The good folks at NumbersUSA have sent out an emergency phone call alert and every concerned citizen needs to call so we can have another Senate switch board meltdown. The following is from the NumbersUSA alert:
Friends,
Today is the day. If you only do one thing this year to stop illegal immigration, call your Senators TODAY. Your phone call could be the one that stops the amnesty.
Phone your Senators today and tell them to oppose any immigration provisions in the Iraq Supplemental spending bill.
202-224-3121
In a somewhat unexpected move, the Senate began debate on the Iraq Supplemental Spending bill late in the day on Tuesday. As I write this, the Senate is still in general debate on the Iraq Supplemental (which is actually more like a mini omnibus bill). Senator Byrd (D-WV) filed three substitution amendments Monday night to H.R. 2642 (to replace all the House language in three parts). This is a similar tactic the House used during debate on their version of the Iraq supplemental bill last week: divide the bill in three to give cover to the different party constituencies. The AgJOBS language is in the first amendment (SA 4786). The Senate is not likely to get through general debate tonight, but could make it to the first amendment sometime tomorrow.
In short, this means the AgJOBS amnesty could come up for debate as early as Wednesday morning.
At this point, it is best not to get bogged down in the legislative details (because things are changing rapidly and many procedural moves are occurring). Instead, we are recommending you keep your message simple and to the point. Simply state something like the following:
â€My name is _______. I’m calling from _________ to ask the Senator to oppose any immigration increases in the Iraq Supplemental including so-called emergency agricultural workers, H-2B unskilled workers, and employment-based permanent workers. I oppose amnesty and illegal immigration and expect the Senator to vote against all immigration increases.â€
If you want to get specific, see the talking points below. But the most important need now is to flood Senate offices with phones calls opposing the AgJOBS amnesty and all other immigration increases in the Iraq Supplemental Spending bill.
Please go to your Action Board immediately and send the faxes and make the phone calls we’ve posted on your Action Buffet .
BACKGROUND AND DETAILS
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted 17-12 to attach an amnesty to the Iraq supplemental spending bill. The amendment that passed provides a 5-year visa for up to 1.35 million illegal agricultural workers—but the cap of 1.35 million does not include spouses and children, who would bring the total amnesty to a total of about 3 million.
If we are going to have comprehensive immigration then let’s have an open debate before the American people, and if amnesty has to be part of the package, then Congress needs to have the courage to come out and call it that as part of the open debate.
Regardless your feelings about amnesty, do not allow the cowards in the upper house to play politics with troop support legislation. This type of pathetic political posturing and ploy need not be happening with their important responsibility of supporting our marvelous troops.
Please call today, you will have to call twice, and please be courteous and thank the Senate staffer before you hang up.
To the phones!
