Marco Rubio on Arizona immigration legislation 04.27.10

“Our legal immigration system must continue to welcome those who seek to embrace America’s blessings and abide by the legal and orderly system that is in place. The American people have every right to expect the federal government to secure our borders and prevent illegal immigration. It has become all too easy for some in Washington to ignore the desperation and urgency of those like the citizens of Arizona who are disproportionately wrestling with this problem as well as the violence, drug trafficking and lawlessness that spills over from across the border.

“States certainly have the right to enact policies to protect their citizens, but Arizona’s policy shows the difficulty and limitations of states trying to act piecemeal to solve what is a serious federal problem. From what I have read in news reports, I do have concerns about this legislation. While I don’t believe Arizona’s policy was based on anything other than trying to get a handle on our broken borders, I think aspects of the law, especially that dealing with ‘reasonable suspicion,’ are going to put our law enforcement officers in an incredibly difficult position. It could also unreasonably single out people who are here legally, including many American citizens. Throughout American history and throughout this administration we have seen that when government is given an inch it takes a mile.

“I hope Congress and the Obama Administration will use the Arizona legislation not as an excuse to try and jam through amnesty legislation, but to finally act on border states’ requests for help with security and fix the things about our immigration system that can be fixed right now – securing the border, reforming the visa and entry process, and cracking down on employers who exploit illegal immigrants.”

Marco Rubio for US Senate Contact by phone: (786) 953-6711

Democrats Vote for Bailouts Twice in 24 Hours

Washington, Apr 27 - Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement after the Senate Democrat leadership chose to push for a second vote on their permanent bailout protection bill this afternoon.

“Senate Democrats remain wholly invested in Washington’s bailout mentality,” said Chairman Price. “The American people are tired of seeing their tax dollars used to rescue private companies from the consequences of their own bad decisions, yet the Democrats are trying to make bailouts and too-big-to-fail institutions a permanent part of this now political economy. Instead of holding another pointless vote on their fundamentally flawed bailout protection bill, the Democrat leadership should join Republicans in working to end the bailouts once and for all, streamline the financial regulatory system, protect consumers, and revitalize the dynamic power of our economy.

“House Republicans have already offered a strategy that will accomplish these goals, and our approach also does not ignore the role Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac played in the financial collapse. The Majority remains beholden to a taxpayer financed culture of bailouts that distorts the market at the expense of responsible private sector job creators on Main Street, and no amount of political gamesmanship by our Senate Democrat colleagues will change that fact.” ###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4.27.2010 Congressman Tom Price is Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC)