PenceBlog: <b>Hutchison-Pence Plan "a superb package on immigration reform," attracts attention of House leadership</b> - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

The immigration plan put forth this week by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congressman Pence received considerable praise from The American Spectator executive editor Quin Hillyer today.

Here is an excerpt from his column:

"Fourth, Rep. Pence and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison have put together a superb package on immigration reform. It combines truly tough border security (which must be in place and certified effective for two years before the other parts kick in) with the Pence/Helen Krieble program that will set up a market-based system for guest workers run from centers outside the United States and requiring all currently illegal workers to leave the United States before becoming eligible for the program. Sen. Hutchinson added several other good ideas as well; all told, this bill is both creative and conservative, through and through. That's why a host of leading conservatives already have endorsed it."

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The Hutchison-Pence Plan also has attracted the attention of leadership within the House.

As Rachel L. Swarns writes in a New York Times article, "House Republicans said they still hoped to finalize immigration legislation this year and pointed to a bill introduced this week by two Republican lawmakers as a possible framework for a compromise. The bill, introduced by Representative Mike Pence of Indiana and Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, would require the president to certify that the border was secure before allowing a temporary guest worker plan to be carried out."

Here is another excerpt from an article in today's Houston Chronicle:

"This week Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., floated a potential compromise on immigration that called for a guest worker program, but only after the president had certified that border control measures have been carried out for a two-year period.

"Hastert indicated that such a plan had promise.

"'I'm not endorsing any one plan, but that does start to look at a pathway, that type of a solution, possibly to get this job done,' he said."

posted by Pence Press Office # 8:13 AM