Meese: Plan is worse than 1986 amnesty
June 7, 2007 | By Nathaniel Ward
The immigration plan now being considered by Congress “isn’t the 1986 amnesty deal all over again,” Heritage scholar Edwin Meese argues in today’s Wall Street Journal. “It’s worse.”
There are a number of serious problems with the legislation, writes Meese, who served as attorney general during President Reagan’s administration. These, “and the experience of 1986, should convince lawmakers that this bill will not resolve our illegal immigration problems, even as it diminishes the liberty and privacy of working citizens.”
Read more of Meese’s take on the immigration proposal.
Take our poll: Congress is now considering a flawed immigration proposal. Should lawmakers consider other options?
Immigration update
In a preliminary vote this morning, the Senate decided not to proceed to a vote on the immigration legislation. As of this writing, a follow-up vote is expected this evening.
In the meantime, here’s a review of what Heritage experts have been doing to highlight the policy questions involved in this legislation.
Heritage research goes local
As politicians in Washington debate the immigration deal drafted by Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and endorsed by President Bush, citizens nationwide are working hard to ensure their voices are heard. And many are turning to The Heritage Foundation for the facts as they compose letters to their local newspapers.
Click here to read a few of the letters—plus tips on letter writing.
Heritage panel urges visa reforms
Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) today joined former homeland security officer Stewart Verdery and State Department official John Brennan in calling for swift Congressional adoption of an expanded and improved Visa Waiver Program.
Speaking at The Heritage Foundation, Sen. Voinovich offered praise for Heritage research efforts on behalf of visa reform. The Senator said that by adopting the proposed VWP reforms, the U.S. “can facilitate legitimate travel without sacrificing security.”
—DeEtte Chatterton
Click here to read more about this important issue.
Heritage makes a difference on crime
Heritage Foundation research continues to play an important role in the Bush administration’s policy decisions. We hear today that government policymakers have used David Muhlhausen’s research on crime data to argue against reinstating the costly and ineffective COPS program.
It’s good to know that analysis like Mulhausen’s new paper on effective and constitutional responses to gang crime is being seen by decisionmakers.
In other news
- Congress today approved legislation expanding federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research. President Bush has promised to veto the bill, which would spend more taxpayer dollars on research that even private investors won’t touch.
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has announced his support for an unconstitutional plan to grant the District of Columbia representation in Congress. The House approved the plan in April.
- Iran’s government is helping supply Taliban holdouts in Afghanistan, NATO officials report. The United States, though, has stopped short of blaming the Iranians directly.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin today suggested America place missile defense sites in Azerbaijan and not in Eastern Europe.
- With its recent adoption of a flat tax, Albania has now joined the growing number of nations choosing common-sense tax reforms. It’s high time America got on this bandwagon.
Coming up at Heritage
To attend the following Heritage Foundation events, RSVP at Heritage’s events website. Or you can watch these events live online at Heritage.org. All times are Eastern.
- On Tuesday, June 12 at 2:00 p.m., Heritage hosts a panel discussion of Communism’s horrors as part of the inauguration of the new Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington, D.C.
- On Thursday, June 14 at noon, scholar Ronald J. Pestritto speaks about the origins of big government in America.
Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation. DeEtte Chatterton contributed to this report.
