Feingold Says No To Amending The Constitution To Deal With Illegal Immigration

[pampango]

Source: Talking Points Memo

"We can and should address the problem of illegal immigration head-on without amending the Constitution," says Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI). "The way to do that is to pass bipartisan comprehensive legislation improving border security, protecting American jobs and addressing those currently in the country illegally. It is past time for Congress to resume the bipartisan effort that was started by President Bush and enact meaningful federal immigration reform."


Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/feingold-no-amending-the-constitution-to-deal-with-illegal-immigration.php

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Sounds like the proposed comprehensive reform from the Progressive Caucus.

http://cpc.grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?ContentID=205&ParentID=0&SectionID=93&SectionTree=93&lnk=b&ItemID=203

[Buenaventura]

1. bueno! unfortunately, if Russ says it, the GOPpies

will dig in their heels once again. they're even abandoning the shrub and ronnie raygun on immigration.

[Bette Noir]

2. Republicans don't like brown people.

They could even lose Texas, as obstinate as they've been on immigration. There was a column in the Washington Post the other day, which said that Latinos will be a majority in Texas within a few years.

We're a whopping big chunk of California, Arizona, and Florida, too. How do Republicans think they're ever going to get the White House, when they can't with California, Arizona, Texas, or Florida?

[AlbertCat]

3. Feingold Says No To Amending The Constitution To Deal With Illegal Immigration

Of course he does! He's not fucking crazy.

[4lbs]

4. The idiot GOPpers who want to amend the Constitution know it will never happen.

Those idiot GOP politicians are just bloviating for donations.

It's very difficult to amend the Constitution to overturn or strike out a large portion of an official amendment already passed, like the 14th Amendment.

First, it must be passed by Congress.

Second, the President must not veto it. Obama likely would veto any bill that changes how citizenship is conferred because it would repeal parts of the 14th Amendment.

Because of this, it goes back to Congress and must be passed in BOTH houses with a 2/3 vote. That means 67 U.S. Senators and 291 U.S. Reps must vote YEA to override the POTUS' veto.

Third, it must then be ratified by 2/3 of the 50 states (34 states is 2/3) to change the Amendment or add a new one. That means each state's legislature has to vote to ratify it.

This entire process could take about 8 years or more.

Fourth, it would likely be challenged legally by the ACLU or some other body. That means the U.S. Supreme Court would have to uphold it.

That's another possible 2 years.

So, it would be at least 10 years before such a change could be implemented and upheld legally.

I'm sure the GOPpers know this, and are just posturing for donations from their stupid base.