Masonry Magazine August 2006 Page. 11
MASONRY COMPUTER ESTIMATING
Masonry Computer Estimating
That Does It All... in 3D!
by Tradesmen's Software
If Republicans are perceived to be competing against each other on immigration, it could hurt the party in the November elections.
2008 Republican Presidential nominee John McCain, R-Ariz. Not to mention that the bill very closely followed the president's policy vision for immigration reform.
During the press conference Hastert and his team took the opportunity to lay the product in the laps of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass. The group handed out fliers that neatly labeled the measure the "Reid-Kennedy Senate Democrat Immigration Bill." Furthermore, they gave every indication that their plan is to take that message to voters during the hearings in July and August.
Both Democrats and Republicans are pointing the finger at the other by trying to place the blame for the delay on immigration reform. Boehner maintains that because Kennedy wrote key provisions and that two-thirds of the senators who voted for the Senate bill were Democrats, it was appropriate that the bill be labeled the "Reid-Kennedy bill." Democrats have responded to this claim by stating that the GOP House is holding up the legislative process. "House Republicans looking for someone to blame for the delay on immigration reform should look in the mirror," Reid said in a statement.
Democrats maintain that the House held plenty of hearings before passing its bill in December. The focus of the House legislation is border security, workplace enforcement and harsh penalties on employers, such as mason contractors, in addition to making them felons, whether they knowingly or unknowingly employ illegal immigrants.
The Senate-passed measure would allow most illegal immigrants in the United States to remain in the country and earn citizenship. It would create a guest worker program for an additional 200,000 prospective immigrants each year, take a number of steps to secure the border, and make a pilot employee-verification program mandatory for all businesses.
The strategy that some Republicans are using could backfire. The Senate bill is supported by a number of Senate Republicans, as well as the president, who has been very vocal on the issue. If Republicans are perceived to be competing against each other on immigration, rather than working together, it could hurt the party in the November elections.
One fact remains, if the public views the constant bickering over immigration reform as politicians trying to avoid making hard decisions, it could be especially damaging to the GOP because they currently hold all branches of government.
Jessica Johnson Bennett is director of Government Affairs for MCAA. She brings to the Association an extensive background in public affairs and government relations. Her expertise in strategic planning, PAC management and operations help leverage the position of the MCAA on key policy issues that are important to the masonry industry.
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CIRCLE 163 ON READER SERVICE CARD
August 2006
Masonry
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