Bush Promotes Guest Worker Program; Puts Freeze On Transit Security Funding

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBTP10LYEE.html

Bush, Chertoff and Chao Promote Guest Worker Program

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush on Tuesday argued for his temporary worker plan for foreigners, hoping to win over skeptical conservatives with get-tough promises about illegal immigration.

"We're going to get control of our borders and make this country safer for all our citizens," said Bush. He commented as he signed into law a $32 billion homeland security bill that has large increases for patrolling borders but fewer grants for local first responders and a freeze in transit security funding. snip

"We're going to need more than just brute enforcement," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "We're going to need a temporary worker program as well."

Bush last year introduced a plan that would allow undocumented workers to get three-year work visas. They could extend that for another three years, but would then have to return to their home countries for a year to apply for a new work permit.

[madrchsod]

1. oh boy nothing like screwing the republican party in 2006

there is nothing more volatile than illegal mexican labor in the united states. to the blue collar republican and democratic white male voters to come out in favor of this bill is the kiss of death. i work in a blue collar industry and that is a real hot issue in the break room. white american workers are scared to death that they will be replaced with cheaper labor from mexico...guess what-they are. scratch the surface and you`ll find alto of industries replacing workers with mexican labor.why? they`ll work cheaper,work harder.and will not unionize. this is the truth because i work for such a company. i don`t begrudge the men and women who want to be an american and i have no problem with those i work with i just hate the people who exploit my friends...
this is just another cheap labor hand out to the corporations at the expense of all the american workers no matter if they are legal or not.the complexity of this issue will not be solved by this bill it will only make matters worse.