Candidates talk immigration in Grand Island
Posted: Friday, October 17, 2008
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) -- Illegal immigration was a hot topic Thursday at the final U.S. Senate debate in Grand Island, a city scarred by massive workplace raids in recent years.
The questions were specific. How do you deal with parents who are illegal immigrants, but whose children were born in the United States and are citizens? Do you split up a family, or send the kids home, too? How do you enforce immigration laws without hurting families, schools and employers?
Green Party candidate Steve Larrick said families shouldn't be broken up, and there should be a path to citizenship.
"This hysteria against immigrants is a sad thing," Larrick said.
But Republican Mike Johanns, a former Nebraska governor, said immigration raids will continue because people have broken the law. He said he has an amnesty plan that's tough and fair, and requires illegal residents to go home and apply for citizenship.
But, said Democrat Scott Kleeb: "Actually, Mr. Johanns, you did have an amnesty plan when you were running around the country touting President Bush's amnesty plan." Kleeb said he opposes amnesty.
It's an emotional issue in Grand Island, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducted a coordinated raid at Swift & Co. meatpacking plants in six cities including Grand Island in 2006, resulting in about 1,300 arrests. Those arrested were mostly from Mexico and Guatemala.
On Thursday night, Kleeb tried to tie Johanns, President Bush's former agriculture secretary, to some of Bush's unpopular policies.
Kleeb asked whether, as agriculture secretary, Johanns planned a stop in Lincoln to support the privatization of social security.
The stop never happened, said Kleeb, but he suggested that Johanns either supported the privatization of social security or was willing to promote a policy he didn't agree with.
Johanns responded that Kleeb might hurt his back leg, because "that's the biggest stretch I have ever heard."
Johanns said he never supported privatizing social security, and "I think it's a dumb idea."
Johanns said he didn't believe in everything Bush stood for, including No Child Left Behind.
One questioner brought up a recent critical report from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
The report said the White House political affairs office had a strategy to use taxpayer-funded trips to help elect Republican candidates for public office.
Johanns, as agriculture secretary, attended 38 events recommended by the White House in 2006, the report said.
Johanns said all trips that were political weren't paid for by taxpayers. He said a USDA committee determined whether travel was political.
Candidates were allowed to ask each other questions and Johanns asked Kleeb whether he would vote for the Warner-Lieberman bill, which Johanns said would increase gas prices 53 cents by 2020. Kleeb said he would because it includes important energy policy.
The failed Senate bill on climate change would have required a drastic cut in greenhouse gases over the next four decades. Kleeb said if gas prices only increased 53 cents "we'd be lucky."
Candidates also were asked their position on gay marriage and civil unions. Johanns said he opposes both, and is the only candidate who does.
"I believe civil union is just a nice way of saying gay marriage," Johanns said.
Kleeb said it's a state issue, and Nebraskans have voted against gay marriage. But he said the U.S. Constitution shouldn't be used to deny people rights.
Kleeb ran for Nebraska's 3rd District House seat in 2006, losing to Republican Adrian Smith.
On the Net:
Mike Johanns for Senate: http://www.mikejohanns2008.com
Scott Kleeb: http://www.scottkleeb.com
Steve Larrick: http://www.newmenu.org/larrick4senate
The questions were specific. How do you deal with parents who are illegal immigrants, but whose children were born in the United States and are citizens? Do you split up a family, or send the kids home, too? How do you enforce immigration laws without hurting families, schools and employers?
Green Party candidate Steve Larrick said families shouldn't be broken up, and there should be a path to citizenship.
"This hysteria against immigrants is a sad thing," Larrick said.
But Republican Mike Johanns, a former Nebraska governor, said immigration raids will continue because people have broken the law. He said he has an amnesty plan that's tough and fair, and requires illegal residents to go home and apply for citizenship.
But, said Democrat Scott Kleeb: "Actually, Mr. Johanns, you did have an amnesty plan when you were running around the country touting President Bush's amnesty plan." Kleeb said he opposes amnesty.
It's an emotional issue in Grand Island, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducted a coordinated raid at Swift & Co. meatpacking plants in six cities including Grand Island in 2006, resulting in about 1,300 arrests. Those arrested were mostly from Mexico and Guatemala.
On Thursday night, Kleeb tried to tie Johanns, President Bush's former agriculture secretary, to some of Bush's unpopular policies.
Kleeb asked whether, as agriculture secretary, Johanns planned a stop in Lincoln to support the privatization of social security.
The stop never happened, said Kleeb, but he suggested that Johanns either supported the privatization of social security or was willing to promote a policy he didn't agree with.
Johanns responded that Kleeb might hurt his back leg, because "that's the biggest stretch I have ever heard."
Johanns said he never supported privatizing social security, and "I think it's a dumb idea."
Johanns said he didn't believe in everything Bush stood for, including No Child Left Behind.
One questioner brought up a recent critical report from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
The report said the White House political affairs office had a strategy to use taxpayer-funded trips to help elect Republican candidates for public office.
Johanns, as agriculture secretary, attended 38 events recommended by the White House in 2006, the report said.
Johanns said all trips that were political weren't paid for by taxpayers. He said a USDA committee determined whether travel was political.
Candidates were allowed to ask each other questions and Johanns asked Kleeb whether he would vote for the Warner-Lieberman bill, which Johanns said would increase gas prices 53 cents by 2020. Kleeb said he would because it includes important energy policy.
The failed Senate bill on climate change would have required a drastic cut in greenhouse gases over the next four decades. Kleeb said if gas prices only increased 53 cents "we'd be lucky."
Candidates also were asked their position on gay marriage and civil unions. Johanns said he opposes both, and is the only candidate who does.
"I believe civil union is just a nice way of saying gay marriage," Johanns said.
Kleeb said it's a state issue, and Nebraskans have voted against gay marriage. But he said the U.S. Constitution shouldn't be used to deny people rights.
Kleeb ran for Nebraska's 3rd District House seat in 2006, losing to Republican Adrian Smith.
On the Net:
Mike Johanns for Senate: http://www.mikejohanns2008.com
Scott Kleeb: http://www.scottkleeb.com
Steve Larrick: http://www.newmenu.org/larrick4senate
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