The U.S. House of Representatives is taking up an immigration reform bill next week, according to the Rocky Mountain News [December 9, 2005, "Tancredo's border fight going to House"]. From the article, "Rep. Tom Tancredo is about to get his big border showdown.
For years, Tancredo has had to bat down charges that he's a bigot or a crackpot, all while thumping his seal-the-borders mantra. On Thursday, conservative colleagues were calling him their leader as they gird for what could be a big fight in the House of Representatives next week over a proposed immigration enforcement measure...The bill being considered next week falls far short of what Tancredo and his 92-member House Immigration Reform Caucus want...As it stands, the legislation by Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R- Wis., would toughen penalties for both illegal immigrants and their employers. It would make it a felony to be in the United States illegally, rather than a misdemeanor as under existing law. The Sensenbrenner bill also would increase fines for companies that hire illegal immigrants and would make it mandatory for employers to use an immigration verification system established on a voluntary basis in 1996. Those provisions, and the fact that the bill does not include any versions of President Bush's proposed guest worker plan, are fine with Tancredo and members of his caucus. However, they are preparing to fight if the Republican-led House Rules Committee will not allow up- or-down votes on adding some even tougher provisions on their wish list. Among them: Approval and funding for a two-layer fence along the U.S.-Mexico border; an end to automatic 'birthright citizenship' for children of illegal immigrants born in the United States; and measures giving state and local governments more authority and resources to detain illegal immigrants."
Two scientists John Hall and Roy Glauber blasted President Bush's position on science, according to the Rocky Mountain News [December 9, 2005, "Coloradan uses Nobel to criticize"]. From the article, "While in Stockholm to pick up their Nobel Prizes, Boulder physicist John Hall and one of his co-winners criticized President Bush's science policies at a news conference. Hall said the administration's attitude toward science 'does not go in the right direction,' The Associated Press reported. 'I think to put a gloom-and- doom spin on it is probably a little bit of overreacting, but it is a worrying time,' he said Thursday. One of Hall's co- winners, American physicist Roy Glauber, went further. 'There is a measure of denial of scientific evidence going on within our administration, and there are many scientists who are not happy about that,' Glauber said. Some in Congress are more concerned with the political consequences of research projects than their scientific importance, he said. Hall and Glauber shared the physics prize with Germany's Theodor Haensch. The Americans made their remarks at a news conference after the physics laureates gave a lecture to students and fellow researchers at Stockholm University."
New Mexico governor Bill Richardson was in Denver yesterday according to the Denver Post [December 9, 2005, "Democrats need broader message, N.M. governor says"]. From the article, "New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Thursday that his fellow Democrats must deliver a broad political message that encompasses national security, economic growth and moral values if they want to win state and federal races next year and the presidency in 2008. Voters, he said, need to see Democrats as tough on terrorism but also diplomatic overseas. And when it comes to the issue of abortion rights, supported by most of the party's base, family planning and adoption should also be discussed...He also talked about Democratic operatives meeting this weekend to decide whether a Western state and a Southern state should be added to the early primaries."
Category: 2008 Presidential Election
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