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Marco Rubio Supports E-Verify “In Concept” Even Though He’s An Actual Sponsor of Senate Bill

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Marco RubioWe know Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) says one thing on immigration and does another, but this is especially rich. In an article in The Hill about how the GOP is split over the issue of E-Verify, Senator Rubio tries to straddle the different points of view:

Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.), who has been mentioned as a potential Republican 2012 vice presidential nominee, recently told The Hill that he supports E-Verify “in concept,” adding that “we need an employment-based verification system.” 

Rubio said he has heard objections raised from agriculture sector, suggesting he sees the need for flexibility in E-Verify legislation.

Here’s the thing: Rubio is actually a sponsor of the Senate E-Verify Bill, S. 1196, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act, sponsored by Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA). The legislation has 10 co-sponsors, including Marco Rubio.

Sponsoring a bill usually means a member of Congress has gone beyond conceptual support to actual support. 

The Senate E-Verify bill, which Rubio sponsors, is even stricter than the House version of the legislation, which he supports “in concept.” The House bill covers new hires while the Senate will “would cover all employees.”

Seems that Rubio’s support for E-Verify is beyond conceptual, but he’s still trying to have it both ways.