Romney lacks economy 101
By Emilie Eaton September 25, 2011 at 5:32 pm 
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Potential Republican presidential nominee and Texas Gov. Rick Perry recently told his supporters that those who oppose in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants at public colleges don’t have a heart.
A New York Times article observed that this comment could cost Perry many votes, and could create a clear gap between him and other Republican frontrunners.
Among those who criticized Perry was former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, who said, “I think if you’re opposed to illegal immigration, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a heart. It means that you have a heart and a brain.”
In one respect, Romney couldn’t be more correct. When discussing immigration, or any consequential issue, it’s important to analyze the topic with both your heart and your brain.
Apparently Romney didn’t use his noggin on this one, though. If he had, he would have known that giving in-state tuition to children of illegal immigrants invests in our future and expands our educated workforce.
In the same day as attacking his Republican contender on immigration, Romney also highlighted the importance of job creation.
Exactly, Romney! Job creation is key, especially considering the miserable state of the economy.
Why don’t we invest in our economy and allow students of parents who have immigrated to the United States illegally help strengthen our economy? The best way to do that is to give them an education.
Take Mario Perez, a 22-year-old student at Stephen F. Austin State University. The Houston Chronicle described him as a “gregarious student leader and a talented tuba player who scored 1640 on his SATS.”
Perez immigrated illegally to the United States with his parents when he was five, but if Romney takes head of Perry’s leadership, Perez could also be a prominent addition to our workforce. His leadership skills and academic dedication are sure to make an impact on our economy. In 2001, Perry signed legislation allowing illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition. The bill received bipartisan support and was endorsed by business groups.
The New York Times reported that California and New York followed Texas’ footsteps, allowing their states to reap the benefits of an educated workforce.
Charles C. Foster, the chairman of immigration issues for the Greater Houston partnership told The New York Times, “The future of the business community is having a well-educated work force. We realize the trajectory of Texas is no longer going to be an industrial, steel-age state. It’s going to be based on brain power.”
In 2007, Romney told Meet the Press that illegal immigrants should be deported, especially if they haven’t applied for permanent residency.
It seems that Romney failed to take into consideration the economy (or his cerebrum for that matter) in this case either.
“Testimony before Congress revealed that it costs about $12,500 to deport a person from the U.S,” said Arizona Republic columnist Linda Valdez. “Consider the cost for deporting 11 million people.”
While I can’t say I agree with Perry on many other issues, I applaud him for his views on immigration. It could be political suicide for Perry to clash with political frontrunners like Romney and the mainstream ideology of the GOP, but at least we know he recognizes what’s important and logical.
It’s the economy, stupid.
Contact Emilie at eeeaton@asu.edu.
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Tags: economy Illegal Immigration in-state tuition Mitt Romney Republican presidential race Rick Perry
ARE WE SO GULLIBLE, ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION?
Encouragingly, as the line-up might be for the presidential entries, as the race to the White House gains speed. The American people will insist on a formula for jobs, a growing economy and as a third but combustible issue–illegal and legal immigration. In the majority of Constitutional Conservatives minds is Rep. Smith’s mandated E-Verify bill H.R. 2885, known as the “Legal Workforce Act.” which could make a positive difference in the number of Americans seeking work. As always it’s already got its share of pessimists, leftists and a whole bunch of open border activists, who seem to prefer to see illegal aliens being hired, instead of lawful Americans. It’s further being demonized by the Liberal presses, who have the main captive audience, rather the more informative blogs and pro-sovereignty websites on the Internet. With the Left wing of the press, the facts never see the light of day, just details out of context or plain and simple lies. By Joining THE TEA PARTY, we can alter America’s course and return to the founding US Constitution and laws, destabilized by both political parties. Returning rights to the American People and stop the genuflecting to the Special interests.
E-Verify will join the highly controversial “Secure Communities”, The Halt Act (Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation Act), The Save Act (The Secure America with Verification and Enforcement Act) and the 287 G police laws that are as necessary as official deterrents, which can eliminate over a period of time decrease the incessant invasion by economic illegal immigrants that trespass into our lands. Any cost that business owners can expect, will largely depend on how sizable their operations are. E-Verify, the federal electronic program checks an employee’s legal work status and is a free program available to employers and will be required if “Legal Workforce Act.” for new hires under the sanctions law. You can read more about this law, at the (USCIS) U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services website. By being fully informed, you learn that E-Verify is being improved dramatically, not what the pro-illegal immigration want you to think? A New E-Verify development includes a driver’s license check ability.
Mississippi is the first state to make its driver’s license data available to E-Verify, in association, in concert with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. Call your Senator or Congressman-Women at 202-224-3121 and insist on them voting for the “Legal Workforce Act.”
Getting illegal immigration under control will also depend on the American people’s partnership. Seeing any suspicious activity in your workplace, you can call Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (866-347-2423). Having a suspicion of your employer or possible illegal aliens working elsewhere, is all that’s needed? They realize that you are not an expert on these situations and just need a phone call. There is never enough room to describe what TRUE information can be located in the general press, as many are inhibited by the Special interest groups to fully explain. However–much more in-depth information can be absorbed at non-profit websites, including Judicial Watch, NumbersUSA and nationwide reports at American Patrol.
Where are some of the 8.5 million illegal aliens working, that you might ask? In manufacturing industries as among those non-farming companies currently employing some of the 7 to 8.5 million illegal aliens in our work force. This is a great place to start as a Whistle-Blower, to unveil this illegal market, where Americans could be immediately placed. Assuming that President Obama is and his underlings are going to follow the law, and then the current stream of sweeping ICE raids will continue. If not, you can contact your Congress people and explain your suspicions to them. A website called “WEHIREALIENS” a project of the Fire Coalition can be located on the Internet by typing it into Google. You can leave any suspicious activities and add it to their growing data base of allegedly businesses, which are not following immigration laws.
Then once the border is fully sealed as according to the “2006 Secure Fence Act”; a barrier of two separate fences, stretching from Brownsville, Texas to San Diego, California, with fast track US Border Patrol roads in between. Two fences instead of partially completed single barrier we have now, will be capable of halting the thousands that dodge past the border, bringing even more poverty and desperate people into frontier states. Then combined with the appearance of 4000 National Guardsman who are fully armed and ready for confrontation throughout this dangerous region. After all—isn’t that what the National Guards are for, to protect Americans from Domestic and foreign enemies?