Rep. Gillibrand has some discouraging words about immigration on her website (which is stalling due to high traffic).
While I firmly believe in giving everyone a chance, especially Democrats who win Republican districts, there is some startling language on her website as she tries to stay on both sides of this issue.
"I am firmly against providing amnesty to illegal immigrants."
"I am confident that Congress can enact reform without providing amnesty to illegal immigrants."
From Rep. Gillibrand's "On the Issues" section.
In a State as Hispanic as Nuevo York, one would think that both of our senators would be sensitive to this language. Especially in light of Harry Reid's promise to bring back Immigration Reform to the senate this year. Several Democrats blocked the cloture vote during the Immigration Reform Debate and we need all hands on deck this time.
There is plenty of room for Rep. Gillibrand to move back toward the Democratic Party, but some reassurance from the Governor (who isn't doing the best job here) would be appreciated.
More of her full statements about immigration after the jump.
Pay attention to the double speak:
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"Our immigration system is broken and hard-working Americans often bear the brunt of the federal government’s failure to secure our borders and provide adequate protections for the American worker and the shrinking American Middle Class. I believe the first step to fixing our immigration system is to stop the flow of illegal immigration. This can be accomplished by securing the Southern border, enforcing the employment laws on the books and ensuring that our farmers and businesses have the adequate number of legal workers after they have exhausted their search for American workers. I am firmly against providing amnesty to illegal immigrants. In my first year in Congress, I passed legislation on the floor of the House of Representatives that would bar employers, who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, from receiving federal contracts.
In addition, I am a sponsor of the SAVE Act, which will hire 8,000 new Customs and Border Patrol agents, while utilizing new technology and fencing along the border. I have also sponsored the Legal Employee Verification Act, which would require all employers to verify, through the Social Security Administration, that their employees are legal. In addition,
I support reforming and streamlining the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) so that the extraordinary casework backlog will be addressed within two years. This is especially important for the thousands of farmers in our district who need legal workers. I am confident that Congress can enact reform without providing amnesty to illegal immigrants. This is a national and economic security issue for our country and I am committed to fighting for the American worker."
------------------Rep. Gillibrand's website, "On the Issues" Section
To be fair, Rep. Gillibrand's comments are fairly standard among moderates and conservatives. She obviously supports a guest-worker program of some kind,- she has to,- her district has a large number of farmers.
The dairy farm industry particularly, an industry prevalent in Rep. Gillibrand's district, have been strong supporters of a reasonable guest-worker program. They have however, not endorsed a full pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
For us Hispanics, a Guests-Worker program is not enough though, as it doesn't address the 12 million people currently living here illegally. When you only talk about a Guest-worker program and omit any talk of legalizing the people living here or "amnesty" there is a subtext. One which is spoken quite frequently on tv and by "moderates and conservatives" when they talk about the immigration problem.
Ignorance or Deportation. Ignore these people (cut off their social services, support, and rights) until they leave or Deport them.
Unfortunately none of these methods work and the problem just gets pushed down the road for the next politician to deal with.
Where will Rep. Gillibrand stand when she represents a significantly more liberal base across the state? I agree that she can become more progressiveas a senator, but her district isn't that conservative (R+3). I agree with Nate Silver, I honestly think she believes in her statements.
Rep. Gillibrand has the possibility of becoming a very dynamic Senator and I would hope that the leadership in her party educate her on these positions. Often times, new Senators try to distinguish themselves by appearing stubborn or independent, I hope she doesn't use Immigration as her place to buck the Democratic Party.
Hopefully Gov. Paterson or her colleagues in the Senate can talk some sense into her regarding this issue. Now, without Hillary, we need Gillibrand's vote against any Republican filibuster to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. The Republicans successfully filibustered the cloture vote in 2006.
I don't know about you, but I'm going to call Senator Gillibrand when she takes office.