If there is one thing that the movement for comprehensive immigration reform can learn from the congressional fight for health care reform, it's that Republicans will distort the facts and delay in order to block the change Americans need.
They'll even resort to feigning support for policies and programs that they've historically opposed -- like Medicare -- and then reverse course and file amendments to privatize it.
Given this track record, it should come as no surprise then that members of the anti-immigrant (and anti-worker) Immigration Reform Caucus are now trying to co-opt a "pro-worker agenda" in a ruthless effort to push their extremist mass deportation agenda and block the smart, practical immigration reform American workers need.
Thanks to a new report released today from America's Voice Education Fund, a closer look at the voting records of these members show them to be some of the most consistent opponents of legislation that would benefit American workers.
Despite the hype, the op-eds, and the continued pandering to a small minority of anti-immigrant voters, these leaders have no interest in supporting working families; no interest in raising standards or wages for working people who struggle everyday to provide for their families. In fact, these so-called champions of the American worker have taken every opportunity to make life harder for working families.
As the report shows, SEIU gives 95 percent of these phony reformers an "F" grade for their anti-worker voting records. Of the 87 Members of the House of Representatives who received an "A" grade from the extremist anti-immigrant group Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) in the 110th Congress:
· 94 percent voted against the Employee Free Choice Act
· 93 percent against Equal Pay for Women
· 83 percent against Extending Unemployment Compensation
· 68 percent against Increasing the Minimum Wage
· 82 percent against Providing Parental Leave for Federal Employees
From someone who has fought for workers' rights -- organizing workers from California to Texas to Florida and to New York -- it's shameful to watch these members wear such a false veil of reform -- fanning the flames of hate and fear against immigrants while championing policies that are bad for workers at every level.
As wages plummet, unemployment grows, and the middle class continues to shrink, working families need bold policy solutions that lift wages, create quality jobs and build our economy for the long term. Comprehensive immigration reform is a critical part of that road to recovery. The only way we can truly turn around declining working conditions in America is to get undocumented immigrants out of the underground economy, into the system and on an equal playing field with all workers. Only then will we be able to restore economic fairness and raise wages and living standards for everyone.
After years of failed piecemeal solutions and enforcement-only traps and tragedies, we face an unprecedented opportunity to re-build our immigration system so that it strengthens our economy, supports working families, and restores the rule of law for the long-term. This is the time to get it done right so that all workers -- American and immigrant -- can unite their strength to end the exploitation and worsening labor standards. Done right, immigration reform will lift wages and labor standards for all workers and be a tremendous boon to our economy at a time when we most need it.
So to those false prophets of reform, we say: not this time. We will not allow any more costly, piecemeal measures that threaten to harm all workers and jeopardize the smart, long-term reforms we need. In the comings months, diverse labor unions will join with concerned American workers across the country to make our voices heard. We will not be silenced until immigration reform is passed in Congress and signed by President Obama. Only then will we have won this race for all U.S. workers.
Corporate America has no incentive to legalize workers because an illegal worker is the more silent a worker & the better the corporations like it...
"We the people" have completely lost our voices as the media has all but stifled any and all stories concerning the struggles of working people.. Unions have been successfully demonized as enemies of investors and any attempt to advance any worker friendly agenda is easily put down... Wall St has priority and the voters have no input on the matter,,,,,,,, maybe the lesson of this past " Change" election being learned in the health care debate will finally wake more people up to the fact there is a one-sided war to eliminate the American middle class being waged in the land of the free..
Until the workers begin speaking with actions, like back in the days of sit down strikes, the corporations are going to continue to pose their will on them.
In todays political environment money speaks louder than these back page words and the politicians will continue to speak out of both sides of their mouths in pro worker rhetoric knowing full well how much control the corporations have on the political agenda along with a non interested media will negate any promise todays politician makes.
I loathe the attempt to set worker against worker -- There's nothing pro-worker about it. It's pro-plutocrat malarky, and it deserves to be greeted with a loud raspberry.
If the 13 million illegal immigrants were not in this country, it is conceivable that wages would be higher. Remember 13 millioin minimum wage or below minimum wage earners puts heavy downward pressure on wages. I might pay more for lettuce or to have my roof done, but there would be 13 million more jobs in America for Americans and lower unemployment.
Blessing illegals also has the long term effect of telling those standing in line legally and patiently to come to America that we are NOT a nation of laws. What possible excuse could be given them for letting those who butt in line succeed?
Americans who wish to have their borders and immigration laws respected are neither "anti-immigrant" nor "anti-worker." To claim that they are requires denying the above difference.
The article is not about immigrants (legal or "illegal"). It is about how anti-immigrant forces are hypocritically using labor issues to stop needed immigration reform... in spite of the fact they have a very poor track record on any real pro-labor issue.
People who really care about American workers are the ones who are fighting for EFCA, parental leave and family leave. These people who are pro-worker are (with few exceptions) favor comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for people here illegally.
I am "pro-worker"--as well as "pro-immigrant" (I have a family full of immigrants)--but I do not believe in rewarding illegal behavior with American citizenship. This is not fair to the people who wait years to enter this country legally. Amnesty was given once, and the end result was that millions more took advantage of it. This is a never-ending problem.
I also believe in immigration reform, but not in response to demands from people who are in this country illegally or their representatives. I believe that the enforcement of present immigration law, particularly as it applies to employers, would go a long way towards solving the problem. I do not believe in mass deportation.
The United States is a sovereign country with sovereign borders. It is absurd for foreigners to demand that Americans change their immigration law in order to accommodate their needs. Their native countries should be held responsible for satisfying those needs. Mexico, for example, is one of the richest countries in Latin America. When will it be held responsible for its own people?
I'm pretty sure that the author of this article wouldn't even care if the illegal immigrants under consideration were from Canada. He is simply trying to couch his agenda for illegal immigrants under a wider umbrella of immigration and labor law reform.