my citizenship and come back as an illegal.
“Does anyone else see a problem with a system that if you work you have to pay Taxes to the Federal Government, yet if you don’t work the Federal Government pays you”?
10 years ago, my brother told me I should move to Mexico, become a citizen then sneak back over the border..I should have listened. And 3 drunk driving arrests they simply get to go home, visit their family, then sneak back over the border? While legal citizens go to jail? They are doing the same thing here as they are doing in the eurozone, and most every other country. Cause chaos.
Let me remind you a speech from Patrick Henry please. They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? I suggest everyone re-read the entire speech.
One last thought, my time is up. But people worry about adam’s march and that we will have martial law and gun confiscation? They already are confiscating guns and using martial law. DHS buys up all the ammo, obama signs legislation banning the import of ammo, and states are outright banning most guns, while the indoctrination system they call education is teaching kids that guns are bad. Yet again, re-read the patrick henry speech, the entire speech.
Confiscation is already in full force…wake up.
I hope they do initiate massive gun confiscation and martial law, lets get this over before they have 30,000 drones in the sky, and more israeli police training and more tanks etc. Patrick Henry;s speech is so true to this very day. Please read it.
I say we give these illegals minumum wage jobs…in The White House, the Congress and the Senate.
Is the Senate smoking crack. These people are insane. What are they thinking. STUPID STUPID idiot’s. These representives need to be kicked in the head then kicked out back and hanged.
They are going to give welfare to all illegals. This PISSES me off so much.
Illegal is Illegal..WTF….So I can go rob a bank and get to keep the money I just robbed…Sign me the hell up..
If this immagration crap goes through we are going to see the death of the United States, we are almost a third world country now, thanks to those in government being run and paid by the Corporation’s ( yes the true scum ).
Here I thought Bush was a nut bag. But this shit going on with this government is just beyond insane. What counrty is going to come to our aid and help us exterminate the government, like we have done in other countries. Honestly I wouldn’t care if Washington get’s NUKED. They don’t give 2 shit’s about the American People, the LEGAL PEOPLE..
It is truely disgusting..
You do realize, of course, this is all by design. ?
#1 NWO Hatr.
I agree with you.
I think it goes under divide and conquer.
The elite’s have this all their play book, this has been done over and over through out history..