Two Georgia Republican Senators Say They Will Oppose Cloture on Immigration Bill

[babylonsister]

So much for the dim one's legacy...

http://public.cq.com/docs/cqm/cqmidday110-000002536040.html

Two Georgia Republican Senators Say They Will Oppose Cloture on Immigration Bill

Georgia Republicans Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss will vote against moving the Senate’s immigration overhaul measure forward, the senators said today.

“I think everybody did a noble effort to try to deal with the problem in a comprehensive way,” Isakson said. “But it became apparent that the confidence level was not there.”

Isakson said he and Chambliss had heard from voters back home that they didn’t have faith in another measure that promises border action because past promises have yet to be fulfilled.

Neither senator was viewed as a must-have vote by bill supporters, but losing them makes the task of getting the 60 votes needed to end debate that much harder.

The Georgians were part of negotiations that led to a fragile bipartisan deal that was unveiled on May 17. At a news conference that day, both expressed optimism that the negotiations between Republicans, Democrats and Bush administration officials produced a positive step toward solving the problem.

But in the weeks that followed, both GOP senators expressed concerns about past promises to secure the border and pay for enforcement measures.

The two sent a letter to President Bush on June 12 — the same day Bush attended a GOP policy lunch — urging him to request an emergency supplemental spending measure for border security.

[Donnachaidh]

1. Both men are agri-business whores

They won't do ANYTHING that will shake up the staus quo in Georgia. What -- pay a living wage for picking vegetables?

But of course they want to play that border security bit for all it's worth. It gets the votes from those citizens who still yearn for the days of the *white knights of the KKK*.

[BOSSHOG]

2. I look forward to the day

when flag waving bush supporters are standing in the produce aisle of a grocery store scratching their heads and blaming Clinton for the quantum leap increase in the price of vegetables.

I ask again, which Americans will do what immigrants do in the conditions they do it and the price they are paid? Businessmen continue to hire them while the flag wavers gnash their teeth about the outrage and yet continue to enjoy their salads.

[Elwood P Dowd]

3. Paying workers $10.00 an hour to pick fruits and veggies

would not cause a quantum leap in the price of vegetables. My father once had a small truck farming operation after he retired. One summer he had bumper crop and had to double the minimum wage in order to find enough workers to gather his corn and melons. I think the price of a melon increased something like 15 cents. An ear of corn didn't even increase a nickle. The only items I can think of that would cause a significant increase would be small things such as berries or lima beans. Labor intensive crops such as those might raise the retail price 10%. If you paid a decent wage, there would be plenty of American citizens willing to do this work. Hell, I did it for minimum wage when I was a young student surviving on part-time work.

[BOSSHOG]

4. What is wrong

with paying a "decent" wage to immigrants? Almost a rhetorical question. If what you say is true, and I'm not doubting you, then why is there not widespread "decent" wages in that industry? And why is there onions rotting in the fields of Texas? Because that state strengthened their anti-immigrant laws? Because Americans won't work for "immigrant" wages? Yeah, I bucked hay for a nickel a bale in the 70's.

I will have to see hard working Americans in the fields picking produce from sunrise to sundown for "decent" wages all summer long before I believe they will do it. We here this argument. It almost sounds like a solution. Hey if we want to get rid of immigrants, lets take their jobs. Wow. How come that has not been activated? Because it takes a helluva lot less energy waving a flag?

[pampango]

5. They may be agri-business whores, but they will be heroes to many

at DU, at least temporarily, if they vote against cloture. ;)