democratic senator leahy wants to pass an immigration reform bill in order to find out what is in it...

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Democratic Senator Leahy Wants to Pass an Immigration Reform Bill in Order toFind Out What is In It

Cutrona, Danielle (Judiciary-Rep) Mar 28, 2013 11:48 A

Posted in group: Groundswell

MARCH 28, 2013

Democratic Senator Leahy Wants to Pass anImmigration Reform Bill in Order to Find Out Whatis In It

By Katie Pavlich

3/28/2013

Recently, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions sent a letter to SenateJudiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy urging the immigrationreform "Gang of Eight" group, which includes both Democrats andRepublicans, not to rush important reform legislation through withoutthorough debate. Sessions urged consideration of all angles of reformsuch as federal welfare benefits for illegals, how ICE agents viewreform, how illegals can access ObamaCare and more.

In a written response, Leahy made it clear he has no plans to slowdown the immigration reform process, arguing that because the Senatehas been holding different types of immigration hearings for years, itisn't necessary to hold a hearing specific to new immigration reformlegislation.

"I intend to proceed to comprehensive immigration reform with all


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deliberate speed. Under the Rules of our Committee, you will have yourrights protected to hold over the legislation the first week it is listed onthe Committee's agenda. After that, you will have the right to circulateand offer amendments. I hope and expect that you will not delayconsideration simply to prevent he legislation from moving forward.

Artificial delays, delays for delay's sake, has tainted too much of theSenate's work over the last few years," Leahy wrote in a response letterto Sessions. "After reviewing the record, I am reminded that ourCommittee held more than 40 hearings in these issues during the fourCongresses that preceded this one and before the additional hearingswe have already held this year. If Any of the more junior Senators needmore time to get up to speed, I will look forward to them discussing theirspecific readiness problems with me directly and I will do my best to

work with them, as well."

Leahy also accused Sessions of having a "beef" with John McCain fornot being included in the Gang of Eight and wrote he is worried "toomany congressional Republicans continue to oppose a straightforwardpathway to citizenship."

According to Sessions, Leahy's response indicates a plan to rushlegislation to the Senate floor without hearings or thorough debate.

Last week, Ranking Member Grassley, Senator Hatch, SenatorCornyn, Senator Lee, Senator Cruz, and myself sent a letter toChairman Leahy warning against a rush to pass an amnesty bill beforethe American people know whats in it. In his reply to our letter,Chairman Leahy effectively informed Committee members that he hasevery intention of moving on a rushed timetable that would make itimpossible for lawmakers or the public to properly assess a bill of this

magnitude," Sessions said in a statement yesterday. "Specifically, itseems the Chairman is arguing we can put a bill on the floor two weeksafter the Gang of Eight potentially produces legislation in early April.The Chairmans suggestion that we dont need hearings on this newproposal because we have held immigration hearings in the pastmisses the entire point: the massive proposal being cobbled together bya rou of Senators in secret must be inde endentl ud ed and


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reviewed by the Judiciary Committee in the full light of day. That willtake monthsnot two weeksand will require hearings on everyaspect of this issue: protecting American workers and wages, protectingour public benefit programs and ensuring enforcement of the publiccharge law, evaluating the size, scope, and impact of any guest worker

program, tracking visa overstays, etc. No member of Congress whobelieves in democratic procedure can acquiesce to the rammingthrough of a thousand-page bill that will dramatically and directly impactthe taxes, wages, and security of our constituents."

In addition, a Senate aide tells Townhall, "While paying lip service totransparency and good governance, Senator Leahy appears to haveindicated that his true intention is to tow the Schumer-Obama line andrush a multi-hundred page bill through his committee for the full Senateto consider before people fully understand whats in it."

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/03/28/democratic-senator-leahy-wants-to-pass-an-immigration-reform-bill-in-order-to-find-out-what-is-in-it-n1551561
http://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2013/03/28/democratic-senator-leahy-wants-to-pass-an-immigration-reform-bill-in-order-to-find-out-what-is-in-it-n1551561

democratic senator leahy wants to pass an immigration reform bill in order to find out what is in it...

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