The Quote Below — More Misinformation from the Media
“Senate Democrats face a stark choice on immigration: improve the lives of millions of immigrants by giving them a path to legal residency — a move that would also prove a boon to the nation’s economy — or hide behind a procedural recommendation and expose their rhetoric as empty promises.
“It shouldn’t be hard to make the right call.
“The Senate parliamentarian determined this week that the Democrats’ proposal to provide legal status to roughly 8 million people falls outside the boundaries of what can be done through budget reconciliation, a process that allows a simple majority to pass a bill instead of having to meet the usual 60-vote threshold.
“But the parliamentarian’s decision is only advice, an interpretation by the nonpartisan referee of the Senate’s rules, and it can be ignored or overturned. Left with no other choice, the Senate Democratic majority must do just that.
“Dismissing that advice is not a decision to be made lightly, of course, but it has happened before — most recently when Republicans removed the 60-vote threshold for voting on Supreme Court nominees when they controlled the chamber. Immigration reform is worth the risk.
“The Democrats’ plan . . .would allow several categories of people who are in the U.S. illegally to apply for permanent residency, including those brought to the United States as children, known as Dreamers.
“It’s also expected to impact immigrants who have been granted Temporary Protected Status due to dangerous conditions in their home countries, those with temporary work visas, farmworkers and other essential workers. . . .
“In a letter sent to congressional leadership, a group of economists stressed how reform would increase wages and productivity, create jobs, generate additional tax revenue and strengthen worker protections for immigrant and nonimmigrant workers alike. . . .
“Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats are disappointed with the parliamentarian’s decision and that they will be holding additional meetings with alternate proposals. . . .Democrats made a promise. They need to deliver.” – Ignore Senate Parliamentarian on Immigration Reform, Editorial Board, The Seattle Times, 9/23/21 [Link]
Fact Check of Above Quote: This editorial wants amnesty passed, with no concern for rules and procedures. It is precisely for this reason that the Senate parliamentarian vetoed the plan to include amnesty and other changes of immigration policy in the budget bill. Senate Democrats wanted this plan for two reasons 1) To avoid close scrutiny of their immigration legislation 2) To be able to pass it with a simple majority, instead of facing filibuster and the need for at least 60 votes.
The Times editorial maintains that the Senate has sometimes disregarded a parliamentarian’s ruling. But this should not be one of those occasions. Legislation of such magnitude and consequence deserves close attention. The proposed amnesty, which would grant legal status to 8 million illegal aliens, is two and-a-half times larger than any previous amnesty. The proposed changes would also boost legal immigration substantially.
The standard way of passing legislation calls for hearings and deliberation on bills, which permits all sides to weigh and criticize provisions. The filibuster further stands as a barrier to hasty and reckless passage of bills. Mass immigration supporters have shown time and again that they hav little regard for procedure or law. Our currently wide-open border is a good illustration. A proper discussion of amnesty would certainly raise the question of how we can ever get control of illegal immigration if we reward it with legal status and a path to citizenship. This is an issue, it seems, that amnesty advocates would like to keep under wraps. Given their disreputable agenda, their preference for stealth legislation is understandable.
Lastly, this editorial repeats the falsehood that amnesty would provide an “economic boon.” If the editorialist refers to a boon for America’s economic elites, he is correct. But the benefit stops there. Average taxpayers, however, will suffer higher taxes. Illegal aliens already receive more from public expenditures than they pay in taxes. Passage of amnesty will make them eligible for even more public benefits. With amnesty encouraging more illegal immigration, American workers (particularly those with lower incomes) will face more competition.
Most corporate journalists don’t notice the problems of Americans outside their social circles. They write to please the elites. That way they can prosper and have the means to avoid the “diversity” they wish to force on everyone else.