Grey's blog: "Immigration"

I have been mulling over the problems with immigration that have been plaguing our nation. After some thought, I have developed some ideas that draw on the ways of our nation's Old West justice. I call it "Get Legal or Get Out" 1. A border fence or barrier will be built and manned with armed National Guard troops to intercept those attempting to cross into the USA illegally. This will also include a virtual border consisting of cameras, unmanned drones, sound sensors and satellite imagery. 2. There will be amnesty for those illegals currently in our country illegally, providing that they can furnish proof of identity and pass a strict background check. Those with criminal history will be denied. Those who qualify will pay all back taxes and a fine of $5000 per family. The head of household must return to their country of origin to register for a Z Visa. 3. Any illegals caught inside the USA without proper identification will be branded with a 2" I (for illegal) on their forehead and deported back across the border. This will be strike one. 4. Anyone caught attempting to enter the USA with the I brand will be hanged on the spot. 5. Any employer who knowingly employs an illegal worker, will have their business confiscated by the Federal government to be sold at public auction. In addition, employers will be fined $100,000 per illegal employed. 6. "Coyotes" will have a bounty placed on them to be paid to the individual who turns them. "Coyotes" will be hanged when apprehended without delay. I believe that these measures will stem the flow of illegals.

Bush wants us to cut the amount of gas we use. The best way to stop using so much gas is to deport 11 million illegal immigrants! That would be 11 million less people using our gas. The price of gas would come down. Bring our troops home from Iraq to guard the border. When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the border, hand him a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship him to Iraq . Tell him if he wants to come to America then he must serve a tour in the military. Give him a soldier's pay while he's there and tax him on it. After his tour, he will be allowed to become a citizen since he defended this country. He will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal patriot. This option will probably deter illegal immigration and provide a solution for the troops in Iraq and the aliens trying to make a better life for themselves. If they refuse to serve, ship them to Iraq anyway, without the canteen, rifle or ammo. Problem solved.

I guess we have to handle it ourselves

McAllen, TX] - A law enforcement surge. That's how Governor Rick Perry is describing the latest border security program called Operation Wrangler. What is an expansion of Operation Rio Grande, Operation Wrangler will deploy more than 600 Texas Army National Guard troops around the state, with a majority of them in the Valley to help crack down on illegal immigrant and drug trafficking. But Perry, in McAllen yesterday, says he needs 100-million dollars from the legislature to fund the new operation, along with its support plan Operation Linebacker: However, Operation Wrangler is drawing concern from several Valley police chiefs and sheriffs, who don't like the idea of local cops pairing up with specially-trained soldiers, saying it's another step toward militarizing the border. Some people just don't get it... militarizing our border is exactly what's needed. After living in the Rio Grande Valley for 12 years, I can attest to the fact that well more than a few local law officials are as corrupt as you will find anywhere in the world. During the time I lived there, I saw sheriffs from both Cameron County (Brownsville and Harlingen) and Hidalgo County (McAllen) convicted for much more serious crimes than mere DUI or traffic tickets. In addition, numerous local police officers, sheriff's deputies, Border Patrol and INS agents were convicted of smuggling both drugs and illegals. Judges have also been implicated in many illegal activities. Law enforcement and justice is "de dos caras" in South Texas.

I have never witnessed anything that equals the miscarriage of justice evidenced in the case of two courageous border patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean. They are being imprisoned for risking their lives to protect ours from a violent Mexican illegal alien drug smuggler. Ramos and Compean are not even allowed to remain with their families during an appeal process. They are the true victims of injustice — not the person who entered the United States illegally, transported 743 lbs. of marijuana illegally across the international border, assaulted a federal agent, and defied all of the rules outlined by our immigration statutes. To top this, Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, the smuggler, was given immunity by the U.S. government, in exchange for testifying against the agents. He was actually brought back from Mexico to give testimony. And, according to one report, Aldrete-Davila was also guilty of a subsequent attempt to bring drugs into the United States. He is now suing the U.S. Border Patrol for $5 million. The White House and the attorney general have not responded to this situation with a single word, pro or con. The government is sending a bad message to all law enforcement officers by putting these men in prison. In addition to tearing apart Ramos and Compean's families, it destroys the morale of law enforcement officers across the nation and undermines the public's faith in our system of justice. The government had to choose between supporting a drug dealer or supporting their own border agents and they chose to support a drug dealer. The federal government is thus on the wrong side of the border. This action will encourage defiance by illegals and they will redouble in their smuggling efforts. Already the shooting of 22-year-old Francisco Rivera has drawn condemnation from the new president of Mexico. So here we have the government of Mexico protesting the death of another illegal alien involved in another confrontation. In other words, this is just the beginning. Now, as these two young men begin their prison terms leaving behind wives and a total of six young children, comes word that three members of the jury who ruled against them have retracted and now say that they were coerced in ruling against Ramos and Compean. Three jurors say they were coerced into convicting the two agents. The two dedicated border patrolmen are now behind bars and the drug smuggler is free to go about his illicit traffic in drug pedaling and thumbing his nose at us all of us while justice weeps.

WASHINGTON - Mayors of Texas border towns who met with Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff on Wednesday said they are confident a 850-mile fence will not be built on the U.S.-Mexico border. Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas said it is "highly unlikely" that the fence, as authorized in a law signed by President Bush, would be funded. "It's a turnaround here. It's the beginning of a new day to say no wall," Salinas said. Seven mayors and three Texas businessmen met with Chertoff at the office of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. She voted for the fence but wants it adjusted to address local concerns. Chertoff said after the meeting that there are parts of the border where a fence will work and the agency wants to be "expeditious" in building it. But he said that on some parts of the border a mix of technology will be needed. "In all cases, we need more boots on the ground," Chertoff said. Bush signed the law last year and the Republican-controlled Congress provided money to start work on the fence. But Republicans worry that now they have their majority on Capitol Hill, they never will see the fence built. Democrats in charge today generally oppose the fence. Based on the comments of some Democrats, there is no rush. Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he wants the Bush administration to offer a plan for securing the northern and southern borders. "My preference is to delay the construction of a fence until we have a plan," said Thompson, D-Miss. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said this week Democrats want "the best possible way" to secure the border. Hoyer voted against the fence last year, as did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Though the total fencing was believed to be about 700 miles, congressional researchers say it is closer to about 850 miles. A separate law on Homeland Security Department spending provided $1.2 billion for the fencing. That law also withholds $950 million of the sum until the House and Senate appropriations committees approve the department's plan for spending the money. Aides to the chairmen of the House and Senate appropriations committees declined immediate comment on whether the lawmakers would approve that spending plan or whether they wanted the fence built. Some Republicans have written Bush asking him to request more money for the fence's construction in his 2008 budget. In a recent news conference, GOP Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Steve King of New York said the cost of the fence would be in line with the Congressional Budget Office's estimate: $3 million a mile, for a total of $2.6 billion. "It's just a fence. It's the kind of fence we build in America every day," Hunter said. In a Dec. 12 report, the Congressional Research Service said costs could be higher. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimated a double-layer fence would cost a little over $1 million a mile, not including buying the land on which it would be built, the research service said. In addition, maintenance could run from $16.4 million to $70 million a mile over 25 years, the Corps said. The Homeland Security Department has contracted with Boeing for the Secure Border Initiative, consisting of a "virtual fence" of cameras, surveillance technology and new procedures for border agents. The first phase is to be completed in Arizona in June. A recent audit report said that project could cost between $8 billion and $30 billion. Sounds to me like we really don't need a fence at all... we need the National Guard there armed and ready with orders to intercept and destroy any intruders. About a month or less of that will certainly stem the tide that has become the silent invasion. It is time our politicians wake up to the problem. I find it VERY hard to believe that a double fence would cost anywhere near a million dollars a mile... but then again, our government is in the habit of buying $800 toilet seats and $80 hammers... go figure. Time to turn every God Damn one of the politicians out to pasture. Afterthought... put the Mafia in charge... What would Tony Soprano do?

SAN DIEGO -- Last-minute pleas are being made in the case of two former Border Patrol agents who are due to report to prison. Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos were convicted in a court in El Paso, Texas, for shooting and wounding a Mexican drug smuggler. Congressional representatives, including Duncan Hunter and Dana Rohrabacher, have been urging the president to pardon the two. The agents have been sentenced to serve 11 and 12 years in prison, respectively. According to the Washington Times, the agents found 743 pounds of marijuana in the smuggler's van. Do you think these Border Patrol agents should be pardoned? Take a national poll at: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/10773809/detail.html

Career Subject: Overall Immigration Reduction Grades (Updated: January 09, 2007) A+ 4% Received This Grade: Barrett, J. Gresham (R-SC) - 99% Emerson, Jo Ann (R-MO) - 98% Bilbray, Brian (R-CA) - 97% Coble, Howard (R-NC) - 97% Deal, Nathan (R-GA) - 97% Duncan, John (R-TN) - 97% Hayes, Robin (R-NC) - 97% Hunter, Duncan (R-CA) - 97% Rohrabacher, Dana (R-CA) - 97% Tancredo, Tom (R-CO) - 97% Hastert, Dennis (R-IL) - 96% Kingston, Jack (R-GA) - 96% Smith, Lamar (R-TX) - 96% Stearns, Cliff (R-FL) - 96% Everett, Terry (R-AL) - 95% Goode, Virgil (R-VA) - 95% Goodlatte, Robert (R-VA) - 95% Johnson, Sam (R-TX) - 95% Norwood, Charlie (R-GA) - 95% Royce, Ed (R-CA) - 95% Wamp, Zach (R-TN) - 95% A 7% Received This Grade: Byrd, Robert (D-WV) - 94% Davis, Geoff (R-KY) - 94% Sessions, Jeff (R-AL) - 94% Taylor, Gene (D-MS) - 94% Vitter, David (R-LA) - 94% Baker, Richard (R-LA) - 94% Roberts, Pat (R-KS) - 94% Bachus, Spencer (R-AL) - 93% Chambliss, Saxby (R-GA) - 93% Coburn, Tom (R-OK) - 93% Cubin, Barbara (R-WY) - 93% Gingrey, Phil (R-GA) - 93% Herger, Wally (R-CA) - 93% Isakson, Johnny (R-GA) - 93% Bartlett, Roscoe (R-MD) - 92% Boozman, John (R-AR) - 92% Bunning, Jim (R-KY) - 92% Culberson, John (R-TX) - 92% Jones, Walter (R-NC) - 92% King, Steve (R-IA) - 92% Sessions, Pete (R-TX) - 92% Burton, Dan (R-IN) - 91% Davis, Jo Ann (R-VA) - 91% Gallegly, Elton (R-CA) - 91% Lewis, Ron (R-KY) - 91% McKeon, Howard (R-CA) - 91% Peterson, John (R-PA) - 91% Saxton, Jim (R-NJ) - 91% Westmoreland, Lynn (R-GA) - 91% Aderholt, Robert (R-AL) - 90% Barton, Joe (R-TX) - 90% Brown-Waite, Virginia (R-FL) - 90% Burr, Richard (R-NC) - 90% Hall, Ralph (R-TX) - 90% Sensenbrenner, James (R-WI) - 90% Thune, John (R-SD) - 90% Whitfield, Edward (R-KY) - 90% A- 5% Received This Grade: Akin, Todd (R-MO) - 89% Bishop, Rob (R-UT) - 89% Dent, Charles (R-PA) - 89% Fortenberry, Jeff (R-NE) - 89% Lungren, Dan (R-CA) - 89% McHenry, Patrick (R-NC) - 89% Schmidt, Jean (R-OH) - 89% Calvert, Ken (R-CA) - 89% DeMint, James (R-SC) - 89% Shadegg, John (R-AZ) - 89% Sullivan, John (R-OK) - 89% Doolittle, John (R-CA) - 88% Grassley, Charles (R-IA) - 88% Inhofe, James (R-OK) - 88% Platts, Todd (R-PA) - 88% Forbes, Randy (R-VA) - 87% Inglis, Bob (R-SC) - 87% Pickering, Charles (R-MS) - 87% Shelby, Richard (R-AL) - 87% Jindal, Bobby (R-LA) - 86% Keller, Ric (R-FL) - 86% McCotter, Thaddeus (R-MI) - 86% McCrery, Jim (R-LA) - 86% Ramstad, Jim (R-MN) - 86% Wicker, Roger (R-MS) - 86% B+ 7% Received This Grade: Franks, Trent (R-AZ) - 85% Frelinghuysen, Rodney (R-NJ) - 85% Linder, John (R-GA) - 85% McCaul, Michael (R-TX) - 85% McMorris Rogers, Cathy (R-WA) - 85% Miller, Candice (R-MI) - 85% Musgrave, Marilyn (R-CO) - 85% Wilson, Joe (R-SC) - 85% Wolf, Frank (R-VA) - 85% Garrett, Scott (R-NJ) - 84% Graves, Sam (R-MO) - 84% Marshall, Jim (D-GA) - 84% Petri, Tom (R-WI) - 84% Rogers, Mike (R-AL) - 84% Rogers, Harold (R-KY) - 84% Blackburn, Marsha (R-TN) - 83% Buyer, Steve (R-IN) - 83% Crapo, Michael (R-ID) - 83% Gohmert, Louie (R-TX) - 83% Kyl, Jon (R-AZ) - 83% Miller, Gary (R-CA) - 83% Neugebauer, Randy (R-TX) - 83% Price, Tom (R-GA) - 83% Burgess, Michael (R-TX) - 82% Campbell, John (R-CA) - 82% Dole, Elizabeth (R-NC) - 82% Feeney, Tom (R-FL) - 82% Foxx, Virginia (R-NC) - 82% Marchant, Kenny (R-TX) - 82% Shays, Christopher (R-CT) - 82% Brady, Kevin (R-TX) - 81% Capito, Shelly (R-WV) - 81% Hulshof, Kenny (R-MO) - 81% Lucas, Frank (R-OK) - 81% Young, Don (R-AK) - 81% B 10% Received This Grade: Alexander, Rodney (R-LA) - 80% Barrow, John (D-GA) - 80% Camp, Dave (R-MI) - 80% Gilchrest, Wayne (R-MD) - 80% Peterson, Collin (D-MN) - 80% Poe, Ted (R-TX) - 80% Shuster, Bill (R-PA) - 80% Thomas, Craig (R-WY) - 80% Young, C.W. (R-FL) - 80% Boren, Dan (D-OK) - 79% DeFazio, Peter (D-OR) - 79% Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) - 79% Mack, Connie (R-FL) - 79% Paul, Ron (R-TX) - 79% Pence, Mike (R-IN) - 79% Blunt, Roy (R-MO) - 78% Chandler, Ben (D-KY) - 78% Davis, Lincoln (D-TN) - 78% Simpson, Mike (R-ID) - 78% Tanner, John (D-TN) - 78% Weldon, Dave (R-FL) - 78% Enzi, Michael (R-WY) - 77% Kuhl, Randy (R-NY) - 77% Mica, John (R-FL) - 77% Miller, Jeff (R-FL) - 77% Moran, Jerry (R-KS) - 77% Cantor, Eric (R-VA) - 76% Conaway, Mike (R-TX) - 76% Pitts, Joseph (R-PA) - 76% Sununu, John (R-NH) - 76% Carter, John (R-TX) - 75% Gillmor, Paul (R-OH) - 75% Hastings, Richard (R-WA) - 75% McIntyre, Mike (D-NC) - 75% Renzi, Rick (R-AZ) - 75% Rogers, Mike (R-MI) - 75% Thornberry, William (R-TX) - 75% Weller, Jerry (R-IL) - 75% Bonner, Jo (R-AL) - 74% Chabot, Steve (R-OH) - 74% Gerlach, Jim (R-PA) - 74% Issa, Darrell (R-CA) - 74% Murphy, Tim (R-PA) - 74% Kline, John (R-MN) - 73% Latham, Tom (R-IA) - 73% Castle, Michael (R-DE) - 72% Crenshaw, Ander (R-FL) - 72% Myrick, Sue (R-NC) - 72% Walden, Greg (R-OR) - 72% Brown, Henry (R-SC) - 71% Drake, Thelma (R-VA) - 71% Rehberg, Dennis (R-MT) - 71% Shimkus, John (R-IL) - 71% B- 3% Received This Grade: Johnson, Tim (R-IL) - 70% Boehner, John (R-OH) - 69% Boyd, Allen (D-FL) - 69% Cole, Tom (R-OK) - 69% Hoekstra, Pete (R-MI) - 69% Melancon, Charles (D-LA) - 69% Bono, Mary (R-CA) - 68% Boucher, Rick (D-VA) - 68% Dreier, David (R-CA) - 68% Granger, Kay (R-TX) - 68% Lipinski, Daniel (D-IL) - 68% LoBiondo, Frank (R-NJ) - 68% Nelson, Ben (D-NE) - 68% Boustany, Charles (R-LA) - 66% Ferguson, Michael (R-NJ) - 66% Regula, Ralph (R-OH) - 66% C+ 6% Received This Grade: Cornyn, John (R-TX) - 65% Cramer, Robert (D-AL) - 65% Hobson, David (R-OH) - 65% Holden, Tim (D-PA) - 65% Manzullo, Donald (R-IL) - 65% Putnam, Adam (R-FL) - 65% Radanovich, George (R-CA) - 65% Ensign, John (R-NV) - 64% Kirk, Mark (R-IL) - 64% Reichert, Dave (R-WA) - 64% Reynolds, Thomas (R-NY) - 64% Johnson, Tim (D-SD) - 63% Fossella, Vito (R-NY) - 62% Porter, Jon (R-NV) - 62% Biggert, Judy (R-IL) - 61% Bond, Kit (R-MO) - 61% Lincoln, Blanche (D-AR) - 61% Dorgan, Byron (D-ND) - 60% Allard, Wayne (R-CO) - 59% Graham, Lindsey (R-SC) - 59% Matheson, Jim (D-UT) - 59% Hutchison, Kay Bailey (R-TX) - 58% Pomeroy, Earl (D-ND) - 58% Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA) - 57% Bean, Melissa (D-IL) - 56% Hatch, Orrin (R-UT) - 56% Herseth, Stephanie (D-SD) - 56% McHugh, John (R-NY) - 56% Reid, Harry (D-NV) - 56% Tiberi, Pat (R-OH) - 56% C 4% Received This Grade: Craig, Larry (R-ID) - 55% Lewis, Jerry (R-CA) - 55% Terry, Lee (R-NE) - 55% Berry, Marion (D-AR) - 54% Flake, Jeff (R-AZ) - 54% Obey, David (D-WI) - 54% Turner, Mike (R-OH) - 54% Conrad, Kent (D-ND) - 53% Ryan, Paul (R-WI) - 53% Ehlers, Vernon (R-MI) - 52% Pryce, Deborah (R-OH) - 51% Ross, Mike (D-AR) - 51% Gordon, Bart (D-TN) - 50% Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI) - 50% Tiahrt, Todd (R-KS) - 50% Upton, Fred (R-MI) - 50% Lott, Trent (R-MS) - 49% Cannon, Christopher (R-UT) - 48% Higgins, Brian (D-NY) - 48% Moore, Dennis (D-KS) - 48% Nunes, Devin (R-CA) - 48% Rockefeller, John (D-WV) - 48% Davis, Thomas (R-VA) - 46% C- 6% Received This Grade: Knollenberg, Joe (R-MI) - 45% Mikulski, Barbara (D-MD) - 45% Reed, Jack (D-RI) - 45% Cochran, Thad (R-MS) - 44% Costa, Jim (D-CA) - 44% Costello, Jerry (D-IL) - 44% English, Phil (R-PA) - 44% Inouye, Daniel (D-HI) - 44% LaTourette, Steven (R-OH) - 44% Salazar, John (D-CO) - 44% Pearce, Steve (R-NM) - 43% Cardoza, Dennis (D-CA) - 42% Scott, David (D-GA) - 42% Bennett, Robert (R-UT) - 41% Kohl, Herb (D-WI) - 41% Souder, Mark (R-IN) - 41% Boxer, Barbara (D-CA) - 40% Edwards, Chet (D-TX) - 40% Gregg, Judd (R-NH) - 39% Visclosky, Peter (D-IN) - 39% Alexander, Lamar (R-TN) - 38% Baucus, Max (D-MT) - 38% Boswell, Leonard (D-IA) - 38% King, Peter (R-NY) - 38% Moran, James (D-VA) - 38% Specter, Arlen (R-PA) - 38% Abercrombie, Neil (D-HI) - 37% McConnell, Mitch (R-KY) - 37% Walsh, James (R-NY) - 37% Smith, Christopher (R-NJ) - 36% Udall, Mark (D-CO) - 36% D+ 3% Received This Grade: Hooley, Darlene (D-OR) - 35% Landrieu, Mary (D-LA) - 35% Matsui, Doris (D-CA) - 35% Ruppersberger, Dutch (D-MD) - 35% Skelton, Ike (D-MO) - 35% Snowe, Olympia (R-ME) - 34% Domenici, Pete (R-NM) - 33% Hoyer, Steny (D-MD) - 33% Nelson, Bill (D-FL) - 33% Ryan, Timothy (D-OH) - 33% Schwartz, Allyson (D-PA) - 33% Bayh, Evan (D-IN) - 32% Cooper, Jim (D-TN) - 32% Kanjorski, Paul (D-PA) - 32% Stevens, Ted (R-AK) - 32% LaHood, Ray (R-IL) - 31% D 10% Received This Grade: Hinchey, Maurice (D-NY) - 30% Martinez, Mel (R-FL) - 30% Warner, John (R-VA) - 30% Akaka, Daniel (D-HI) - 29% Harkin, Tom (D-IA) - 29% Bishop, Timothy (D-NY) - 28% Butterfield, GK (D-NC) - 28% Collins, Susan (R-ME) - 28% Levin, Carl (D-MI) - 28% Obama, Barack (D-IL) - 28% Udall, Thomas (D-NM) - 28% Carper, Thomas (D-DE) - 27% Harman, Jane (D-CA) - 27% Kerry, John (D-MA) - 27% Lampson, Nick (D-TX) - 27% Murtha, John (D-PA) - 27% Salazar, Ken (D-CO) - 27% Biden, Joseph (D-DE) - 26% Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM) - 26% Spratt, John (D-SC) - 26% Carnahan, Russ (D-MO) - 25% Dodd, Christopher (D-CT) - 25% Green, Al (D-TX) - 25% McCain, John (R-AZ) - 25% Miller, Brad (D-NC) - 25% Moore, Gwen (D-WI) - 25% Sherman, Brad (D-CA) - 25% Smith, Gordon (R-OR) - 25% Baird, Brian (D-WA) - 24% Cuellar, Henry (D-TX) - 24% Kind, Ron (D-WI) - 24% Lautenberg, Frank (D-NJ) - 24% Lugar, Richard (R-IN) - 24% Pascrell, Bill (D-NJ) - 24% Pryor, Mark (D-AR) - 24% Kaptur, Marcy (D-OH) - 23% Michaud, Michael (D-ME) - 23% Voinovich, George (R-OH) - 23% Bishop, Sanford (D-GA) - 22% Brownback, Sam (R-KS) - 22% Israel, Steve (D-NY) - 22% Lieberman, Joseph (D-CT) - 22% McCarthy, Carolyn (D-NY) - 22% Murray, Patty (D-WA) - 22% Stupak, Bart (D-MI) - 22% Wasserman-Schultz, Debbie (D-FL) - 22% Berkley, Shelley (D-NV) - 21% Coleman, Norm (R-MN) - 21% Diaz-Balart, Mario (R-FL) - 21% Jones, Stephanie Tubbs (D-OH) - 21% Kucinich, Dennis (D-OH) - 21% Langevin, Jim (D-RI) - 21% Larsen, Rick (D-WA) - 21% Lynch, Stephen (D-MA) - 21% Schumer, Charles (D-NY) - 21% D- 7% Received This Grade: Etheridge, Bob (D-NC) - 20% Hill, Baron (D-IN) - 20% Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK) - 20% Wexler, Robert (D-FL) - 20% Cantwell, Maria (D-WA) - 19% Carson, Julia (D-IN) - 19% Clinton, Hillary (D-NY) - 19% Hagel, Chuck (R-NE) - 19% Holt, Rush (D-NJ) - 19% Johnson, Eddie (D-TX) - 19% McCollum, Betty (D-MN) - 19% McNulty, Michael (D-NY) - 19% Miller, George (D-CA) - 19% Waxman, Henry (D-CA) - 19% Wyden, Ron (D-OR) - 19% Capuano, Michael (D-MA) - 18% Clay, William Lacy (D-MO) - 18% Cummings, Elijah (D-MD) - 18% Durbin, Richard (D-IL) - 18% Kildee, Dale (D-MI) - 18% Kilpatrick, Carolyn (D-MI) - 18% Levin, Sander (D-MI) - 18% Lowey, Nita (D-NY) - 18% Rothman, Steven (D-NJ) - 18% Tierney, John (D-MA) - 18% Wilson, Heather (R-NM) - 18% Wu, David (D-OR) - 18% Brady, Robert (D-PA) - 17% Brown, Sherrod (D-OH) - 17% Davis, Danny (D-IL) - 17% Doyle, Mike (D-PA) - 17% Thompson, Mike (D-CA) - 17% Andrews, Robert (D-NJ) - 16% Baldwin, Tammy (D-WI) - 16% Green, Gene (D-TX) - 16% Larson, John (D-CT) - 16% Leahy, Patrick (D-VT) - 16% Pallone, Frank (D-NJ) - 16% Sanders, Bernie (I-VT) - 16% F 16% Received This Grade: Eshoo, Anna (D-CA) - 15% Kennedy, Edward (D-MA) - 15% Lantos, Tom (D-CA) - 15% Maloney, Carolyn (D-NY) - 15% Slaughter, Louise (D-NY) - 15% Ackerman, Gary (D-NY) - 14% Berman, Howard (D-CA) - 14% Cardin, Benjamin (D-MD) - 14% Cleaver, Emanuel (D-MO) - 14% Delahunt, Bill (D-MA) - 14% DeLauro, Rosa (D-CT) - 14% Farr, Sam (D-CA) - 14% McGovern, Jim (D-MA) - 14% Schiff, Adam (D-CA) - 14% Smith, Adam (D-WA) - 14% Norton, Eleanor (D-DC) - 13% Reyes, Silvestre (D-TX) - 13% Weiner, Anthony (D-NY) - 13% Allen, Tom (D-ME) - 12% Brown, Corrine (D-FL) - 12% Davis, Artur (D-AL) - 12% Dicks, Norm (D-WA) - 12% Engel, Eliot (D-NY) - 12% Price, David (D-NC) - 12% Rahall, Nick (D-WV) - 12% Roybal-Allard, Lucille (D-CA) - 12% Serrano, Jose (D-NY) - 12% Snyder, Vic (D-AR) - 12% Clyburn, James (D-SC) - 11% Dingell, John (D-MI) - 11% Emanuel, Rahm (D-IL) - 11% Fattah, Chaka (D-PA) - 11% Frank, Barney (D-MA) - 11% Inslee, Jay (D-WA) - 11% Kennedy, Patrick (D-RI) - 11% Markey, Edward (D-MA) - 11% Schakowsky, Janice (D-IL) - 11% Tauscher, Ellen (D-CA) - 11% Thompson, Bennie (D-MS) - 11% Wynn, Albert (D-MD) - 11% Davis, Susan (D-CA) - 10% Jackson, Jesse (D-IL) - 10% Meek, Kendrick (D-FL) - 10% Mollohan, Alan (D-WV) - 10% Oberstar, James (D-MN) - 10% Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana (R-FL) - 10% Sanchez, Loretta (D-CA) - 10% Waters, Maxine (D-CA) - 10% Baca, Joe (D-CA) - 9% Doggett, Lloyd (D-TX) - 9% Hastings, Alcee (D-FL) - 9% Meehan, Martin (D-MA) - 9% Millender-McDonald, Juanita (D-CA) - 9% Neal, Richard (D-MA) - 9% Olver, John (D-MA) - 9% Scott, Robert (D-VA) - 9% Watson, Diane (D-CA) - 9% Capps, Lois (D-CA) - 8% Diaz-Balart, Lincoln (R-FL) - 8% Grijalva, Raul (D-AZ) - 8% Jefferson, William (D-LA) - 8% Lee, Barbara (D-CA) - 8% Nadler, Jerrold (D-NY) - 8% Napolitano, Grace (D-CA) - 8% Rush, Bobby (D-IL) - 8% Solis, Hilda (D-CA) - 8% Towns, Edolphus (D-NY) - 8% Velazquez, Nydia (D-NY) - 8% Watt, Melvin (D-NC) - 8% Woolsey, Lynn (D-CA) - 8% Conyers, John (D-MI) - 7% DeGette, Diana (D-CO) - 7% Feingold, Russell (D-WI) - 7% Jackson-Lee, Sheila (D-TX) - 7% Lewis, John (D-GA) - 7% McDermott, Jim (D-WA) - 7% Meeks, Gregory (D-NY) - 7% Payne, Donald (D-NJ) - 7% Sanchez, Linda (D-CA) - 7% Van Hollen, Chris (D-MD) - 7% Blumenauer, Earl (D-OR) - 6% Gonzalez, Charlie (D-TX) - 6% Hinojosa, Ruben (D-TX) - 6% Menendez, Robert (D-NJ) - 6% Stark, Pete (D-CA) - 6% F- 2% Received This Grade: Becerra, Xavier (D-CA) - 5% Lofgren, Zoe (D-CA) - 5% Ortiz, Solomon (D-TX) - 5% Rodriguez, Ciro (D-TX) - 5% Crowley, Joseph (D-NY) - 4% Filner, Bob (D-CA) - 4% Honda, Mike (D-CA) - 4% Gutierrez, Luis (D-IL) - 3% Rangel, Charles (D-NY) - 3% Pastor, Ed (D-AZ) - 2% Pelosi, Nancy (D-CA) - 2% No Grade 11% Have No Grade: (These Members have no grade because they have had no actions in this subject) Altmire, Jason (D-PA) Arcuri, Michael A. (D-NY) Bachmann, Michele (R-MI) Bilirakis, Gus (R-FL) Boyda, Nancy (D-KS) Braley, Bruce (D-IA) Buchanan, Vern (R-FL) Carney, Christopher (D-PA) Casey, Robert (D-PA) Castor, Kathy (D-FL) Clarke, Yvette (D-NY) Cohen, Steve (D-TN) Corker, Bob (D-TN) Courtney, Joe (D-CT) Davis, David (D-TN) Donnelly, Joe (D-IN) Ellison, Keith (D-MN) Ellsworth, Brad (D-IN) Fallin, Mary (D-OK) Giffords, Gabrielle (D-AZ) Gillibrand, Kristen (D-NY) Hall, John (D-NY) Hare, Phil (D-IL) Heller, Dean (R-NV) Hirono, Mazie (D-HI) Hodes, Paul (D-NH) Johnson, Hank (D-GA) Jordan, Jim (D-OH) Kagen, Steven (D-WI) Klein, Ron (D-FL) Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN) Lamborn, Doug (R-CO) Loebsack, Dave (D-IA) Mahoney, Tim (D-FL) McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) McCaskill, Claire (D-MO) McNerney, Jerry (D-CA) Mitchell, Harry (D-AZ) Murphy, Chris (D-CT) Murphy, Patrick (D-PA) Perlmutter, Ed (D-CO) Roskam, Peter (R-IL) Sali, Bill (R-ID) Sarbanes, John (D-MD) Sestak, Joe (D-PA) Shea-Porter, Carol (D-NH) Shuler, Heath (D-NC) Sires, Albio (D-NJ) Smith, Adrian (R-NE) Space, Zach T. (D-OH) Sutton, Betty (D-OH) Tester, John (D-MT) Walberg, Tim (R-MI) Walz, Tim (D-MN) Webb, James (D-VA) Welch, Peter (D-VT) Whitehouse, Sheldon (D-RI) Wilson, Charlie (D-OH) Yarmuth, John (D-KY) This is how it stacks up: A+ R=21 D=0 I=0 A R=35 D=2 I=0 A- R=25 D=0 I=0 B+ R=34 D=1 I=0 B R=45 D=7 I=0 B- R=11 D=5 I=0 C+ R=19 D=11 I=0 C R=14 D=9 I=0 C- R=14 D=17 I=0 D+ R=4 D=12 I=0 D R=10 D=45 I=0 D- R=3 D=35 I=1 F R=2 D=83 I=0 F- R=0 D=11 I=0 That should indicate which political party is serious about tackling the immigration problem. Where do your representatives stack up?

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says 148 illegal immigrants have been indicted for allegedly acquiring other peoples' Social Security numbers and other information to get jobs at Swift meat packing plants. The indictments, issued in Iowa and five other states, follow federal raids on the plants last month in the largest-ever workplace crackdown on illegal immigration. The raids led to the arrests of nearly 13 hundred employees and temporarily halted operations for the meat processor. Gonzales says the Bush administration is studying ways to curb identity theft, including better ways for police to report the crime, and to reduce the access that thieves have to Social Security numbers. The federal indictments include: 53 in Texas, 30 in Iowa, 26 in Nebraska, 20 in Minnesota, 18 in Utah and one in Colorado.

5 million of our older Americans have not signed up yet for their Medicare, Part D, drug plan------they are old and confused. We are NOT going to grant them an extension. However, 12 million illegal aliens are in our country and we are going to allow them to stay, protest, procreate, receive support monies, attend schools, avoid paying income taxes, have our teachers take 300 hours of ESL(English as a Second Language)training at our expense, etc. WE MUST REALLY DISLIKE OUR OLD PEOPLE... OR WE MUST REALLY LOVE TACOS!!! Don't forget to pay your taxes... 30 million illegal aliens are depending on you!