The Speakers Lobby
  • April 22, 2009 | 3:54 PM ET

    Alan Greenspan talks...Immigration?

    That's right.

    The former Fed Chairman, who once commanded the world's ear when he uttered even one word, will travel to Capitol Hill next week not to talk about the economy (he's done that), but to talk about comprehensive immigration reform.

    The Obama Administration has not seemed anxious to deal with this political hot potato, at least not this year, but recently Congressional Democrats committed to trying, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, asking for a bill to be ready by September.

    Greenspan will testify before the immigration subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, who took over this year from Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-MA, tireless champion of a comprehsive reform effort that put illegals on a path to citizenship.

    It's important, no doubt, in the midst of an economic crisis, that you prove why bringing in a whole new work force would not make a bad situation worse.  Who better to talk about this than someone like Greenspan, asked one aide to the  subcommittee.

    A Schumer aide tells Fox that the new chairman wants to see if it's even possible to do the reform this year. Greenspan has said he supports an increase in visas for highly-skilled workers.

    Also appearing before the committee, a representative from the powerful union - SEIU (Service Employees International Union), which recently announced an agreement with a coalition of liberal groups to legalize the approximately 12 million illegals currently in the U.S.   Among the principles agreed to, that temporary worker programs be improved but not expanded and not made permanent. 

    The subcommittee will also hear from a local sherrif, a pastor in Obama's faith-based council, and a representative from the pro-immigrant group, National Council of La Raza (the former spokeswoman is now serving in the Obama Administration).

    The fate of immigration reform seems doomed, at least for this year, despite the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, D-NV, being up for re-election in a state heavily populated by Hispanics. There are conservative Democrats, like Sen. Ben Nelson, D-NE, who still do not support it, so the votes just don't add up, especially when anything difficult needs 60 votes for passage these days (Dems only have 58 seats). 

    This radioactive topic always lights the Republican fires, as well, a dangerous political weapon against Democrats, with most calling it "amnesty."  And on Wednesday, one Republican who once paired up with Kennedy to support a massive overhaul of immigration laws took on a primary opponent because of his position on this issue.  Chris Simcox, former head of the anti-immigration reform group Minutemen, announced he would challenge Sen. John McCain, R-AZ.

    Trish Turner
    Senior Capitol Hill Producer

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PAtriot

"The fate of immigration reform seems doomed, at least for this year" They said the same thing in 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005...when will the U.S. government do something then? There are those that claim a humane immigration reform is "amnesty" -- though it will impose heavy fines and sanctions -- I think that doing nothing about it is de-facto "amnesty." 2009 is the year. By the way, "sherrif" has two f's, and one r....

April 30, 2009 at 9:41 pm

Shadowfax

It doesn't matter what anyone says, Obama wants all illegal immigrants to have the vote so they can vote for HIM. Sign the petition for the resignation of Barrack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid at SHADOWFAXREPORT.com. They have broken their oath of office to uphold and protect the Constitution of the United States of America. If they do not resign they should be impeached for treasonous acts.

April 30, 2009 at 7:22 am

Sally Kohn: Is The Media (And Blogosphere) Killing Immigration Reform? : My Mash Web

[...] on April 22, with plenty of time in between to read the New York Times cover story in between, Fox News reported, “The Obama Administration has not seemed anxious to deal with this political hot potato, at [...]

April 29, 2009 at 11:08 pm

Sally Kohn: Is The Media (And Blogosphere) Killing Immigration Reform?

[...] on April 22, with plenty of time in between to read the New York Times cover story in between, Fox News reported, “The Obama Administration has not seemed anxious to deal with this political hot potato, at [...]

April 29, 2009 at 10:37 pm

Sarah

I can't believe the United States of America has been so turned upside down in such a short period of time. Obama is throwing everything he has at this country, as fast as he can. And we're letting him. We talk, we blog, we twitter, we complain ... but in case you haven't noticed ... we're not getting anywhere. These guys have apparently been planning this for a long time and I think have a lot of pent-up issues. I give them a 10 for covering all bases and blocking all exits, but they're really starting to scare me. We've politically corrected ourselves into such a box nobody can make a move anymore, because everything anybody says or does, insults somebody somewhere. For some reason I can't understand, whoever complains ends up being "correct." Why does this Administration not respond or even acknowledge criticism or different points of view? It obviously is their way or the highway and if anybody stands up too long or speaks too often, the Administration finds ways to punish them. Or contracts it out. Or simply ignores them. Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, North Korea, Israel, China, Russia, the US-Mexico border, criminalization of former Administrations, taxes and the people who pay them (and the ones who get away with not paying), the economy, housing, job losses, unemployment, the car industry, the banking industry, our own DHS suddenly becomming totally ignorant in SO many ways, not least of which was trying to secretly warn about military vets as potentially dangerous. Religion in the open is wrong but gay marriage should be right. Does that mean it's not Holy Matrimony anymore? Free education, health care, and social security for all, citizen or not. Nobody wants to stand up and say no one should be able to benefit from being in this country illegally. Nobody should be IN this country illegally! And by the way, we're no longer in the position to offer anything to outsiders if we cannot first take care of our own. Information is coming from every which direction and nothing really being done about any of it, much less have the time to digest any of it or find out who is telling the truth. And how the heck are we supposed to go about doing that!? Bowing to foreign leaders ... We're being steamrolled. If everything that ever was, is now wrong ... what does that now mean? WHO is in charge around here?

April 24, 2009 at 3:06 pm

solution easy

if we want move this bad economy we need be honest ,don't be innocent or we need more money from china so please think for the future of ours children so we need work together ,if you blame politics problem sorry why because this is one solution think about it if you want opportunity we need do it firts, give and receive it is correc or hate and joy, don't cry for what you do and finish to blame everybody or you can begin to scary politics, please is time to open ours ejes please forgive if I had finish some bad for you but we need are more togethers,

April 24, 2009 at 10:45 am

msbets

One can hardly understand greenspan when he said hello, and you had to be grad of mit to understand the guy, alot of people lost alot of money, when he said "oh I have burst this bubble"!!! what does he know about immigration, burst this wall and let them all in!!!???

April 23, 2009 at 9:40 pm

N. HUGHES

THIS MAN NEEDS TO RETIRE AND STAY AT HOME. HE HAS RUINED THE ECONOMY ONCE HIMSELF. I DON'T THINK I WOULD LISTEN TO HIS SUGGESTIONS.

April 23, 2009 at 9:31 pm

joe

"I paid thousands of dallors to legally be accepted into this once wonderful country and was not given anything by anybody. I had to work hard filing paperwork, documents etc. for many years to be able to finally take that long desired oath; feeling so proud of my job well-done and by the feeling that I abided by the laws of the land to acheive such a honor to be finally an "American". The dream had come! I felt that no one can ever take this accomplishment and feeling away by no means; till I heard that 12 million people will be legally approved in an instant for what I have had to endure for decades." This is an example of a law-abiding immigrant who did the right thing. Good job law-makers! You make laws punishing the real law-abiding immgrants who did the right thing. It tells me that you want to reward and bring in as many illegal immigrants and give the everything so that you can set back and watch the votes come in, so you can keep them as puppets for the rest of your political career and life which most of you expect. It's called "political hierarchy" which breads socialism then communism. What happened to our constitution of freedom and liberty and justice for all? you take away from those who do right and give to those who broke the law. This is not what our fore-fathers invisioned nor this not what our brave soldiers fought and died for. Remember we will all face our Creator one day. He told the government " you have no power over me and my king is not of this world". So waller in your foolishness, wealth, and power. It's only temporay. I pray for your awakening!

April 23, 2009 at 5:07 pm

doman44

Well if GOP doesn't support immigration reform it will be the end of the republican party ...To much at stake when it comes to Hispanics .

April 23, 2009 at 3:15 pm

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