Last month, I asked why John Boehner voted against HR 4437, the “Border Protection, Antiterrorism & Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005.”.Today, I get my answer via email:
John Boehner is committed to strengthening border security and immigration reform.I really don't buy this as a reason for shooting down the bill, but I suspect thee are conservatives out there who will understand this position. I imagine those folks are small business owners...
John Boehner's record on immigration is clear: more enforcement, tougher penalties, and control of our borders.
Boehner supports each of the provisions of the H.R. 4437 that aim to strengthen enforcement and curb illegal immigration:
Ø Increased Penalties for Alien Smuggling
X Crackdown on Alien Gang Members
X Increased Penalties for Aliens re-entering Illegally
X Aggravated Felony Provisions
X Cooperation between Border Sheriffs and Federal Law Enforcement
X Increasing DHS Authority for Long-Term Detention
X Renewing DHS Authority to Use Reinstatement of Removal Process
X Barring Terrorist Aliens from Naturalization
Ø Deportation for DUI
Ø Establishing Operational Control of All Borders and Ports
Ø Eliminating the "Catch and Release" Practice
Ø Effectively Organizing the Border Security Agencies Within DHS
Ø Promoting International Policies to Deter Illegal Immigration
So what does John Boehner oppose? Massive new government mandates on the private sector.
H.R. 4437 includes a provision known as the "employment eligibility verification system" which would require employers to verify the "eligibility" of ALL of their employees through this massive federal database.
While Boehner had concerns with this one provision, he believes it is an issue that can be worked out in conference without weakening the House-passed bill.
Boehner joined other members in attempting to file an amendment to strike this huge mandate so he could vote "yes" on the overall measure, but was denied the opportunity.
Mark's Remarks
With all due respect to Congressman Boehner, this is appealing to the Wal-Mart lobby. The verification system is not some huge new mandate or database, it is used already in terms of internal revenue service documentation and uses Social Security numbers. Basically, the employer verifies the social security number, and wham-o! if it is fake, no hire! Boehner is listening to the Wal-Mart lobby, and it is ridiculous. He talks about enforcement of law, what about illegal hiring? This part of the law would have seen to that, but I guess Boehner just wants his Wal-Mart money. Less chance I support him as a leadership candidate.
The system Boehner is talked about is discussed here, under IDEA.
12:30pm Update from Mark
The Folks at the Corner aren't moved by Boehner's stance on Immigration, at least this post doesn't sound like it:
But Boehner's response to the Washington Times story makes it clear how he appears to have "grown" in office, at least with regard to immigration: By opposing the online verification system that is the only way legitimate employers can identify illegal aliens, Boehner is ipso facto in favor of illegal immigration, because no amount of border control, on its own, can stop illegal immigration. Nor would a guestworker program have even a remote chance of succeeding without a functioning, secure verification program. So his support for the deportation of DUIs and the rest is just a song and dance obscuring his defense of the status quo.
Boehner and Blunt....more of the same....We need a new direction, not a repackaging of the crap we have just been dealing with.
