election

Republican base 'animated by racism,' Dem rep says

...Rep. Steve Israel of New York said Sunday that not all Republicans are motivated by racism but many in the GOP oppose a bipartisan immigration bill on those grounds...

...Nancy Pelosi blamed racial issues for the GOP's failure to act on comprehensive immigration legislation.

Oregon's Rep. Greg Walden, who heads Republicans' efforts to elect House members, said Pelosi's comment was "both wrong and unfortunate."

Israel and Walden spoke on CNN's "State of the Union."

  Read more about Republican base 'animated by racism,' Dem rep says

Elections can change immigration policies

Congress sets immigration law, and Presidents are supposed to carry it out.  Both branches of government have failed to protect the interests of citizens in regard to immigration.  The path to change is through electing new legislators and a president who will represent the interests of citizens and not the various special interests now in control of immigration policy.  While immigration laws come from Congress, States have many tools to use in helping the federal government enforce immigration law, so state legislators and officials are important too.
 
If citizens have adequate information about candidates and will actively support good candidates with financial contributions or other campaign assistance, they can make major changes in the current immigration situation.
 
Because the deadline for filing to run in Oregon’s May Primary election passed on March 11, we now know which candidates will be available to represent Oregon in Congress,  as well as the available candidates for the Oregon Legislature’s 60 House districts, 30 Senate districts, and other state offices.
 
OFIR will again collect and distribute information on the immigration positions of candidates.  NumbersUSA is also providing information on Congressional candidates whose positions are known, either through voting records or from the questionnaire they offer to candidates.  Most candidates now have websites where they introduce themselves, describe their qualifications, and often list specific Issues of importance on which they have taken a position.
 
You can help identify good candidates by checking candidate websites.  If you find nothing in the Issues section regarding immigration - please contact the candidate through the Contact links on his/her website and ask that they post their specific positions regarding driver licenses for illegal aliens, stopping illegal immigration, reducing excessive legal immigration, mandatory use of E-Verify, stricter controls on Visa applications, etc.  Let OFIR know if you get a response, or if you need further assistance contacting the candidate.
 
Candidates often refrain from posting anything about immigration - hoping the topic won't come up.  It is up to us to make immigration a topic in the upcoming debates - to call them out, if you will.   Election season is when incumbents and other candidates are most open to citizen input.   
 
At this time, one Oregon Congressional candidate has returned NumbersUSA’s questionnaire showing very good positions. This is Dennis Linthicum, running in the primary in Congressional District 2 against incumbent Rep. Greg Walden, whose grade on immigration votes is currently C+.  Please take a look at the candidate comparison for these two candidates at:  https://www.numbersusa.com/content/elections/races/congressional/house-e...
 
If the link doesn’t work for you, you can visit the homepage of NumbersUSA at https://www.numbersusa.com/content/, click Congress – Candidate Comparisons – then, on the map of U.S., click on Oregon – then on 2014 Oregon 2d Congressional District.  You will see a comparison of positions on a list of 12 immigration subjects.
 
Campaign websites of Linthicum and Walden showing their Issue statements are at: 
http://www.dennis2014.com/issues  (includes a statement on immigration)
http://www.gregwalden.com/category/issues/  (has no statement on immigration)
 
You can call or send emails to the candidates through the Contact links on their websites.
 
Three Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination in Congressional District 2:  
Aelea Christofferson -  www.aeleaforcongress.com  (has no page on issues)
Barney Spera -  no web site; email address: SpBrn3@aol.com
Frank Vulliet -  www.frankanswers.us (website pending)
 
OFIR plans to continue sending briefs on candidates in the May primary as information develops.  
 
Next in the series will be on the U.S. Senate race, where Rep. Jason Conger and Dr. Monica Wehby appear to be the leading Republican candidates.  The winner in the Republican primary will be challenging incumbent Sen. Jeff Merkley, who has a grade of F for his voting record on immigration issues, which you can see on NumbersUSA's website.
 

Enthusiasm prevailed at OFIR's quarterly meeting

Several candidates from across the state addressed OFIR members at the quarterly meeting held in Salem on Saturday. Candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions from OFIR members. Visit the photo gallery.

The citizen's veto referendum and the Oregon Legislature's unprecedented move to hi-jack the ballot language were reviewed. Our success in defeating this arrogant move by the Legislature was celebrated by all in attendance!  The bill died in the Senate.


  Read more about Enthusiasm prevailed at OFIR's quarterly meeting

EXCLUSIVE - Sessions: House Leadership Immigration Push Could Imperil GOP in 2014

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) said Sunday evening during an exclusive appearance on Breitbart News Sunday with Stephen K. Bannon that House GOP leadership’s push to grant amnesty to America’s illegal aliens this year could jeopardize Republicans in the 2014 elections.

“A poll just showed that just 3 percent of Americans consider immigration a top priority," Sessions said. "So now we’re going to take an issue that divides the Republicans, that is not good for working Americans, and we’re going to alter the definition of this election from an overreaching central government and Obamacare and taxes and regulations to a controversial issue like [immigration]? I think it would be, from a purely political point of view, wrong.”

Sessions said the Chamber of Commerce wing of the Republican party had lost all bearing on what the American people actually want.

“They’re using rhetoric and logic from groups that are not in touch with reality,” Sessions said. “They’re not talking to average working Americans who we are elected to serve. We’re not here elected to serve just big business. We’re here to serve all Americans, and there’s no doubt about it that consistently data shows this immigration plan that would grant amnesty to 11 million and double the annual flow of workers into the country would hammer working Americans so we’re going to try to get out some information again this week on that."

"But it’s so important that you cannot deny that a surge in supply of any product, including labor, pulls down the value of that product," he explained. "It just goes against all logic, unless our libertarian friends want to deny the free market."

The Alabama Senator has been focusing his criticisms on the deleterious economic impacts of increased immigration, especially how it could depress wages for low-income workers. The issue, Sessions said, is a simple matter of supply and demand, estimating that as many as 40 million additional people could enter the workforce following a bill like the Senate “Gang of Eight” proposal.

“It’s real easy to understand,” Sessions said. “11 million people would be given legal status under the [Senate] bill. They say ‘don’t worry about them because they’re already working in America.’ Not so, really. Many of them may be working part time helping their brother-in-law in a restaurant or on a subcontracting basis, but once given legal status and a Social Security card—which would happen immediately—they’ll be able to compete for the jobs like truck driving and forklift operators, Wal-Mart, government jobs too."

"So that’ll be 11 million. Then you got 4 million in a backlog. That makes 15, as it would advance them," he continued. "Then It would increase 50 percent over the next 10 years to instead of 1 million a year to 1.5 million a year. That would be another 15 million, so that’s 30. Then there’s a guest worker program.”

Sessions said right now, Republicans’ negotiations with Democrats have focused on trading amnesty for an increased labor supply that Chamber of Commerce clients and other business interests want.”And let me tell you what, it really shocks me and it’s why I’m so worried about what the House is doing this week with their ‘principles,’” Sessions said. “Good Republicans in the House seem to believe that if they go into negotiations with Democrats, their [the Republicans’] goal is to increase the guest worker program even more. If they can get the guest worker immigration status and increase it even more, they will give even more generous amnesty. That’s been the state of a good bit of the negotiations, amazingly.”

Bannon asked Sessions if he believes that an immigration plan being pushed by the establishment would “throw the rule of law out the window and that we won’t ever be able to recover that as a country,” to which Sessions replied he did.

“I do, I do, because do you remember the first time in 1986?” Sessions said. “You’re too young, but I remember it, and they promised it would never be done again. One time amnesty. So, if we do it a second time now, do you hear anybody promising we will never have amnesty again for people who enter the country illegally? We will have eviscerated any moral power, any integrity in the law."

"We have the Secretary of Homeland Security who handles Border Patrol and ICE officers who I’ve worked with in the past as a prosecutor—I was a US Attorney for 12 years, I know how it works out in the real world," he continued. "So he says the people who came here illegally have earned their citizenship. My goodness, what does that say to his officers who have taken an oath to enforce the laws of the United States?”

Sessions said GOP proponents of amnesty are suffering from one part elitism, one part misguided political theory.

“I think part of it is an elitism,” Sessions said. “There’s some very powerful financial sources out there, business leaders who are very generous who are very committed to expanding immigration. Hopefully that’s not a factor in people making a decision."

"And then you’ve got this really weird theory that somehow if we give up our principles, this is going to gain Hispanic votes?" he stated. "We want to get Hispanic votes. We want to gain their support. But think about if we reduced this illegal flow and we did not expand the immigration flow, we would begin to see wages rise and Hispanics that are here would be the ones to benefit the most."

"Well, it’s African Americans who are being hammered the most by this actually," Sessions claimed. "I hate to be that frank about it, but it’s absolutely hammering working African Americans especially young men who desperately need jobs. Professor [George] Borjas at Harvard said it’s a factor in the rising incarceration rate of African Americans. I’m sure that it is. We’ve got to get real about this. We don’t live in some theoretical world where we can do open borders.”

Sessions rounded out the interview with a call for Americans to contact their congressmen and urge to oppose this plan and with a warning about how serious a matter this is for the country moving forward.

“The danger in the House is that you’ve got overwhelming Democratic support,” Sessions said. “It’s virtually unanimous. It won’t take many Republicans to have a majority. Then if it comes to the Senate, you have a substantial Democratic majority in the Senate who you know voted for it last time. We’ll just be in a very bad situation."

"What’s happening in the House right now could well determine our future with regard to immigration," he explained. "We believe in immigration. But we’re a nation of laws and the system that we choose and the number of people we admit should serve the legitimate interests of the American people, not special businesses and not people who just like to come here when we’re not able to accept them."

"That’s the challenge in the House," Sessions stated. "This is a critical time in history. I just hope they’ll rise to the challenge and give this a lot more thought rather than rushing into it right now.” Read more about EXCLUSIVE - Sessions: House Leadership Immigration Push Could Imperil GOP in 2014

Your Congressman is here and he would like to chat with you...

Alert date: 
January 27, 2014
Alert body: 

Congressman Kurt Schrader will be hosting Townhall meetings this week.  If you are able, OFIR encourages you to attend.  Invite a friend or neighbor along with you.

Speak up and express your views on the amnesty proposals in Congress that would give amnesty to millions of illegal aliens while also vastly increasing legal immigration, at this time of widespread unemployment and underemployment among citizens.

Here are the locations and dates of the town halls:

SALEM TOWN HALL

Thursday, January 30th

6:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Salem Library, Loucks Auditorium, 585 Liberty Street SE, Salem OR 97301

 

LAKE OSWEGO TOWN HALL

Saturday, February 8th

Noon to 1:00 PM

Lake Oswego City Hall, Council Chambers, 380 A Avenue, Lake Oswego, OR 97034

 

Here are some questions you might ask Congressman Schrader. If you’re able to question him or make comments to him, please tell OFIR how he responsed.

Consider asking one of these questions:

1. There have been 7 major amnesties passed by Congress from 1986 to 2000, each resulting in ever-increasing numbers of illegal immigrants. Now another huge amnesty is being pushed. We need enforcement of the immigration laws, not another amnesty. We need E-Verify mandated, to ensure that all employed persons are here legally. E-Verify is accurate and ready for expansion. Will you work to make E-Verify mandatory?

2. Unemployment persists as a major problem in Oregon and the U.S. Businesses can and do hire illegal aliens at substandard wages in construction, agriculture, hotels, restaurants. Why don’t you do more to stop the hiring of illegal aliens?

3. States that have E-Verify laws have seen a decline in the illegal alien population. This shows that many illegal aliens will leave if they cannot find jobs. There’s no need for mass deportations and no one is advocating that. There is no need for another amnesty. Simply require implementation of E-Verify and honest enforcement of other immigration laws. This would bring decreases in numbers of illegal aliens and also discourage others from attempting to enter illegally.

4. Giving benefits to illegal aliens such as driver’s licenses, in-state tuition, etc. legitimizes their presence here and rewards illegal behavior. Citizenship and the rule of law must be cherished and respected, or our nation is on a slippery slope into the culture of corruption from which many immigrants claim to be escaping. What are you doing to strengthen U.S. immigration law enforcement?

5. Did you know that between the Censuses of 2000 and 2010, 80% of population growth resulted from immigration (immigrants plus the children of immigrants). The U.S. is already overcrowded. After more than 4 decades of unprecedentedly high immigration, we need a pause, a moratorium on immigration, or we face a steep decline in the quality of life for everyone. Are you willing to say No to the lobbies constantly pushing for amnesties and more immigration?

 

Had enough? Want to get involved? Learn how this Saturday!

Alert date: 
January 22, 2014
Alert body: 

SOUND AWESOME? ...IT IS! Attend the Western Liberty Network's Second Annual Leadership and Training Conference and Expo.

The event's theme is “TAKE THE OFFENSIVE!” and will start at 9:00AM on Saturday, January 25th, 2014 at the Sheraton Airport Hotel located at 8235 NW Airport Way in Portland.

You can take in a full day of training that will give you the tools you need to be a more effective activist or volunteer. Additional courses will be offered to those interested in applying or running for local public office, those interested in building their local grassroots organizations, and for veterans who want to participate more effectively in the communities they helped to protect.  Cynthia Kendoll - OFIR President and Authorized Agent for the Protect Oregon Driver Licenses successful veto referendum campaign, will be speaking about how to manage a grassroots referendum or initiative campaign. Click on the agenda link for time and location of each break out session.

Before the debate, awards will be presented to leading activists and grass roots organizations.

STOP PLAYING DEFENSE...learn how you can go on the offense to create the change we are all working toward.

On January 25th you can see the first major US Senate candidate debate of 2014 hosted by national news personality Lars Larson. You can also see presentations by candidates running for Oregon governor, and enjoy a Mexican buffet lunch prepared by an award winning restaurant.

KXL Radio, the Lars Larson Show, Cascade Policy Institute, Oregon Capitol Watch, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, I-Spy Radio, and author and entrepreneur Sam Carpenter are sponsoring the debate. The night before the conference there will be a reception at the hotel free to all registrants featuring live music and hot appetizers. This promises to be the premiere grass roots training event of the year. Registrants can submit questions to be asked during the debate and will assist in enforcing time limits. This is going to be a FUN, INFORMATIVE, and INSPIRING.

To REGISTER, click HERE or go to the www.westernlibertynetwork.org website to download a full agenda and click on the “REGISTER NOW” button when you are ready to register.

 

 

 

 

 


 

Clammy hands, dry mouth, churning stomach - thinking about speaking in public?

Alert date: 
January 6, 2014
Alert body: 

Good communication skills are the key to success in most things we hope to accomplish.  But, if the thought of speaking in public makes you shake in your boots, you should plan to attend this month's 912 meeting!

Le and Ann Snelling

Revolutionary Persuasion

The Snellings are public speaking coaches and will be sharing their expertise in passionate and truthful communication skills. If you get nervous about what to say when going door to door for a candidate or you get clammy hands and dry mouth at the thought of calling on constituents, you don't want to miss this meeting! Le and Ann are dedicated to helping men and women develop skills to become revolutionary and persuasive speakers - something that is invaluable when reaching out to the community!

We will be hosting a KidsTEA again this month, focusing on virtue, values and the role both play in a vibrant economy. Your kids will participate in a game and discussion on how government involvement in the economy tends to cause more problems than solutions!

 

Please join us ---

Friday, January 10th  at 6:30 PM

(doors open at 6)

Scottish Rite Center

4090 Commercial St SE

Salem;, OR

Salem 912 - 912projectsalem.org

Get Connected. Get Educated. Get Active!

Senator Merkley to hold Townhall meetings

Please plan to attend one of Senator Merkley's Townhall meetings.  He needs to hear from constituents that you do not support the massive amnesty bill known as SB744.  Invite a friend, ask questions and please let OFIR know if any discussion on immigration issues takes place at the meetings.

  • August 30, 2013 @ 3:30 PM

    Sherman County Town Hall

    300 Dewey Street
    Moro, OR 97039

  • August 30, 2013 @ 12:00 PM

    Wasco County Town Hall

  • 400 E Scenic Drive
    The Dalles, OR 97058

  • August 28, 2013 @ 4:30 PM

    Union County Town Hall.

    10201 Fourth Street
    Island City, OR 97850

  • August 28, 2013 @ 12:30 PM

    Baker County Town Hall.

    1901 Main Street
    Baker City, OR 97814

  • August 28, 2013 @ 9:00 AM

    Grant County Town Hall.

    211 West 6th Street
    Prairie City, OR 97869

  • August 27, 2013 @ 4:30 PM

    Harney County Town Hall

    17 S Alder
    Burns, OR 97720

  • August 27, 2013 @ 11:00 AM

    Malheur County Town Hall

    3890 Hwy 201
    Ontario, OR 97941


  Read more about Senator Merkley to hold Townhall meetings

Immigration issues affected by '12 election

Supporters and opponents agree: The outcome of the 2012 election, more than anything else, shaped how the Oregon Legislature responded to immigration issues in 2013.

“With all the people who came out to vote in November, our electorate made it clear in the 2012 election what the priority was,” said Luis Guerra, the new executive director of Causa Oregon immigrant-rights group.

A new Democratic majority in the Oregon House — the Oregon Senate remained in Democratic hands — ensured passage of two state priorities for immigrant-rights groups.

One bill was for students to obtain in-state tuition rates at state universities, regardless of their immigration status, if they graduate from Oregon high schools and meet other conditions.

The Senate passed similar bills in 2003 and 2011, but both died in the House. This time, the House initiated it, and both chambers passed House Bill 2787 and the governor signed it two months into the 2013 session.

One of the celebrants was Hugo Nicolas, a 2011 graduate of McNary High School, who said the bill will make it possible for him to attend the University of Oregon.

“This means there is hope that students like me can get out and contribute to their community,” he said.

The other bill was for people to obtain four-year driver’s cards, half the eight-year driver’s license, if they passed the driving-skills and knowledge tests but could not prove legal presence in the United States.

Lawmakers had made the latter a condition in 2008 to comply with a federal law governing the use of state licenses as identification for federal purposes, such as boarding commercial aircraft or entering federal buildings. The federal law, however, allows states to issue alternative identification for drivers.

A similar proposal failed to advance past a Senate committee two years ago. But backed by a coalition of business groups, Senate Bill 833 became law in a single month — and Gov. John Kitzhaber signed it into law at a May Day rally on the Capitol steps.

“We shared all the stories of all the families who are affected” by both bills, Guerra said, and his group will follow a similar strategy in an attempt to persuade Oregon’s congressional delegation to back federal immigration-law changes.

However, opponents of both state bills have not given up, although they are concentrating their efforts on just one of them.

Opponents have launched a campaign to gather the 58,142 voter signatures required to put the driver’s-card law to a statewide vote. They have 90 days after the Legislature adjourns — it would have been a deadline of Oct. 5 if the session had ended Sunday — to file the signatures with the secretary of state.

“We have had an amazing response,” said Jim Ludwick of McMinnville, a spokesman for Oregonians for Immigration Reform, which opposed the bill.

“I doubt there is a town in Oregon where somebody has not requested a signature sheet. A huge number of people are outraged by this bill to give illegal aliens driver’s licenses. There is no question in my mind that if we are successful in getting on the ballot, they will revoke this bill.”

If there are enough valid signatures, the law would be suspended — it is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 — and the statewide vote would coincide with the November 2014 general election, unless lawmakers choose an earlier date.

Washington and New Mexico issue licenses without proof of legal presence; Washington has an “enhanced” license valid for federal purposes that also can be used in travel to and from Canada. Illinois will issue three-year cards in the fall, and Utah issues cards that must be renewed annually.

The in-state tuition law, which took effect July 1, also can be challenged in court. The law provides for a direct review by the Oregon Supreme Court, although the justices can delegate someone to conduct fact-finding proceedings before they hear oral arguments on the legal questions.

Such a lawsuit must be filed by Aug. 29.

Although some witnesses at Oregon legislative hearings suggested there would be a lawsuit, a similar law in California was upheld by that state’s highest court in 2010 — and the U.S. Supreme Court declined in June 2011 to hear an appeal.

“The problem is that the Supreme Court has been unwilling to hear those lawsuits,” Ludwick said. He said state laws appear to contradict a 1996 federal law that bars in-state tuition for students without immigration documents, unless the state laws waive requirements for out-of-state residents.

Oregon joined about a dozen other states with similar laws, including Washington.

Racial and ethnic minorities scored legislative victories on other matters this session:

• House Bill 2517, which takes effect Jan. 1, allows full eight-year driver’s licenses to residents of three Pacific island nations — Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau and Federated States of Micronesia — who are legally allowed to live and work in the United States. Under current law, these residents of nations associated with the United States have to renew their state licenses every year, because there is no limit on their stays.

• House Bill 2611 requires health professionals regulated by specific state boards to undergo training in cultural differences in providing medical treatment. This “cultural competency” training will be set by the Oregon Health Authority.

• Senate Bill 463. signed Wednesday and taking effect Jan. 1, will require the state Criminal Justice Commission to analyze how criminal sentencing and child welfare legislation may affect racial and ethnic minorities if requested by two legislators, one from each party. The law is modeled after a 2008 Iowa law.

However, House Bill 2661 remained in the budget committee, although it did have two hearings. It would have required the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to conduct a study of the interaction of police with racial and ethnic minorities.

pwong@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6745 Read more about Immigration issues affected by '12 election

Supreme Court: Arizona law requiring citizenship proof for voters is illegal

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that states cannot require would-be voters to prove they are U.S. citizens before using a federal registration system designed to make signing up easier.

The justices voted 7-2 to throw out Arizona's voter-approved requirement that prospective voters document their U.S. citizenship in order to use a registration form produced under the federal "Motor Voter" voter registration law.

Federal law "precludes Arizona from requiring a federal form applicant to submit information beyond that required by the form itself," Justice Antonia Scalia wrote for the court's majority.

The court was considering the legality of Arizona's requirement that prospective voters document their U.S. citizenship in order to use a registration form produced under the federal "motor voter" registration law. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which doesn't require such documentation, trumps Arizona's Proposition 200 passed in 2004.

Arizona appealed that decision to the Supreme Court.

The case focuses on Arizona, which has tangled frequently with the federal government over immigration issues involving the Mexican border. But it has broader implications because four other states -- Alabama, Georgia, Kansas and Tennessee -- have similar requirements, and 12 other states are contemplating such legislation.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented from the court's ruling.

The Constitution "authorizes states to determine the qualifications of voters in federal elections, which necessarily includes the related power to determine whether those qualifications are satisfied," Thomas said in his dissent.

Opponents of Arizona's law see it as an attack on vulnerable voter groups such as minorities, immigrants and the elderly. They say they've counted more than 31,000 potentially legal voters in Arizona who easily could have registered before Proposition 200 but were blocked initially by the law in the 20 months after it passed in 2004. They say about 20 percent of those thwarted were Latino.

But Arizona officials say they should be able to pass laws to stop illegal immigrants and other noncitizens from getting on their voting rolls. The Arizona voting law was part of a package that also denied some government benefits to illegal immigrants and required Arizonans to show identification before voting.

The federal "motor voter" law, enacted in 1993 to expand voter registration, requires states to offer voter registration when a resident applies for a driver's license or certain benefits. Another provision of that law -- the one at issue before the court -- requires states to allow would-be voters to fill out mail-in registration cards and swear they are citizens under penalty of perjury, but it doesn't require them to show proof. Under Proposition 200, Arizona officials require an Arizona driver's license issued after 1996, a U.S. birth certificate, a passport or other similar document, or the state will reject the federal registration application form.

Arizona can ask the federal government to include the extra documents as a state-specific requirement, Scalia said, and take any decision made by the government on that request back to court.
  Read more about Supreme Court: Arizona law requiring citizenship proof for voters is illegal

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