Pelosi And Hoyer At War With Hispanic Dems
Politico:
House Democrats have an immigration problem on their hands.
Angry Hispanic lawmakers enraged party leaders Friday morning by staging a procedural protest on the floor against English-only requirements added to a spending bill last night.
These same Hispanic Democrats wanted to show their leaders that they are upset about the party’s perceived shift in support of enforcement-only immigration standards.
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus voted against a measure to consider a much-anticipated tax measure Friday in a direct rebuke of party leaders.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) took extreme exception with the manner of their protest, berating their Democratic colleagues on the House floor during the vote.
A visibly frustrated Pelosi admonished her rank-and-file that their votes would be a big embarrassment for the party in power because it would prevent leaders from bringing much-anticipated legislation to the floor saving most middle-class taxpayers from the alternative minimum tax this year.
This is against me personally, she complained, according to lawmakers present.
Hoyer shouted down CHC Chairman Joe Baca (D-Calif.), one member present said afterward. But Baca did not back down, telling the Democratic leader that Hispanic lawmakers would continue to protest until he and other leaders realized how angry members have become.
Eventually, enough CHC leaders agreed to back down so leaders could bring the AMT patch to the floor. But those same Hispanic members were set to meet about the turn of events shortly after the vote, vowing not to stand down in broader fight over rights for Hispanics already in the U.S.
“Trust me, the point was made,” one Hispanic lawmaker said afterward.
Still angry, CHC members called a motion to adjourn the House shortly after the rule passed. That second protest vote also fell short by a very narrow margin.
“We’re tired of the hate,” Baca said afterward. “There is so much hatred and racism” in the immigration debate.
Baca wants Democratic leaders to take a comprehensive approach to the immigration debate, agreeing to tackle all of the problems — not just clamp down on undocumented immigrants flowing into the country or already here.
Republicans faced a similar divide during the last Congress before a quiet bloc of members caved to the loud, angry protests of those lawmakers who opposed anything approaching amnesty for workers already in the U.S.
The flap Friday erupted after Democratic leaders failed to beat back a Republican measure limiting money for health and education programs to anyone who does not speak English. The measure was a procedural vote offered by the minority, but CHC members complained that leaders did not let them know it was coming.
“Last night we were blind-sided,” Baca said. “We just need better intelligence.”
These lawmakers were also offended by the underlying language of the Republican-drafted motion: “None of the funds made available in this Act shall be used to initiate or participate in a civil action by or on the behalf of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against an entity on the grounds that the entity requires an employee to speak English while engaged in work.”
“The English-only language is insulting,” Rep. Jose E. Serrano (D-N.Y.) said. “It is everything that is unfair and politically charged.”
Members were also frustrated by news that Hoyer was negotiating with Republicans on language in a children’s health measure to ensure undocumented workers and their children could not collect any of the federally allocated benefits, members and aides said Friday.
These protests come days after a bloc of centrist Democrats introduced legislation cracking down on illegal immigration. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle continue to face pressure from constituents who would like to see Congress do more to limit illegal immigration.
Serrano acknowledged that members face political pressure to approve enforcement measures, but framed the issue along cultural lines, lamenting the failure of younger Hispanic Americans to learn Spanish.
“You have to protect freshmen,” Serrano said. “But there are some issues that go beyond that.”
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“This is against me personally, she complained, according to lawmakers present. ”
me: I’ve always thought that Peloski was tad paranoid. Change your medication bitch….
“The English-only language is insulting,” Rep. Jose E. Serrano (D-N.Y.) said.
me: So’s pressing one for English… dickface.
November 9th, 2007 at 3:16 pm“Members were also frustrated by news that Hoyer was negotiating with Republicans on language in a children’s health measure to ensure undocumented workers and their children could not collect any of the federally allocated benefits, members and aides said Friday.”
Undocumented?! Don’t you mean here illegally!!
I am so sick of this politically correct world that I am forced to live in today!
This is not a hispanic issue, it is an American issue. The laws are not race based. If you are here illegally from Ireland, Poland, Mexico, or Jordan (especially Jordan) I don’t want your sorry ass here.
Read the readers post by John Howell about the NY Driver’s Licenses. Immigration today is not about people coming here to be Americans anymore, they all want the benefits that others have sacrificed for without giving anything back.
If you really want a better life build one in your country. If you are really as hard working as we Americans are all told on a regular basis you will succeed, regardless of the obstacles placed in front of you!
November 9th, 2007 at 3:31 pmAnd you and your kids will come to appreciate it enough to protect it from those who want to take it from you!!!
Here Here Dan.
November 9th, 2007 at 3:33 pmNOW HEAR THIS:
EVERY REAL AMERICAN MUST SPREAD THESE WORDS TO ALL IMMIGRANTS TO THIS COUNTRY:
A S S I M I L A T E
NOT
A C C O M O D A T E!
GET IT?
November 9th, 2007 at 3:51 pmNice BD can I steal that?
November 9th, 2007 at 4:02 pmI second Howie’s comment. I’m stealing that line BD.
November 9th, 2007 at 4:45 pmAll they are saying is affirmative action can’t protect people because they don’t speak english. What is wrong with that? If someone can’t SPEAK THE LANGUAGE that everyone else in the company speaks, why should the government force companies to hire those people? Ridiculous.
November 9th, 2007 at 5:08 pm“Last night we were blind-sided,” Baca said. “We just need better intelligence.”
How about a better use of your intelligence
Alas…A democrat see’s the light…unfortunately it was just a flicker
November 9th, 2007 at 7:54 pmThe Dramatic Party is at it again. They don’t give a fuck about us, they just want to rule and will use everyone to get what they want, power.
November 9th, 2007 at 8:22 pmWe were blind sided by illegals!
November 9th, 2007 at 9:33 pm