Thatcher-Flores Join New National Immigration Reform Legislative Coalition

Local Republicans follow lead of Pennsylvania representative in fighting illegal immigration.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As Congress prepares to embark on a new plan to deal with illegal immigrants State Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, Newberg, St. Paul) and State Representative Linda Flores (R-Clackamas) announce they’ve joined a new national coalition on immigration reform.

It’s called “State Legislators for Legal Immigration” and it kicked off today in 25 states around the country founded by Pennsylvania State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County).

“Clearly those of us in the Oregon Legislature who want serious reforms are in the minority,” said Thatcher. “There is strength in numbers and this new national effort will help send a stronger message.” The group’s mission statement calls for full cooperation among federal, state and local governments to secure America’s borders against unlawful immigration. The Coalition also wants to eliminate economic attractions and incentives that continue to lure illegal aliens across the border including public benefits.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures nearly 1200 measures have been introduced this year in state assemblies across the country. That’s more than twice the number as last year. “I’ve talked to dozens of my colleagues from other states who want legitimate reform, not lip service,” said Flores. “Unfortunately, I’m afraid that’s all we’re going to get in Oregon this session.”

Thatcher and Flores launched a package of immigration reform bills in February called the Sensible Immigration Reform Package. Since then only one bill out of the package has had a hearing and House Democrats approved a measure on the floor which basically says Oregon wants to keep giving drivers’ licenses to people who are not here legally.

In another recent development the Marion County Board of Commissioners has signed a letter of support for House Joint Memorial 8, the one bill in the package that did get a hearing. The letter reads in part: “current expenses to incarcerate illegal immigrants far outpace the reimbursements received from the federal government.”

HJM 8 urges Congress to pay the full costs to state and local governments to house illegal immigrant inmates. The estimated annual cost to Marion County taxpayers is $420,000 to house an average of 15 illegal immigrant inmates on a daily basis. Last year the county only received $172,000 in reimbursements from the federal government. It should be noted, one-third of those inmates are booked on charges related to meth crimes.

As for the latest proposal in Washington, D.C. both Thatcher and Flores are disappointed. Representative Flores pointed out, “this is just another form of amnesty that does very little to stem the tide of illegal immigrants entering the US every year.” Representative Thatcher agreed, adding, “once again it falls on the states to pass laws ensuring only legal immigrants are getting access to voter registration and other services.”

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The Editor - Tim King May 22, 2007 9:34 pm (Pacific time)

Well, for all the people who have been frustrated by a comment poster named Rosenberg, your lucky day has arrived. I have tried to be understanding of the guy's jaded position in life and I have personally taken the time to commend some of his viewpoints. Embarrassingly, I have very recently been telling people that he can even on rare occasions make sense, like when he criticizes the presidential administration.

But today he tried to post a personal insult toward us and that means no more Rosenberg for all of you decent people out there. At the bottom of this post you will see all of the pseudo names ol' rosey has been using.

This is not a political move for the record. I have let this guy antagonize people for a long time and he does claim to be an ultra right conservative. That is fine with me; everyone is fine with me, but today he delivered a personal insult and it was the straw that in this case, dropped the camel to the ground.

A few days ago I mentioned an increased editing presence in the comment section. They are all approved by a living, breathing person as it is, but we fear we have been too lenient.

I hope that for some of our regular visitors, this announcement will be regarded as great news. It will be a pleasure to not see his name or his ramblings anymore. Ding dong, the witch is dead.

There is nothing wrong with any individual's politics when the overall goal is good for all people. Antagonistic attacks get really old though, and one major point about Rosenberg is that is that he attacks anything or anybody with an agenda rooted in peace and understanding.

One interesting irony is that he obviously has a thing for names that sound like they are Native American; "Running Bear" and "Jason Two-Dogs". Then he uses "Armstrong" which is the middle name of General Custer. And he rages against people who are immigrants. Well, I have spent a lot of time around Native Americans and most do not seem too driven to see the white man keep this land for himself. In fact, many see the Hispanic as a brother, they share much of the same heritage in many cases.

I think you call that the epitome of hypocrisy.

Life is short, burial cloaks have no pockets. It is time for all of us to be decent and tolerant and understanding.

This guy has been anything but nice or kind. I have watched him play psychological warfare with our other comment posters for too long. Maybe you didn't think this day would come rosenberg, but it is here. I'm sorry you chose to get personal with us, in my opinion we have been very tolerant.

You see, our team at Salem-News.com has the easy ability to ban somebody like this from the site. We also can easily see all of his comments, at least the ones from his IP, with the click of a button. So here are all the aliases of our antagonistic former problem who never even had the courage to tell us his real name:

Running Bear
Oracle
Armstrong
Mathew (5-22-07)
SHIRLEY KITZHABER - My, Rosenberg, something you didn't tell us?
Krakatoa (5-22-07)
Hannigan II
Open the Border (5-19-07)
Hey Zus (5-1-07)
Mike Hammer (4-30-07)
RC
Ben Casey (4-26-07)
K Rove (4-23-07)
Vincent (4-24-07)
Coulter (4-23-07)
Oregon Vote (4-22-07)
Bush (4-22-07)
Marx (4-21-07)
Retired Contractors (4-19-07)
Sooth (4-19-07)
Dr. Kildare (4-18-07)
Raise Tuition (4-18-07)
Fred (4-16-07)
Fred Engels (4-16-07)
Butch Cassidy
Susan (4-16-07)
Murphy (4-16-07)
Needles (4-16-07)
Sharpton (4-16-07)
O'Reilly (4-16-07)

Miles, Jameson, Harvey, LeMay, Sanchez, Harrison, Walden, Simpson, Jason Two-Dogs, Sid Morrison, EJ Morgan, Jim B Davidson, Neal Goldsmith, and there are more.

Did he argue with himself? You bet. Did he set people up and bait them? You bet he did. He acted like a man and woman talking in the same post. Maybe one of those names is the real thing, maybe not. I think the guy needs help. If any of you have seen "Meet the Parents" and you know the character De Niro plays, a crazy military zealot who is nothing but a cruel nut job with too much money and too little to do, then you are getting my idea of who this man is/was.

I went to Afghanistan over last winter and I spent a lot of time recording soldiers in a war and I did not take it as an opportunity to do anything but tell it like it is. As it turned out, I witnessed incredible things that our people were doing and accomplishing. I didn't use it as an opportunity to launch an agenda, except maybe support of people who pay the highest price in all of society; the combat soldier. I am sad and dismayed that this person of many assumed names and personalities, has caused so much grief around our other visitors. Those days are over.

Tim King

One final note to all of the veterans who have watched all of this go on over the last few months; I would take arguments from any people who share this list of names and go back to the drawing board. He might have had me going a time or two, but burn me once shame on you, burn me twice... shame on me. I think he's full of it from A to Z.

Running Bear May 22, 2007 8:20 am (Pacific time)

These two legislator's continue to demonstrate outstanding leadership.

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