New “Do Nothing” Caucus Signs Letter in Favor of Slowing Down Immigration Reform Process
Surprise, surprise. Republicans who don’t want immigration reform to pass are now trying to “slow down” the process by complaining that the debate is moving too fast—before it’s officially started.
Yesterday, a new “do nothing” caucus of Republican Senators including Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) signed a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) asking him to slow the bipartisan immigration reform process down. According to the letter, these six Republican Senators who all serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee want more time to “read and analyze” the soon-to-be introduced bipartisan bill. But we really know that’s just a euphemism for trying to stop reform all together.
According to Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice Education Fund, “We’ve been having debates about immigration for the past ten years, and yet still these guys are trying duck and hide now that real reform is just around the corner. Heads up, Senators: immigrants and their families have already waited 27 years since the last time we passed comprehensive immigration reform. They should not be forced to wait any longer. And this delay tactic won’t work.”
Most of the letter’s signers are very familiar with the intricacies of immigration reform. Orrin Hatch used to be supportive of immigration reform and was an original sponsor of the DREAM Act, before he was against it. John Cornyn, a longtime hypocrite on the issue, introduced his own immigration bill in 2005. And, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions is so closely linked to the anti-immigrant groups that he’s never met an pro-immigration bill he liked. What does he even need to study? If it helps immigrants, he’s voting no.
Added Sharry, “If you don’t support immigration reform, so just say so—and let the American people judge you for it (cough, John Cornyn). But don’t try to stand in the way of legislative momentum by pretending that it’s all happening too fast. Americans are already sick and tired of inaction from Congress. They want a once and for all solution, not political games.”
America’s Voice Education Fund– Harnessing the power of American voices and American values to win common sense immigration reform
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