PenceBlog: <b><i>Cleveland Plain Dealer:</i> Hutchison-Pence Plan "should give Congress a starting point to resume work"</b> - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

The Cleveland Plain Dealer published an editorial praising the Hutchison-Pence Plan today.

Here are excerpts:

"But the chasm between the wall-building deporters and the amnesty-granting labor importers has swallowed every attempt at legislative compromise.

"Until now.

"Two Republicans with well-burnished conservative credentials, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, are suggesting a proposal that would start with improving border security and move to a lengthy citizenship path for illegals whose countries of origin are signatories to the North American and Central American free trade agreements.

"Although it has yet to be proposed in either chamber as formal legislation, 'Pence-Hutchison' is generating much hopeful conversation as the last, best hope for immigration reform for years to come."

***

"First, it would require the president to certify over two years that benchmarks, such as a reliable identification system, increased detention facilities, more border-monitoring technology and increased numbers of border agents have in fact reduced the torrent of illegal crossings to a trickle. Then it would require that would-be immigrants return to their countries of citizenship to process through privately run 'Ellis Island Centers' before they return, with proper credentials, to start on a long journey toward citizenship."

posted by Pence Press Office # 7:26 AM