Inland Rep. Joe Baca, other Hispanic Democrats slam party chiefs over immigration...

Inland Rep. Joe Baca, other Hispanic Democrats slam party chiefs over immigration




10:00 PM PDT on Wednesday, April 23, 2008


By BEN GOAD
Washington Bureau




WASHINGTON - Inland Rep. Joe Baca and other Hispanic Democrats in Congress railed against their own party leaders Wednesday, accusing them of failing to fight for comprehensive immigration reform.

Baca, D-Rialto, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and other proponents of a sweeping but stalled immigration bill accused Democrats of choosing to move forward with "piecemeal" bills that help only a small fraction of the nation's estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants.

"These bills are nothing more than a Band-Aid being used to cover up a gaping wound," Baca said during a news conference on Capitol Hill.


Baca told the story of Marine Cpl. Jorge Gonzalez, 20, of Rialto, an undocumented immigrant who died five years ago in Iraq. Because of his status, Gonzalez's family had to apply for special permission to have an American flag draped over his casket and to receive military benefits after the death.

"That is a shame," Baca said. "Jorge was willing to die to protect this country, but since he was an immigrant, there are some who would call him a criminal."

Baca called upon Democrats to support the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act, also known as STRIVE. The bill calls for increased enforcement of laws against employing illegal immigrants, but would also create a guest-worker program to allow millions of undocumented immigrants to stay and work in the United States and eventually become citizens.

While that bill languishes, Democratic leaders have paved the way for hearings on other immigration bills, which stop short of the provisions laid out in the STRIVE Act.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, one of the bill's authors, went further than Baca, directing scathing remarks at fellow Democrats. He said the party's tactics amount to turning its back on most undocumented immigrants, while protecting a small percentage.

Gutierrez likened the debate to the civil rights and women's suffrage movements as he lashed out against supporters of bills that are not as far reaching.

"What they're saying -- what they would have said some 60, 70 years ago is: 'We're gonna let some women vote, but not all of you. But maybe we'll give you a new apron and some better pots and pans -- but you're still in the kitchen.' "

Baca, Gutierrez and others referred to a bill introduced by Rep. Heath Schuler, D-N.C., which does not include a path to citizenship. That bill appears to be moving forward.

"I only know that this would not happen without the blessing of the highest levels of leadership in the Democratic Party and caucus of the Congress of the United States," Gutierrez said.

Under questioning, he refused to name the individual lawmakers he held responsible. But shortly after the conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office deflected the criticism toward the White House and Republicans.

"Speaker Pelosi is committed to balanced, fair and bipartisan immigration reform legislation, but unless the President and the Republican leadership engage Democrats in a positive way, instead of using this issue to score partisan political points, members will only grow more frustrated with the process," spokesman Nadeam Elshami said in an e-mail.





http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_
Local_D_baca24.41eadd2.html