June 24, 2009 in City

Immigration initiative backers buy ad insert

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A group pushing an initiative to change immigration law in Washington paid to insert 77,000 petitions in today’s Spokesman-Review.

They’ve used a similar tactic to distribute copies of Initiative 1043 petitions in Yakima, Ellensburg, Republic and the Olympic Peninsula as the July 2 deadline for signatures draws near, Craig Feller, of Respect Washington, said Tuesday.

The group wants the state to verify citizenship of people seeking government services such as driver’s licensing. The initiative also would require employers to verify citizenship when hiring workers. Respect Washington sponsored a similar measure as an initiative to the Legislature last year, but it didn’t get enough signatures to turn it in.

Feller said the initiative organization spent $8,000 to print and distribute the petitions in the S-R, and about $20,000 statewide for the newspaper blitz, which started around Memorial Day.

The group listed only $100 in its Public Disclosure Commission reports as of June 10, but Feller said those reports are being corrected. The group needs signatures of about 241,000 registered voters by July 2; Feller declined to say how many it had to date. He didn’t dispute a suggestion that initiative groups that distribute petitions via newspaper usually have a big gap to close.

“We wouldn’t spend the money if it weren’t necessary,” Feller said. “Our success will depend on the response.”

Three comments on this story so far. Add yours!

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  Ninch on June 24 at 8:17 a.m.

  What is the point? Except to cause further harassment of long time Washington State residents who have to keep on proving that they are indeed “residents” with EVERY dealing with the drivers licensing office.

  Note: Proving “citizenship” equates to an ENHANCED driver’s license, which BTW are virtually impossible to get for anyone living outside the cities where the THREE eastern Washington offices are located (Spokane, Wenatchee, Kennewick) which are “walk-in” only (first come/first serve) and if you get there when the office opens (8:30am) you will be very lucky to then get an “interview” before the office closes (5pm) whereupon one must then try again another day. (Getting a passport is much easier and overall considering the cost and time involved, more economical.)

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  Brittanicus on June 24 at 8:46 a.m.

  In the 1986 BLANKET AMNESTY, hundreds of thousands of more poor, uneducated people tried to sneak into the United States, before the new law was enacted giving guest workers a path to citizenship.? Then when the word went out that an imminent AMNESTY was in the works , millions more from every corner of the world, but mainly over our border began bringing themselves across the open border-no matter the cost? The Simpson/Mazzoli bill twenty three years ago was to give guest workers a chance of citizenship, but it became inundated with fraudulent immigration petitions. Their was a black market for papers, including landlord documents, utility bills for illegal aliens who hadn’t been in America, for the specific time required by the act. The 2 million illegal immigrants who petitioned for residency, turned into about 5 million—who in turn were allowed to sponsor their extended families.

  THE SAME TRAVESTY OF OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

  So all those who came here under—CHAIN MIGRATION—fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, eventually became the financial charges of US taxpayers, when their original sponsors reneged on supporting them all. With the American jobless rate nearing 11 percent, what are these politicians possibly thinking, when discussing yet another immigration AMNESTY? Their is no possible gain for the betterment of the American people, as they have been carrying the financial yoke of supporting the illegal labor of nationwide businesses and contractors to this day? Now they want to stick the US population with even higher taxes to subsidize the corporate world?

  None of these predatory legislators follow the US Constitution anymore, as all they think about is being re-elected, with campaign contributions from the corporate benefactors.

  They show no integrity, no loyalty and boarders on tyranny when our Democratic leaders such as Sen. Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi followed by an equally anti-sovereignty group, try to secretly forestall or even kill the E-Verify federal identity application. The ACLU, enforced by the US Chamber of Commerce tried to pitch the E-Verify success rate in the trash. But the American people got wind of it and have no intentions of letting go, as it’s the only progressive tool to eject illegal workers from the workplace. The Pro-illegal labor special interest lobby, do not even inform the general public that irregularities can be resolved with the Social Security Administration? It’s the federal location where illegal aliens, will not set foot into, as they would be justifiably be detained.

  The majority of Democrats have already started a wretched campaign to undermine workplace ICE raids and also chosen to underfund 287 (g) the local police arrest and detain enforcement. Every law that reasonable, honest lawmakers have drafted during the Bush era is being undermined or under funded. Where E-Verify is concerned in the Save act amendment, they have even removed it’s mandatory use in the Stimulus bill, allowing contractors to hire at least 300.000 illegal workers meant for jobless Americans. The race is on now for a portion of citizens and green card residents to determine what they want? Another Blanket Amnesty with all it’s conditions will cause unmentionable OVERPOPULATION of some 150 million more people in our country, with the consequences of higher taxes and shortages of food and even more poverty that’s brought upon ourselves. Facts at NUMBERSUSA. JUDICIALWATCH AND AMERICANPATROL.

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  gabbyur24 on June 24 at 12:18 p.m.

  The proponents of amnesty have framed the issue to their advantage much like Bush framed the Iraq War debate; if we were against the war we were unpatriotic and did not support the troops, and now, if we express legitimate concerns about the cost of those here illegally, we are accused of racism and being against immigrants. Amnesty proponents and the news media interchange illegal alien and immigrant, although they have nothing to do with each other.

  Our school programs were cut by 40% and our class size is 47th in the nation due to the huge illegal alien population, while Senators Murray and Cantwell vote YES on Anchor Babies and Chain Migration which continues to over crowd our schools, and vote NO on E-Verify that would protect jobs for CITIZENS and those here legally. College tuition was raised 14% because of the state deficit while we spend $665 million dollars a year on free social services for those here illegally, and Murray and Cantwell vote YES on the Dream Act! All I want is some practical common sense which I am NOT getting from my party.
  
  I am a lifelong Democrat that has always supported immigration and Civil Rights for all - LEGALLY. Most of us feel sympathy for the plight of the Mexican people. They are hard working, family oriented, deserving people, but not at the expense of our own people. If I lived in Mexico, I would say the same thing about illegal intruders siphoning off tax dollars intended for legal residents of Mexico, so don’t play the race card with me.

  Proponents of amnesty for those here breaking our laws throw out the same old tired excuses; racism, hate, right wing extremists, pay more for your lettuce, they just want a better life, etc, etc. Marie Hinojosa excused these law breakers by saying they are forced to come here illegally because they don’t have legal means to do so. Excuse me! Millions of people have come here legally, respected our laws, our nation and our generosity, assimilated into our society and become proud Americans. Illegal aliens are loyal to Mexico, NOT the United States. The money they send home to Mexico is its second largest resource after their rich oil fields. Mexico is NOT a poor country, but they send their poor here for us to educate and treat medically. They send their criminal element here for us to be terrorized by and incarcerate. But how can we blame illegal aliens for not respecting our laws when our own government and politicians do not respect and enforce our laws?

  There will be an Amnesty meeting tomorrow at the White House and the comments by amnesty proponents is est. 25000. I placed my call today and said this: “I’m calling about the amnesty meeting at the White House tomorrow. I oppose giving work permits and citizenship to those here illegally. Democrats stand up for the law, we obey the law, and we don’t reward those who break the law. I regret voting for you. You are a liar; you said you would implement E-Verify and you have not. You need to stand up for citizens and those here legally. If you want to stand up for Mexican Nationals, go to Mexico and run for president.” White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111