Reformers are delighted that the Senate Gang of Eight’s immigration reform proposal includes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country, but there are a lot of unresolved and interesting questions about how the process would actually work. And it raises an important point.
In the political sphere, we talk a lot about immigration reform when what we really mean is “illegal immigration reform.” But the fact is the system for legal immigration needs reforming, too, as almost anyone who has gone through it will tell you. So if we funnel illegal immigrants into the legal immigration system as a way to get legit, we’re compounding the existing strains on the system as well as sending them down a path that has a host of problems and uncertainties of its own.
It’s too early to say that’s what the Senate plan would do, but it’s a big question that reformers have.
Obama campaign leases its voter database — called the “nuclear codes” by campaign staff — to the new group Organizing For Action.
This afternoon a bipartisan group of senators are expected to lay out the proposal that they’re been negotiating among themselves since the election for comprehensive immigration reform. The group includes Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY), John McCain (R-AZ), and Marco Rubio (R-FL). The proposal will be consistent with the general approach to reform that has the best chance of securing enough support to pass — and is a starting point for negotiating a deal that can pass the House. Then, on Tuesday, immigration reform is the focus of President Obama’s trip to Las Vegas.
Every so often I liked to give you an update on what operating system and browsers people use to access TPM. So here are the latest numbers after the jump … Read More
Check out the video of President Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s joint interview on 60 Minutes. Video after the jump … Read More
Paul Ryan says he believe the sequester cuts will happen and says Dems will be to blame.
The New York Times takes a look at the secret money campaign against Chuck Hagel and even the phony gay rights group ‘Use Your Mandate’ which, as the Times notes, “presents itself as a liberal gay rights group but purchases its television time through a prominent Republican firm.”
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) says he’s open to considering the GOP electoral college vote rigging scheme.