Congressman Luis Gutierrez, who recently visited Houston for an Immigration Reform rally, has agreed to back the Obama health care bill now that President Obama seems to be backing the CIR blueprint that has been devised in bipartisan fashion.
Obviously, President Obama is attempting to do something before tens of thousands of supporters of immigration reform rally on Washington this Sunday. Still, it sends somewhat of a stamp of a approval to begin the legislative process to get this bill completed, passed, and signed in, hopefully, a timely manner.
The outline calls for illegal immigrants to admit they broke the law, pay a fine and back taxes, and perform community service if they want to get on a pathway to legal status. They would also be required to pass background checks and be proficient in English.
This has been the standard for most immigration bills, including the Kennedy-McCain bill; however, the Republican Party is now on the spot. How they react to the bill, how they vote on the bill could translate to how viable they will be to Latino voters as an alternative to Democrats; especially in those districts in which surging Latino voter participation made the difference in Democrats gaining ground after 2006.
Other issues on the bill include:
—Giving legal permanent residence to people who graduate with doctoral or master’s degrees from U.S. universities.
—Adopting zero tolerance for illegal immigrants who commit crimes and expanding enforcement of immigration laws.
—Creating a flexible legal immigration system that brings in more low-skilled workers when jobs are available and fewer in a recession.
—Requiring all U.S. workers — citizens and legal immigrants — to get fraud-proof Social Security cards with a biometric identifier.
I would hope that real reform of the citizenship and visa process is included; otherwise, the “back of the line”ers will keep blabbing.
As far as Congressman Gutierrez’s threat of a NO vote on health care, much had to do with what only can be called “restraint of trade” in the banning of undocumenteds from purchasing health insurance under the health care bill. Although immigrants are not banned from buying anything else, including homes and wealth-generating items, they will be banned from buying health insurance with Obama’s health care bill.
This, though, is obviously in line with those states who ban immigrants from obtaining driver’s licenses, which then bans them from purchasing vehicle insurance. So, the U.S. Government’s practice of putting people in danger, either by forcing uninsured drivers on the street or banning people from preventive health care, continues.
Once health care passes, if the blue dogs get in line, then the debate (and Republican (and blue dog) posturing) will begin. The sooner this gets passed, the better it will be for Democrats in November–as will Latino voter participation.
That’s right, I’m calling it!
Now, it’s time for other leaders, such as Mayors of Cities, and other electeds, to back the bill. Heck, maybe a gubernatorial candidate, too!
