(LOL) Maverick Tea Partier Marco Rubio Pushing For Congress To Evaluate Border Security

[anaconda]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immigration-rubio-20130602,0,6144355.story

latimes.com
Rubio wants stronger border security in immigration reform bill
The Florida Republican is working on a proposal that would give Congress, not the Obama administration, control over developing a plan.

By Lisa Mascaro, Washington Bureau

10:28 PM PDT, June 1, 2013
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WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, a key author of the bipartisan Senate immigration overhaul, is working on a proposal that would give Congress, not the Obama administration, the authority to devise a plan to bolster border security.

The Florida senator has long insisted that the bill's border security provisions are not strong enough to win significant Republican support. He plans to introduce his proposal as the legislation moves to the Senate floor late this week or next.

As the legislation is now written, the Department of Homeland Security would be required to develop a plan to achieve effective control of 90% of the border with Mexico before immigrants in the U.S. illegally would be allowed to gain permanent legal status. Rubio's emerging alternative would shift the responsibility for creating that plan to Congress.

"The problem is people do not trust this administration and the federal government in general to do the law," Rubio said during a recent interview on Fox News. "Maybe the solution is to actually have Congress write that plan for them."

Democrats are likely to look skeptically on any major border security changes in the bill, a delicately negotiated compromise that strengthens immigration enforcement while providing a route to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants who entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas. But Democrats are also expected to try to accommodate Rubio to retain his support.

The bill is the most ambitious proposal to revamp immigration law in a generation; it would provide $4.5 billion for more drones, Border Patrol agents, fencing and other security measures on the southern border. Once a plan to control the border has been approved, immigrants could begin what for most would be a 10-year path to legal status. They would have to undergo background checks, pay fines and fees, and show they are financially stable. In 13 years, they could become citizens.

After clearing the Judiciary Committee, the bipartisan bill is headed to the full Senate. A similar measure has stalled in the House but is expected to be unveiled when lawmakers return to Washington this week.

Reopening the debate over border security is risky as any substantial changes to the bill could threaten the bipartisan agreement, which was crafted by four Democrats and four Republicans.

Additional border security amendments were approved in committee as Republicans pushed to toughen the measure. A key change was to expand the requirement for 90% control of the southern border to all sections, rather than just those with the heaviest volume of immigrants crossing into the country illegally.

For the bill to pass the narrowly divided Senate, picking up GOP votes will be essential. No Republican beyond the four who helped write it has endorsed the measure.

Having Congress assume control of a complex border security overhaul would be a sizable undertaking, but one that speaks directly to complaints from Republican senators that the bill cedes too much authority to the executive branch. Those concerns have been an ongoing theme of tea party activists during President Obama's administration.

At the same time, Rubio appears sensitive to Democratic objections that unrealistic border triggers would prevent immigrants from achieving legal status, and is trying to develop an acceptable approach.

Already, senators have tailored border security provisions to their liking. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) reached a compromise that would limit drones to within several miles of the border in her state to prevent snooping on such populated areas as San Diego, while allowing a broader surveillance zone preferred by Cornyn in Texas.

Rubio has met with Border Patrol officials in recent weeks to discuss his proposal, and his staff spent the weeklong Memorial Day recess working on revisions, sometimes in consultation with other senators, aides to the senator said.

The changes Rubio is considering draw from an approach suggested by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has indicated he is open to an immigration overhaul. Paul's views are influential with tea party conservatives, and his support could give the bill a substantial boost by persuading other Republicans to vote for it.

"If we can figure out a way to write a bill that ensures the border will be secure, I believe immigration reform will happen," Rubio said on Fox. "If we cannot do that, or fail to do that, I do not believe immigration reform can — or should — happen."

 

[sailingaway]

"maverick"? Clearly media is trying to rehabilitate him.

 

[anaconda]

"maverick"? Clearly media is trying to rehabilitate him.

No, that was my own facetious thread title wording. I was just making fun of the fact that Rubio can't seem to do anything remotely original. It will be interesting to see how many props Marco gives to Rand for the idea.

 

[sailingaway]

It's been the standard statement for the GOP forever 'strong border'. Rubio thought he was breaking new territory in a way that would help him....

did you see that even George Bush is 'skeptical' about the Senate immigration plan?

Problem is they'll try to smash through a house version as 'better' without giving us time to look at it, I suspect.

 

[anaconda]

It's been the standard statement for the GOP forever 'strong border'. Rubio thought he was breaking new territory in a way that would help him....

did you see that even George Bush is 'skeptical' about the Senate immigration plan?

Problem is they'll try to smash through a house version as 'better' without giving us time to look at it, I suspect.

I saw the headline about W.

But I don't think Rand's "Trust But Verify" idea has been seriously advocated until now.

 

[sailingaway]

I saw the headline about W.

But I don't think Rand's "Trust But Verify" idea has been seriously advocated until now.

I haven't paid such close attention that I can address that entirely. What I heard didn't sound new, though. It doesn't really matter because the bill is a Christmas tree of presents for special interests with the people having no seat at the table in other regards, so this element isn't going to fix it. They need to start over and be sensible, which I believe is impossible for them.

 

[anaconda]

What I heard didn't sound new, though.

Apparently congress drawing up the plan for border security rather than Homeland Security. Actually, the article made no mention of the annual vote proposed by Rand to approve border security. And, I don't actually recall Rand actually expressing a preference as to who, in particular, created the plan, as long as Congress was empowered to give it's implementation an annual thumbs up or thumbs down for effectiveness. But, I suppose this means, at least by default, that congress would be in the obvious position of making recommendations.

 

[FSP-Rebel]

Rand has been allowing this resuscitation of Rubio by not owning the border security issue every time he talks about immigration reform and broadening the GOP's appeal. He didn't do this the other day at the Reagen Library and I doubt he did it at the IA dinner either. You'd think he would ALWAYS mention the border security aspect every time he brings it up which is in every damn speech. WTF is he doing? Don't let the opposition own your shit.

 

[compromise]

"maverick"? Clearly media is trying to rehabilitate him.

Reminds me of that other Maverick...