Enforcement First, The right way to reform immigration.
Prominent Conservatives and Civic Leaders Urge President Bush and Congress to Back Enforcement First on Immigration
Leading conservatives and civic leaders have signed an open letter on immigration declaring that border and interior enforcement must be funded, operational, implemented, and proven successful and only then can we debate the status of current illegal immigrants, or the need for new guest worker programs.
The signers include William Bennett, Robert Bork, William F Buckley, Ward Connerly, Newt Gingrich, David Horowitz, David Keene, John Leo, Herbert London, Rich Lowry, Daniel Pipes, Phyllis Schlafly, and Thomas Sowell among others.
Hudson Senior Fellow John Fonte, who organized the letter, said:
We want to commend the members of Congress who have supported enforcement first including 85% of all Congressional Republicans, 36 Democrats in the House and 4 in the Senate.
We particularly want to thank Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and House chairmen Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and Peter King (R-NY) for their leadership role in putting America’s national interests in border and interior enforcement first.
As a matter of organizational policy, Hudson Institute does not take stances on pending legislation.
First Things First on Immigration: An Open Letter to President Bush, Senate Majority Leader Frist, and Speaker of the House, Hastert
Recently, columnist Thomas Sowell wrote: It will take time to see how various new border control methods work out in practice and there is no reason to rush ahead to deal with people already illegally in this country before the facts are in on how well the borders have been secured.
We the undersigned agree with this statement. In 1986, Congress passed comprehensive immigration reform that included amnesty for around 3 million illegal immigrants, border enforcement, and interior enforcement (employer sanctions). Amnesty came, but enforcement was never seriously implemented either at the border or in the interior.
Let us not make this mistake again. We favor what Newt Gingrich has described as sequencing. First border and interior enforcement must be funded, operational, implemented, and proven successful and only then can we debate the status of current illegal immigrants, or the need for new guest worker programs. We are in the middle of a global war on terror. 2006 is not 1986. Today, we need proof that enforcement (both at the border and in the interior) is successful before anything else happens. As Ronald Reagan used to say trust, but verify.
The majority of Republicans in the Senate opposed the recently passed Hagel-Martinez bill. Senator Vitter (R-LA) said that because border enforcement will not be in place, this [bill] will in fact make the illegal immigration problem much bigger. The No. 3 Republican in the Senate, Senator Rick Santorum (PA) said, We need a border-security bill first. Senator Vitter, Senator Santorum, the majority of Senate Republicans, and the majority of House Republicans are right we need proven enforcement before we do anything else. Adopting cosmetic legislation to appear to be doing something about enforcement, but which actually makes the situation worse, is not statesmanship, it is demagogy.
We thank the majority of the Senate Republicans
(33 in all) and the seven Democrats who supported the
Isakson amendment, which insists upon verifiable benchmarks
for border security before considering other issues. Moreover, we say Thank You to Jim Sensenbrenner, Peter King,
and the bi-partisan House majority including 36 Democrats,
that passed HR 4437. We may quibble with a clause here and there, but you in the House and the majority of Senate Republicans are right to emphasize that the Congress
and the President must deal with enforcement first and
other issues later. Stand fast; the American people are overwhelmingly with you.
Signed,
William B. Allen, Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University
William J. Bennett, former Secretary of Education under President Reagan, former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under former President George H.W. Bush
Thomas L. Bock, National Commander of the American Legion
Robert H. Bork, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, former Solicitor General, acting Attorney General, Supreme Court nominee, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge
William F. Buckley, Jr., founder and Editor-at-Large of National Review
Peter Collier, founding Publisher of Encounter Books,
cofounder of Center for the Study of Popular Culture
Ward Connerly, former Regent at the University of California, founder and Chairman of the American Civil Rights Institute (ACRI), winner of the 2005 Bradley Prize for Outstanding Intellectual Achievement
T. Kenneth Cribb, former domestic policy advisor for President Ronald Reagan
Glynn Custred, Professor of Anthropology at California State University, Hayward, and coauthor of the California Civil Rights Initiative, Proposition 209
John C. Eastman, Professor of Law at Chapman University School of Law, Director of the Center for Constitutional
Jurisprudence
John Fonte, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center of American Common Culture at the Hudson Institute
David Frum, former speechwriter for George W. Bush, Resident Fellow at American Enterprise Institute
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., founder and President of the Center for Security Policy
Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chairman of the Gingrich Group, Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute
Jonah Goldberg, Editor-at-Large of the National Review Online, national syndicated columnist
Victor Davis Hanson, Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, recipient of the 1991 American Philological Association Excellence in Teaching Award
David Horowitz, cofounder of the Center for the Study of Popular Culture, Editor of FrontPageMag.com
Fred C. Iklé, former Undersecretary of Defense under Reagan, former Director of U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
David Keene, Chairman of the American Conservative Union
Brian Kennedy, President of the Claremont Institute, Publisher of the Claremont Review of Books
Roger Kimball, Managing Editor of The New Criterion
Alan Charles Kors, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania
Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies
Michael A. Ledeen, Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
Seth Leibsohn, Fellow at the Claremont Institute
John Leo, columnist and Contributing Editor to U.S. News and World Report
Herbert London, President of the Hudson Institute
Kathryn Jean Lopez, Editor of National Review Online
Rich Lowry, Editor of National Review
Heather Mac Donald, John M. Olin Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, winner of the 2005 Bradley Prize for Outstanding Intellectual Achievement
John O’Sullivan, Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, Editor-at-Large of National Review
Juliana Pilon, Research Professor at the Institute for World Politics
Daniel Pipes, founder and Director of the Middle East Forum and Campus Watch, former member of the board of the U.S. Institute of Peace
Andrew Andy Ramirez, Chairman of the Friends of Border Patrol
Phyllis Schlafly, founder and President of Eagle Forum
Thomas Sowell, Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution, winner of the 2003 Bradley Prize for Outstanding Intellectual Achievement
Shelby Steele, Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution, winner of the 2006 Bradley Prize for Outstanding Intellectual Achievement
Stephen Steinlight, Fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, former National Affairs Director of the American Jewish Committee, and Vice President of the National Conference of Christians and Jews
Thomas G. West, Director and Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute, Professor of Politics at the University of Dallas
see more at National Review ...........
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OWM2NGJlZmY1Y2JiMTFkODQ3NTI4ZTMzZjUzN2YwYjg=
mccainalert.com
Monday, June 19, 2006
Republican newsletter Arizona 6/19
"The taxpayers of Arizona are the winners because of this tax cut."
- Steve Voeller, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club commenting on passage of the fiscal year 2007 state budget and its nearly $550 million in income and property tax cuts.
President Bush to Nominate Commissioner Marc Spitzer to FERC
Congratulations to Arizona Corporation Commissioner Marc Spitzer on news that President Bush will nominate him to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Matt Salmon, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, released the following statement:
"I applaud President Bush's decision to nominate Marc Spitzer to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The president couldn't have nominated a more knowledgeable individual in the area of energy policy.
"Commissioner Spitzer has served with distinction in his tenure on the Arizona Corporation Commission. While his departure from the ACC is a loss for our state, the country is gaining someone who will prove to be an invaluable asset to U.S. energy policy.
"This appointment speaks volumes of the important work our ACC does and will give Arizona a greater voice in energy issues."
Democrats in Disarray on Iraq
A recent dust-up between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator John Kerry over our nation's policy in Iraq illustrates the divisions in the Democratic Party over one of the most important issues we face.
Appearing at a Take Back America Conference, Clinton was booed by attendees when she said she did not think it is a "smart strategy to set a date certain" for withdrawal from Iraq. ["Liberal Activists Boo Clinton," The Washington Post, June 14, 2006.]
That position contrasts sharply with the position of Kerry, who called for "a hard and fast deadline" on withdrawing from Iraq.
You've got to hand it to Clinton and Kerry, though. At least they have a position on Iraq, which is more than you can say about liberal strip mall developer and U.S. Senate candidate Jim Pederson and District 5 U.S. House candidate Harry Mitchell, who have vigorously evaded the issue since announcing their candidacies.
Pederson has said he'll announce his plan on Iraq "on [his] timeline," [Capitol Media Services, "Former Republican legislator announces Senate bid," May 4, 2006] but that was over a month ago, thus only leaving voters to assume that Pederson's timeline is an especially long one.
Mitchell has been equally vague, saying only that "America deserves a winning strategy in Iraq." ["Mitchell Announces Candidacy," The Arizona Republic, April 13, 2006] When pressed for what that strategy should be, Mitchell goes mute.
Sen. Dean Martin Files 13,700 Signatures and Thanks Grassroots for Their Tremendous Support
State Senator Dean Martin filed 13,700 nominating signatures as the only Republican candidate for State Treasurer, more than the 260% over the 5,213 required!
"I want to personally thank all of the grassroots supporters whose hard work exceeded all projections on what we could do statewide while I am still in legislative session," Senator Martin said.
"We only entered the race 3 months ago, yet support was exceptionally strong; we were collecting more than 900 signatures a week! I owe it to the hard work of a lot of unsung heroes: grassroots volunteers who knocked on doors, set up tables at events, and scheduled meet and greet events around an unpredictable legislative schedule.
"We received signatures from every county across Arizona and exceeded our goals in most counties by over 300%! Only Sen. Jon Kyl and the Governor filed with more signatures. THANK YOU for all your help!"
Senator Dean Martin is a small business owner and entrepreneur, and is currently the Senate Finance Chairman, Judiciary Vice-Chairman, and senior member of the Appropriations committee. He was the last GOP candidate to enter a statewide race. Sen. Martin was asked to seek the nomination for Arizona Treasurer as the current Treasurer is no longer running for re-election.
Capitol Update
WHAT YOUR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS DOING - FOR THE WEEK ENDING June 16, 2006
State Budget - Historic tax relief, expansion of school choice, elimination of accounting gimmicks, a genuinely balanced budget - Late on Friday night the legislature passed a state budget that returns more than a half-billion dollars to Arizona's tax payers, accelerates statewide freeway construction, provides for substantial teacher and correctional officers pay raises and expands school choice.
The $9.9 billion balanced budget, which takes affect July 1, followed negotiations that resulted in the governor accepting the core Republican principles of broad-based tax relief, school choice and investment in infrastructure and public safety. The budget/tax relief package includes the following major provisions:
• The largest tax relief package in Arizona history that provides $310 million of permanent income tax reductions and suspension of the $215 million state property tax for at least the next three years. This fuels Arizona's vibrant economy while returning money to the Arizonans who earned it in the first place.
• A $345 million increase for highway and road construction throughout the state, an investment that is critical for a rapidly growing state.
• An 11% increase - over a half-billion dollars -- for the K-12 education system. This includes an additional $100 million this year to increase teachers salaries and $160 million doled out over the next two years to fully fund all-day kindergarten should local districts choose to do so. There is also $18 million to expand school choice for lower income, disabled and foster children.
• A $157 million bump for state universities that allows Arizona State University to expand its Williams Gateway campus and helps the University of Arizona retain experienced faculty and Northern Arizona University update aging buildings.
• $140 million for investments in public safety, including money for meth interdiction, hiring 46 DPS officers, a $5,300 annual pay increase for corrections officers and prison beds.
• Nearly a half-billion dollar deposit to the "Rainy Day Fund," giving the state protection against hard times with a balance of more than $600 million.
• A quarter-billion dollar boost to healthcare, including over $10 million for cutting edge research to help combat Autism and Alzheimer's.
• More than a quarter-billion dollars to eliminate accounting tricks and gimmicks used to balance previous budgets, including the $191 million K-12 rollover and substantially eliminating the onerous practice of forcing businesses to make sales tax payments prior to when they would actually be due.
• A $60 million positive ending balance, without the aid of accounting tricks and gimmicks.
Unfortunately, Governor Janet Napolitano refused to allow $160 million to provide critical border security for Arizona. The comprehensive measure addressed the funding needs for Arizona to combat illegal immigration and its severe impact on our economy, environment and public safety, but was vetoed by the governor.
Quote of the week: "We do the things our government should do in this budget -build roads, fund education, better protect the public and put more money back into the state's economy by putting more money back into the pockets of taxpayers. The one missing piece in this budget - and it's a big one - is addressing illegal immigration. Time after time, we just could not get past the governor's vetoes on this." Senate President Ken Bennett on the budget passed by the legislature late last Friday night.
Did you know? Governor Napolitano would not agree to sign the budget unless more spending went to social welfare and entitlement programs under the Department of Economic Security.
Upcoming Events
Prescott Receptions on July 1 to Benefit Senator Kyl
Your are invited to help Senator Jon Kyl's reelection efforts at two special receptions at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 1 in Prescott.
VIP Reception
Office of Las Vegas Ranch Real Estate
115 W. Goodwin St.
Prescott, Arizona
Photo opportunity and VIP seating for parade
Suggested contribution $300 per per person or $500 per family
BBQ Reception
Event tent on southeast corner of Goodwin and Montezuma
Suggested contribution of $50 per person or $100 per family
RSVP by June 30 to Christine Walton at (602) 840-0306.
Volunteers needed for Fabulous Phoenix 4th
Join the AZ GOP at the Fabulous Phoenix 4th at Steele Indian School Park on Tuesday, July 4.
Volunteers are needed to help staff our booth and pass out bumper stickers and campaign literature.
Volunteers earn a free AZ GOP t-shirt. Contact Kara Karlson via e-mail or at (602) 957-7770 to sign up to volunteer.
For a full calendar of events, please visit www.azgop.org.
- Steve Voeller, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club commenting on passage of the fiscal year 2007 state budget and its nearly $550 million in income and property tax cuts.
President Bush to Nominate Commissioner Marc Spitzer to FERC
Congratulations to Arizona Corporation Commissioner Marc Spitzer on news that President Bush will nominate him to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Matt Salmon, chairman of the Arizona Republican Party, released the following statement:
"I applaud President Bush's decision to nominate Marc Spitzer to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The president couldn't have nominated a more knowledgeable individual in the area of energy policy.
"Commissioner Spitzer has served with distinction in his tenure on the Arizona Corporation Commission. While his departure from the ACC is a loss for our state, the country is gaining someone who will prove to be an invaluable asset to U.S. energy policy.
"This appointment speaks volumes of the important work our ACC does and will give Arizona a greater voice in energy issues."
Democrats in Disarray on Iraq
A recent dust-up between Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator John Kerry over our nation's policy in Iraq illustrates the divisions in the Democratic Party over one of the most important issues we face.
Appearing at a Take Back America Conference, Clinton was booed by attendees when she said she did not think it is a "smart strategy to set a date certain" for withdrawal from Iraq. ["Liberal Activists Boo Clinton," The Washington Post, June 14, 2006.]
That position contrasts sharply with the position of Kerry, who called for "a hard and fast deadline" on withdrawing from Iraq.
You've got to hand it to Clinton and Kerry, though. At least they have a position on Iraq, which is more than you can say about liberal strip mall developer and U.S. Senate candidate Jim Pederson and District 5 U.S. House candidate Harry Mitchell, who have vigorously evaded the issue since announcing their candidacies.
Pederson has said he'll announce his plan on Iraq "on [his] timeline," [Capitol Media Services, "Former Republican legislator announces Senate bid," May 4, 2006] but that was over a month ago, thus only leaving voters to assume that Pederson's timeline is an especially long one.
Mitchell has been equally vague, saying only that "America deserves a winning strategy in Iraq." ["Mitchell Announces Candidacy," The Arizona Republic, April 13, 2006] When pressed for what that strategy should be, Mitchell goes mute.
Sen. Dean Martin Files 13,700 Signatures and Thanks Grassroots for Their Tremendous Support
State Senator Dean Martin filed 13,700 nominating signatures as the only Republican candidate for State Treasurer, more than the 260% over the 5,213 required!
"I want to personally thank all of the grassroots supporters whose hard work exceeded all projections on what we could do statewide while I am still in legislative session," Senator Martin said.
"We only entered the race 3 months ago, yet support was exceptionally strong; we were collecting more than 900 signatures a week! I owe it to the hard work of a lot of unsung heroes: grassroots volunteers who knocked on doors, set up tables at events, and scheduled meet and greet events around an unpredictable legislative schedule.
"We received signatures from every county across Arizona and exceeded our goals in most counties by over 300%! Only Sen. Jon Kyl and the Governor filed with more signatures. THANK YOU for all your help!"
Senator Dean Martin is a small business owner and entrepreneur, and is currently the Senate Finance Chairman, Judiciary Vice-Chairman, and senior member of the Appropriations committee. He was the last GOP candidate to enter a statewide race. Sen. Martin was asked to seek the nomination for Arizona Treasurer as the current Treasurer is no longer running for re-election.
Capitol Update
WHAT YOUR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IS DOING - FOR THE WEEK ENDING June 16, 2006
State Budget - Historic tax relief, expansion of school choice, elimination of accounting gimmicks, a genuinely balanced budget - Late on Friday night the legislature passed a state budget that returns more than a half-billion dollars to Arizona's tax payers, accelerates statewide freeway construction, provides for substantial teacher and correctional officers pay raises and expands school choice.
The $9.9 billion balanced budget, which takes affect July 1, followed negotiations that resulted in the governor accepting the core Republican principles of broad-based tax relief, school choice and investment in infrastructure and public safety. The budget/tax relief package includes the following major provisions:
• The largest tax relief package in Arizona history that provides $310 million of permanent income tax reductions and suspension of the $215 million state property tax for at least the next three years. This fuels Arizona's vibrant economy while returning money to the Arizonans who earned it in the first place.
• A $345 million increase for highway and road construction throughout the state, an investment that is critical for a rapidly growing state.
• An 11% increase - over a half-billion dollars -- for the K-12 education system. This includes an additional $100 million this year to increase teachers salaries and $160 million doled out over the next two years to fully fund all-day kindergarten should local districts choose to do so. There is also $18 million to expand school choice for lower income, disabled and foster children.
• A $157 million bump for state universities that allows Arizona State University to expand its Williams Gateway campus and helps the University of Arizona retain experienced faculty and Northern Arizona University update aging buildings.
• $140 million for investments in public safety, including money for meth interdiction, hiring 46 DPS officers, a $5,300 annual pay increase for corrections officers and prison beds.
• Nearly a half-billion dollar deposit to the "Rainy Day Fund," giving the state protection against hard times with a balance of more than $600 million.
• A quarter-billion dollar boost to healthcare, including over $10 million for cutting edge research to help combat Autism and Alzheimer's.
• More than a quarter-billion dollars to eliminate accounting tricks and gimmicks used to balance previous budgets, including the $191 million K-12 rollover and substantially eliminating the onerous practice of forcing businesses to make sales tax payments prior to when they would actually be due.
• A $60 million positive ending balance, without the aid of accounting tricks and gimmicks.
Unfortunately, Governor Janet Napolitano refused to allow $160 million to provide critical border security for Arizona. The comprehensive measure addressed the funding needs for Arizona to combat illegal immigration and its severe impact on our economy, environment and public safety, but was vetoed by the governor.
Quote of the week: "We do the things our government should do in this budget -build roads, fund education, better protect the public and put more money back into the state's economy by putting more money back into the pockets of taxpayers. The one missing piece in this budget - and it's a big one - is addressing illegal immigration. Time after time, we just could not get past the governor's vetoes on this." Senate President Ken Bennett on the budget passed by the legislature late last Friday night.
Did you know? Governor Napolitano would not agree to sign the budget unless more spending went to social welfare and entitlement programs under the Department of Economic Security.
Upcoming Events
Prescott Receptions on July 1 to Benefit Senator Kyl
Your are invited to help Senator Jon Kyl's reelection efforts at two special receptions at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 1 in Prescott.
VIP Reception
Office of Las Vegas Ranch Real Estate
115 W. Goodwin St.
Prescott, Arizona
Photo opportunity and VIP seating for parade
Suggested contribution $300 per per person or $500 per family
BBQ Reception
Event tent on southeast corner of Goodwin and Montezuma
Suggested contribution of $50 per person or $100 per family
RSVP by June 30 to Christine Walton at (602) 840-0306.
Volunteers needed for Fabulous Phoenix 4th
Join the AZ GOP at the Fabulous Phoenix 4th at Steele Indian School Park on Tuesday, July 4.
Volunteers are needed to help staff our booth and pass out bumper stickers and campaign literature.
Volunteers earn a free AZ GOP t-shirt. Contact Kara Karlson via e-mail or at (602) 957-7770 to sign up to volunteer.
For a full calendar of events, please visit www.azgop.org.
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