Why My Brain Is On Fire

[Direckshun]

Comprehensive immigration reform.

That's it. That's why my brain is on fire.

You have:

1. A fair bill to have emerged from the Senate, with a huge majority.

2. A POTUS who would sign this thing in a heartbeat.

3. A House that, if this bill were to come up for a vote today, would easily pass with unanimous Democratic support and solid moderate Republican support.

4. Huge majorities of Americans that favor stronger border protection and path to citizenships.

5. The demographic future of the Republican Party potentially on the line.

And somehow, some way, this bill will not become law. Because the House won't even put it up for a vote.

For the most trite reason of all: because not enough Republicans support it. Even though it would certainly pass if it a vote was held. Even though it's conventional wisdom suggests this could cost them latino voters for a generation. Even though the public voted for Democrats over Republicans for POTUS, the Senate, and the House. And the only reason the Republicans have the House in the first place is because they gerrymandered themselves into it.

But that's it. The bill will not even get a vote in the House.

Otherwise, it's getting signed this weekend, becomes law of the land, provides this country with a gigantic economic boost, helps bring unprotected millions out of the shadows, drastically cuts into illegal immigration, and provides valentines for DREAMers, high-skilled workers, and others.

But, despite everything, this is not happening.

My brain. Is on fire.

[KC native]

and this is why the gop is dooming themselves to a future of being a perpetual minority party.

[ClevelandBronco]

Thread tools > Ignore thread

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by ClevelandBronco

Thread tools > Ignore thread

You can't ignore me. I complete you.

[Psyko Tek]

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by Psyko Tek

[driver2]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

My brain. Is on fire.

Syphilis !

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by driver2

Syphilis !

Impossible. I use cerebral protection.

[nstygma]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

provides this country with a gigantic economic boost

for who? more tax revenue for the government, and more big corporations making money on limitless unskilled labor?

[patteeu]

The fire in your brain might be interfering with your ability to think this through.

I'm somewhat skeptical about whether this issue stands to cost the GOP latino voters for a generation to begin with, but I reject the idea that all the political chips rest on whether or not this particular bill is passed in the current session of Congress. Barring any big surprises, the GOP will hold the House in 2014 and they stand a pretty good chance of taking control of the Senate (or at the very least growing the size of their minority). House seats are generally pretty safe as a result of the aforementioned gerrymandering and there are far more dem seats in the Senate up for election than there are Republican seats. Furthermore, the Obama administration is currently circling the drain as a result of both scandals and incompetence and there's an Obamacare storm on the horizon.

If the GOP needs to pass immigration reform to bring latino votes into play, they don't need to do it until the 2016 election cycle. Assuming that the GOP does indeed maintain control of the House and pick up seats in the Senate, they will be in a much better position then to craft an immigration reform bill that satisfies a broader group of Republicans.

[CrazyPhuD]

[nstygma]

too much can go wrong and make things much worse than this report predicts

http://www.cbo.gov/publication/44346

In sum, relative to current law, enacting S. 744 would:

• Increase the size of the labor force and employment,
• Increase average wages in 2025 and later years (but decrease them before that),
• Slightly raise the unemployment rate through 2020,
• Boost the amount of capital investment,
• Raise the productivity of labor and of capital, and
• Result in higher interest rates.

[Taco John]

I don't know man. If they passed it this weekend, it might turn out to be hard to implement. Obama might have to wave his magic "delay this bullshit" wand and we'd be right back where we are now.

[stonedstooge]

From what I've read, there are Hispanic groups that are here legally that don't want amnesty either.

[mlyonsd]

Well it's quite simple. Intelligent lawmakers would first pass a bill to stop the illegal immigration. One with the teeth to do it. Stopping it is different than what you plan on doing with the illegals already here. That's a completely different problem. No reason combining the two into a giant failed Obamacare like mess.

Since it appears all we need to do is pass a bill, rather than actually look at what's inside the senate should withdraw their bill and just wait to pass whatever comes out of the house.