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U.S. editorial excerpts -3-+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)NEW YORK, March 30_(Kyodo) _ Selected editorial excerpts from the U.S. press: SPEAK UP, MR. BUSH (The Washington Post, Washington) PRESIDENT BUSH says he's committed to "comprehensive reform" of the nation's broken immigration system: legislation that would both increase enforcement to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into this country and provide a legal way to, as Mr. Bush puts it, "match willing foreign workers with willing American employers to fill the jobs that Americans are unwilling to do." But the president himself has been unwilling, so far, to match his words about reform with deeds to make certain it gets done. Now, with the Senate debating the explosive issue and protests against a draconian House bill flowering from the streets of Los Angeles to the high schools of Northern Virginia, it is time for Mr. Bush to step up. In a welcome move this week, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a realistic and humane immigration measure. It not only would create a temporary worker program to help stem the flow of illegal immigration but also would permit those already working here illegally to obtain citizenship eventually. Credit on this goes especially to the minority of committee Republicans -- Chairman Arlen Specter (Pa.) and Sens. Sam Brownback (Kan.), Mike DeWine (Ohio) and Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.) -- who voted with Democrats for this sensible approach, under which illegal workers would have to register, pay fines and back taxes, learn English, and wait their turn for legal status. The Judiciary Committee's work could well be fleeting. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) has a competing, enforcement-only approach that will also be debated on the Senate floor. And the measure approved by the House -- with, it's important to recall, a statement of strong support from the administration -- would, among other things, make it a felony to be in the United States illegally or to help illegal immigrants. Which is why presidential involvement and clarity are so important. Does Mr. Bush support the Senate Judiciary measure, which mirrors an earlier proposal from Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.)? Mr. McCain and Mr. Kennedy sounded hopeful after talking with the president, but the White House has not been clear, simply repeating that Mr. Bush would oppose any measure that grants "amnesty" without saying whether it views the Judiciary measure as an amnesty bill. Does the president disagree with Mr. Frist's enforcement-only measure? If that's the case, it would help if he would say so. On reflection, does he really "strongly" support the cruel House approach? If not, this would be the time to speak up. (March 30) |