RSSImmigration issue heats up Hispanic chamber forum
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The issue of immigration made things a little hot Wednesday for the two non-Hispanic candidates at a forum sponsored by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Yakima.
State Rep. Charles Ross, R-Naches, was drawn into an exchange about whether undocumented immigrants and their children should receive public benefits, particularly whether high school graduates from such families should be eligible for college financial aid from the state.
Although Ross said he supports reform of immigration laws to make it easier for immigrants to obtain citizenship, he said his first duty as a state legislator is to “make sure that people who are in this country legally are taken care of.”
Fellow Republican Norm Johnson, a Yakima City Councilman running against Democrat Vickie Ybarra in the other House District 14 race, also drew some criticism during the forum at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Yakima.
Ricardo Garcia, who recently retired as executive director of Radio KDNA, a Spanish-language radio station in Granger, said he’s known Johnson a long time and respects his many years as a public official in Yakima Valley communities. However, Garcia told the candidate he was “disappointed” in what he heard from Johnson during a recent radio interview on KIT.
“You seemed to agree with the anti-immigrant attitude in the Yakima Valley,” Garcia said.
As part of his response, Johnson said, “I do think we need to overhaul the laws of immigration.”
“It would have been nice if you said that on KIT,” Garcia replied.
The toughest question that Ybarra faced while addressing the lunch crowd of about 50 people came from Ross. He challenged Ybarra’s statement that the Yakima Valley needs to be represented in the House Democratic caucus so that “our values and our interests are considered.”
Ross asked her why the Democratic-controlled legislature eliminated about $10 million in funding for programs from the anti-gang legislation that Ross helped get approved earlier this year.
Ybarra, the Yakima school board president, acknowledged Ross’ efforts in getting the anti-gang bill passed, but said the removal of the funding proved her point about having representation in the Democratic caucus.
“There was no one in that caucus to say, ‘No, we need that money in the Yakima Valley,’ ” Ybarra said. “There was not someone at that table to advocate for us.”
Ross and Johnson expressed support for implementing a two-level minimum wage in the state, with a lower starting wage for teenagers. Both candidates said such a change would benefit many small businesses.
Mayor Jesse Farias of Wapato, running as a Democrat for the open seat on the Yakima County Commission, said he’s not satisfied with how the county has been managing its finances.
“The stewardship of our money is not being properly handled,” Farias said, “and the small towns need a voice in county government.”
His Republican opponent, Kevin Bouchey, did not attend the forum.
The audience also heard from Christopher Ramirez, the political novice and 2004 Davis High School graduate who’s running as a Democrat against Ross.
Ramirez, who attended Pacific Lutheran University and said he plans to go law school, told the audience he would bring a fresh perspective to the legislature.
The money for gang legislation, Ms Ybarra, was pulled by one of your "Countrymen", a Hispanic lady State Sen Prentice from Renton, who is also up for reelection this year. I hope and pray she loses. She is influenced by racial motivations herself and not only wrote in the last amendment that took the money away, but also gutted the bill by disallowing any consideration by police regarding clothing worn by the gangsters - she called this "profiling". Ms Prentice needs to stop representing the National Council of La Raza, (the Race) a well publicized hate group, and start representing the people of the country she lives in.
Meanwhile, Norm and Charles, you need to grow some guts and stand up for the rule of law of this country. You will soon be called upon to take another oath accordingly and we, your subjects, will hold your feet tot the fire to se that you do so. Illegals need to go home, willfully or forcefully - we don;t need or want 38 million new felon "Citizens" created by amnesty rewards for breaking our immigration laws.
No help from Obama or McCain against the occupational army of illegal immigrants. The economy is staggering, but they still insist in importing impoverished illegal cheap labor. Now it is up to 'THE PEOPLE' to let their voices be heard and their angry frustration.
Keep Pressure on Senate to Pass E-Verify Reauthorization; No House Vote Held on Foreign-Worker Bills
Please contact your Senator through the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask him/her to pressure Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to allow a vote this week on H.R. 6633, the House-passed E-Verify reauthorization bill. The E-Verify program will die in November if Congress does not reauthorize it before Members leave for the election recess on Friday.
IT'S YOUR FAMILIES FUTURE. DEPORTATION OR OVERPOPULATION. IF WE DON'T STOP IT NOW, THEY WILL KEEP COMING..
JOIN 756.000 other American patriots at www.numbersusa.com , to stop the travesty of our immigration laws. Learn about Immigration governmental corruption at www.judicialwatch.org HOW THE BAILOUT WAS CAUSED. www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1258/pub_detail.asp
PLEASE PASS ON THIS URGENT MESSAGE
SOUTHWEST BORDER APPREHENSIONS (Source DHS/CBP)
1987--1,190,488------1995--1,394,554------2003----905,065
1988--1,008,145------1996--1,649,986------2004--1,139,282
1989----954,243------1997--1,412,953------2005--1,189,108
1990--1,169,939------1998--1,555,776------2006--1,071,972
1991--1,197,875------1999--1,537,000------2007----858,638
1992--1,258,482------2000--1,643,679------2008----660,288 (ends 9/30)
1993--1,327,259------2001--1,235,718
1994--1,094,717------2002----929,809
--------9,201,148------------11,380,559-------------5,824,353
In the last 22 years, over 26 million illegals, have been apprehended, crossing our Southwest Border.
Less than 1, out of 4, were estimated to have been apprehended.
Mind boggling when you think about it.
Makes you wonder how many of those illegals have become legal over that period of time.
and they are still coming too:
Southwest Border Patrol Sector Apprehensions (Source DHS/CBP)
Fiscal Year-------------2005---------2006---------2007-------2008 (ends 9/30)
San Diego------------126,879-----142,104---- 152,460--- 149,418
El Centro--------------55,725-------61,465----- 55,883----- 38,012
Yuma-----------------138,492-----118,549----- 37,992------ 7,966 *
Tucson --------------439,053-----392,074---- 378,239--- 299,635
El Paso---------------122,624-----122,256----- 75,464----- 28,716
Marfa ------------------10,532--------7,520------- 5,536------ 5,113
Del Rio -----------------68,547------42,636----- 22,920----- 19,612
Laredo -----------------75,268------74,840----- 56,714------41,160
Rio Grande Valley --134,136----110,528------ 73,430----- 70,656
Apprehensions----1,189,108--1,071,972-----858,638----660,288(08/31)
THERE WILL BE NO AMNESTY!!!
OUR ACCEPTABLE IMMIGRATION REFORM
#1. Secure Our Borders!!!
#2. Mandate E-Verify for ALL Employees!!!
#3. Mandate E-Verify for ANY Benefit!!!
#4. Stop the Underground Economy!!!
#5. End Birthright Citizenship for Illegals!!!
......and make it retroactive!!!
#6. End Chain Migration!!!
#7. Make English our Official Language!!!
#8. Cut Off Federal Funds to Sanctuary Cities!!
NOTHING MORE!!! NOTHING LESS!!!
It would have been nice to announce this "forum" in advance. Since when is a Forum, a "Forum" unless someone is there from opposing sides to offer input and contribute to the debate?
I love, (NOT) all these "secret" meetings where our politicians get together with the local Hispanic community to listen to demands from non-citizens and pander for their votes. If the Hispanic vote here is considered so large that our politicians should ignore the citizens, then something is really haywire - such as where are all these "Votes" coming from? How many are legally eligible to vote?
It is high time this newspaper and the rest of us stand up and ask those questions and demand an investigation into local voter fraud by non-citizen voters!!! We have heard nothing but the word "Demand" from the National Council of La Raza, (The Race) and other related pro-illegal hate groups, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, an offshoot of La Raza, but now it is OUR turn to demand. We have been kind to our country's "Visitors" long enough. There is no more hospitality left in us and it is now time to be rude and ask these invaders and interlopers to go home and fix their own country and stop ruining ours. Legal and fully documented immigrants are welcome, but the 75% and up that are ILLEGAL are not.
There is a simple solution to the problem. The governments to the south rely on US dollars being returned by illegal immigrants working here. Every cent we need to expend on trials for illegals who get in hot water with our judicial system should be back billed to the countries of origin of said illegal. In addition, every dime expended on social services for both the illegal and their offspring ( whether foreign born or birthright US offspring ) shoul be billed 50/50 to the country of emigration and the Catholic church ( the church encourages multiple offspring by virtue of no birth control ). If the net US dollar returns to countries of origin were to turn negative then the foreign countries themselves would take the measures necessary to halt emigration at our border. From what I understand of our neighbor to the South their military would halt border crossings in ways that would be very harsh ( enough so to work magnificently ). Foreign nationals who choose to stay out of the court system and actually care for/pay for their own children without our taxpayer supported social services are the immigrants we would/could then welcome to our wonderful country with open arms.
Report ViolationIf we want to secure the borders successfully, we first must bring our troops home. We need to stop needless spending with the War on Terrorism and the War on Drugs. Bring those troops back to America.
We would save more than enough money and have the manpower to handle the border.
If it wasn't for Independent Journalists like Lou Dobbs of CNN or O'Reilly from FOX, Glenn Beck, as the population of activists Americans would forever remain in the dark. Pro-immigrant zealots don't like it, because the average citizen or legal resident has a say in this explosive issue.
Regular citizens have become the first line of defense of corrupt politicians and the special interest lobby, that remain in collusion with far-left (9th district court) judges and extremist groups which border on tyranny.
NEWS FLASH
Rep. Tancredo Demands Safeguards in any Economic Bailout
http://www.numbersusa.com/content/
Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) has demanded that any bailout of the finance industry should include safeguards that prevent the bank or lender from recouping funds spawning from their own fraudulent or dishonest activities.
Tancredo also wants to ensure that taxpayers do not provide assistance to illegal aliens who have lost their homes and do not absorb any bad debts owed to financial institutions. He maintains that these protections are a "must" for any bailout package.
Rep. Tancredo also wants legislation passed that would require banks to verify the legality of potential home buyers to ensure that illegal aliens do not benefit from federally backed home loans.
JOIN 756.000 other American patriots at www.numbersusa.com , to stop the travesty of our immigration laws. Learn about Immigration governmental corruption at www.judicialwatch.org HOW THE BAILOUT WAS CAUSED.
www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.1258/pub_detail.asp
PLEASE PASS ON THIS URGENT MESSAGE
This is America, right? It's an election year, right? The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce held a candidates forum and invited the candidates. Most of the candidates showed up and shared their views. And that sets you off shrieking? Why, because some American citizens might not share your views? Absolutely nothing, nada, zero, suggested that anybody in attendance was ineligible to vote. Like it or not, we are all in this together.
The day Grassroots On Fire holds a candidates forum and invites the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to attend, making sure that their questions are heard, is the day I'll believe you guys are even half aware of your demands for community.
I'm sorry Brittanicus, but O'Reilly is the absolute worst place to get your information. Neo-conservatism is not the right direction our country needs to be going.
If you want a credible information on the bailout, you get your information from Ron Paul, not Tancredo.
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