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« Mideast Update | Main | Alexander Fights Permanent Extension of Internet Tax Freedom Act » July 23, 2006Bredesen Continues to Play Catch-Up on Illegal Immigration
Note that Tennessee Associated Press reporter Beth Rucker's article is completely one-sided and portrays Bredesen as a man of action on the issue, leaving out his past history of obstructing legislative efforts to address illegal immigration and allowing Bredesen to slam unnamed Republicans for allegedly making illegal immigration a "wedge issue," but not giving Republicans a chance to respond. Memo to Rucker: You're a journalist, so you're supposed to give both sides of the story, not write copy for a Bredesen campaign brochure. Memo to Bredesen: Republicans aren't trying to make illegal immigration a "wedge" issue for the purposes of a campaign. They aren't sending a few Tennessee National Guard troops to the Arizona border as a way to look "tough" on illegal immigration and prepare a future campaign commercial backdrop. They're discussing an issue of great importance to the future of the state and, during the recent legislative session they were trying to do something to address a problem that you merely wished to ignore by passing the buck to the feds. Memo to voters: As recently as a month ago - June 27th to be exact - Gov. Bredesen cared nothing about the issue of illegal immigration. His standard response was, "that's a federal problem" - even after an illegal immigrant whom state and local law enforcement repeatedly set free after various DUI and other criminal arrests wound up murdering two innocent (and legal) Tennesseans - and his administration's policies have consistently favored rewarding illegals (with driver's Posted in Tennessee Government News
Comments
I understand why your upset Bill, if the agency in charge of enforcing immigration policy said my candidate's proposal was unrealistic, I'd be a bit upset too. ICE - "It would be impossible to handle every single (illegal immigrant)." The fact is, having the Tennessee Highway Patrol go out on missions to roundup illegals will only harm the Tennessee Highway Patrol. It will also be pointless because as the ICE said, they can't handle every single "illegal". Will Pinkston's statement still stands, ?Ultimately, the answer to illegal immigration is not shifting the cost of federal enforcement to state and local taxpayers. The answer is for the federal government to do its job.? We can only do so much as a state, and so we should prioritize whom we flag for deportation. Violent criminals, or people who don't wear their seatbelt? Bryson would choose the latter, Bredesen would choose the Former...its that simple. Posted by: Sean Braisted at July 23, 2006 7:12 PMTennessee is lagging behind other states in action on this issue, and we have Bredesen, Sundquist, and most of the Democrats and some of the Republicans in the Legislature to thank for it. In fact, those just mentioned did everything they could to make this state the illegal-alien magnet it is. Sean, your generation and the ones that follow are the ones who will pay the price for the shortsightedness and inaction. You will have an epiphany one day and think, "Why didn't we listen?" But it will be too late -- if it isn't already. You will be trying to drive a bus that is completely out of your control. That is, if you and your contemporaries are still alive. Posted by: Donna Locke at July 23, 2006 9:38 PMThere are things the state can do to reduce or discourage illegal activity by foreigner nationals. Since Tennessee likes to use asset forfeiture to increase state assets, then begin seizing the assets of businesses that hire illegal foreign nationals. Tennessee regulates businesses such as licensing and registration of corporations. Require every company doing business in the state to use and maintain records from SSNVS (SS Number Verification System). Revoke the licenses and corporate charters of businesses that do not use the SSNVS. Conduct random audits of company job applications so there aren't 2800 applicants using the same SSN like a carpet mill in GA. Stop funding social services for illegal foreign nationals other than life or death situations. Such as Univ. of Tenn. effort to recruit illegal foreign nationals for free education. Tennessee doesn't need to apprehend any illegal foreign nationals. Tennessee needs to make it uncomfortable for them to stay in the state. Who will eventually pay for the illegal foreign nationals if something isn't done? All of us. The rate of illegal foreign nationals settling in Tennessee ranks in the top five of the nation over the last 5 years. Tennesseeans are forced to cover over $50 million per year for hospital childbirth costs atrributable to illegal foreign nationals. Not to mention the additional costs of the new illegal citizens. However, if Bryson comes across wishy washy over other social services like he was on the Halerin Hill show this morning, then Bredesen will be sitting in the governor's mansion another four years. Posted by: Rick Forman at July 24, 2006 9:46 AM"Sean, your generation and the ones that follow are the ones who will pay the price for the shortsightedness and inaction." Well, you are right about one thing, my generation will be paying to price for shortsightedness of the generation in power, only it will be on the federal level with the deficit. Regarding Immigration, I'm not really sure what the long term negative effect is you are talking about. Too many Mexican restaraunts? Hybrid Mexican/Hip-Hop music? Or do you subscribe to the theory that they are invading our country with the intent to break off portions and rejoin with Mexico? Posted by: Sean Braisted at July 24, 2006 3:17 PMPost a comment
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Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen is 