Sessions Amendment Quashed by Senate Democrats

Source: Washington Times (H/T Immigration Watchdog)

Senate Democrats quashed a proposal yesterday that would have dramatically increased civil fines on employers who hire illegal aliens.

Sen. Jeff Sessions, Alabama Republican, offered the amendment to the bill now being debated that would increase the federal minimum wage.

Ridding the economy of illegal aliens, he argued, would do far more to help low-income wage earners than simply raising the minimum wage. Not only do aliens displace U.S. citizens in the work force, he said, they also artificially suppress wages.

"Our whole purpose of the minimum-wage act is to increase the wages of working Americans, particularly low-skilled workers," Mr. Sessions said. "That's a noble goal."

A noble goal, indeed. If only that were the actual goal of those pushing a minimum wage increase. Illegal immigration is the elephant in the room on so many issues...the healthcare crisis, education, energy consumption and resources...the list goes on. If looking out for hard-working Americans was the real goal of most legislators, they would be willing -- even eager -- to talk about illegal immigration's role in these issues.

One of the reasons "that those salaries have lagged behind is because of a large influx of illegal immigrant labor," he said. "That is indisputable, and it's not been discussed much here. People apparently don't want to talk about it, but we're going to talk about it."

Of course, the Senate's Chief Windbag and Illegal Alien Lover Extraordinaire had something to say on the subject...

"Amendment here. Amendment there," thundered Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Massachusetts Democrat.

"Amendment on Social Security. Amendment on immigration. And all the chortling and laughing as they go on about their business," he boomed.

Republicans are "not for those millions of Americans who are heading home tonight, who've worked long and hard, facing their children hoping that at last ... the United States isn't going to fail us," he said. "What do we tell them after five days?"

After accusing Republicans of stalling, Mr. Kennedy then proceeded to read aloud for five minutes a story in the New York Times about soldiers fighting in Iraq.

Actions do, after all, speak louder than words. And the actions of those who are politicians first and legislators representing the American people, well, somewhere further down the list, speak loud and clear.

Technorati Tags
Illegal Immigration * Minimum Wage * Jeff Sessions * Ted Kennedy * Senate * Windbag