Senator Hutchison -- Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 9, 2006
CONTACT: Jamie Loftus

WIDESPREAD PRAISE FOR HUTCHISON-PENCE BORDER SECURITY IMMIGRATION PROPOSAL

Cragg Hines, Houston Chronicle, August 9, 2006

“ . . . it is a serious attempt to move forward on a comprehensive approach to remedying the increasingly untenable status quo.”

Editorial, Wall Street Journal, August 7, 2006

“We like the idea of involving private entities and introducing market incentives to the process.”

Michael Barone, TownHall.com, August 7, 2006

“I still have hopes that Congress will be able to pass a compromise immigration bill that will regularize immigration in tandem with

the labor market, with border security measures and with a later phase-in of something like the free-market guest-worker bill

sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.”

Editorial, Arizona Daily Star, August 5, 2006

“The Pence-Hutchison bill should be used as a springboard for both sides to dive into the middle of the discussion and develop a

comprehensive plan. . . . One of the more creative concepts in the proposal was processing applications, doing medical checks and

matching applicants with employers at Ellis Island-like centers in Latin America countries that would be run by private American

companies or agencies.”

Editorial, The News-Press, August 5, 2006

“It has a couple of huge virtues in the current atmosphere: It puts border security first, and insists that immigrants re-enter the

country legally before participating in any guest worker or citizenship programs.”

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, August 1, 2006

“Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said Tuesday that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's immigration plan is “an intriguing proposal”

that could be a starting point for a compromise between lawmakers trying to secure the border and those trying to create a guest

worker program. . . . Gutierrez, who met with Hutchison and Pence to discuss their ideas, praised their proposal for providing “strong

border security, while also recognizing our economy's need for temporary workers.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), July 25, 2006

“I am very pleased Senator Hutchison and Representative Pence have put a comprehensive solution to our nation’s immigration

problems on the table. If we will engage in problem solving, instead of political blame, we can make tremendous progress on this issue.

Fred Barnes, The Weekly Standard, July 25, 2006

“Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas and Representative Mike Pence of Indiana introduced a compromise immigration bill on

Tuesday that amounts to the last serious opportunity for broad--or "comprehensive"--immigration reform this year.”

Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), July 25, 2006

“We want a strong bill that enforces our laws and strengthens the border. I think this is a contribution, a step in the right direction.

I think it will help us get to the point where we have a strong bill.”