Buenos días amigos,
Yesterday Senator Marco Rubio spoke to Rush Limbaugh - who just a few days ago declaredhis opposition to immigration reform - and articulately made an aspirational, common-sense conservative case for a 21st Century immigration policy. “If you take our principles, 70 percent of the American people would agree, if not more, with the general principles that we have outlined. And if they want to go further than that, then I think they’ve got a problem because they can’t argue that we haven’t tried to do our part to come up with something reasonable here, which has always been our point… …We understand we have to fix this problem, but just because we’re not for what you’re for doesn’t mean that we’re anti-immigrant and anti-immigration.”
By ithe end of the interview, the New York Times reported that Mr. Limbaugh was downright smitten. “Well, what you are doing is admirable and noteworthy. You are recognizing reality. You’re trumpeting it, you’re shouting it. You have a difficult job ahead of you because you are meeting everybody honestly, forthrightly, halfway. You’re seeking compromise… …The country really does hinge on it, I think, so the best to you, and good luck.”
Conservatives understand that immigrants create a more dynamic, diverse and productive economy. Conservatives also understand that the more productive we all are, the more robust the economy will be. So, in order to most effectively make the case for a 21st Century immigration policy, it’s essential to communicate its benefits on two fronts:
- In a personal, human way. Make the case for reform through viewpoint of the immigrant: Rush Limbaugh listened to Senator Rubio tell a very human story. “Our point has always been we understand we have to fix this problem, but just because we’re not for what you’re for doesn’t mean that we’re anti-immigrant and anti-immigration.” Mr. Rubio cast himself as the politician for the job — “Someone whose family are immigrants, married into a family of immigrants, my neighbors are immigrants,” he said. “I’ve grown up around it my whole life. I didn’t read about this in a book. I live this every day.”
- Through the prism of economic growth. A modernized immigration policy ystem benefits us all. This morning, Hamilton Place Strategies released a White Paper titled, “Immigration Policy Through The Lens of Economic Growth.” Our “current policy lacks institutionalized provisions that ensure our immigration system can keep up with the changing nature of the U.S. Economy,” the report notes. “In order to capitalize upon the economic benefits of immigrants and to address the needs and dynamic nature of our economy, we must increase the amount of visas issued across the board and institutionalize mechanisms to ensure immigration levels support a growing U.S. economy.” Doesn’t seem overly complicated to make the case that improvements to the system helps all Americans and injects life back into our economy.
There it is, the conservative case for reform, in two very simple, understandable points without even a mention of border security (which, by the way, Americans also prioritize). Conservatives would be wise to follow this path as they make the case.
Aprovecha el día,
Brad Dayspring
@BDayspring
Mark Bednar
@MarkBednar
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@Timodc “With GDP dropping last quarter, good thing we have a president who largely ignored job growth in inaugural agenda.”
@JimPethokoukis “GDP drop primarily “reflected negative contributions from private inventory investment, federal government spending, and exports”
@ChuckGrassley “I applaud Japan for agreeing to Accept our beef. It’s ridiculous that 8 yrs after a mad cow case that they used as an xcuse Our beef is safe”
@MorningMoneyBen “This new Blackberry out later today could make me a delicious piece of toast and I’m still not going back”
@PounderFile “Sen. Menendez (D-NJ) and the FBI raid make the Miami Herald’s front pagehttp://is.gd/TJgb9v”
@ZeroHedge “GERMAN BANK LAW COULD SEPARATE PROP TRADING, REUTERS SAYS: Glass Steagall coming back to Europe?”
@HuffingtonPost “Wanna see a mayor do the Ray Lewis dance? http://huff.to/11bpJmM”
On The Radar
Economic Growth
The Case for Growth: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has reportedly led the charge among House Republicans, urging his caucus to start figuring out “how to make life work better,” a new motto that is also the title of a speech Cantor will give at the American Enterprise Institute on this topic next week. At the Republican National Convention, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal told the GOP to “stop being the stupid party,” and start talking about growth, rather than austerity. “There are lots of different policies that you can look at,” said Dayspring, a former aide to Cantor who was recently named communications director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee… …”Underneath those policies is the desire to get investors investing again, to get consumers consuming again, and to get employers hiring again,” he said.
Sen. Mary Landrieu: Washington’s Spending Problem Exists Only on Fox News. “‘I am not going to keep cutting the discretionary budget, which by the way is not out of control, despite what you hear on Fox News,’ said Landrieu.”
Perry Changes Tack On Rainy Day Fund. “For years, Gov. Rick Perry has urged Texas lawmakers to resist the temptation to tap the billions of dollars in a state emergency account known as the Rainy Day Fund. Generated largely by taxes on oil and gas production, the fund has been a frequent source of political turbulence, as Democrats have sought to use it for public education and other services while Republicans have resisted, arguing that it was meant to cover emergencies and not recurring expenses.”
U.S. Panel Backs Chinese A123 Bid. “A Treasury Department panel has cleared the way for Chinese auto parts-maker Wanxiang to buy U.S. auto battery-maker A123, despite objections from Republican members of Congress who fear the deal could give Beijing a leg up with technology subsidized by U.S. taxpayers. Wanxiang America President Pin Ni confirmed to POLITICO on Tuesday that the purchase had won approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.”
Immigration
The Immigration And Innovation Act Sends A Positive Message To American Business. “The bipartisan legislation, led by Senators Orrin Hatch (R), Amy Klobuchar (D), Marco Rubio (R), Chris Coons (D), is known as the Immigration Innovation Act of 2013. The bill recognizes the value highly skilled foreign workers bring to the U.S. economy and the role they play in maintaining the innovation and creativity that define American companies. And it acknowledges that while we must make it easier for employers to hire the workers they need today, we must also dedicate the resources to train the skilled workforce we will need tomorrow.
Senate-Obama Immigration Divide. “The immigration reform plan President Barack Obama outlined Tuesday sounds a lot like the new bipartisan proposal from the Senate — and on the broad points, it is.But the differences are in the details. And those details, with the liberal stamp Obama put on his approach here, could be the difference between a deal and another failed effort on an issue that Washington has struggled with for years.”
Health Care
A Wise and Workable Strategy for Replacing Obamacare: “First, congressional Republicans should push for a delay in Obamacare’s implementation. Second, the party should unite behind, and persuasively advance, a credible and practical replacement plan—for one cannot replace Obamacare without offering a replacement.” Read the details.
The Invisible Health-Care Panel. “A panel charged with helping devise solutions to the nation’s health care workforce crisis is having a workforce crisis of its own: It hasn’t been funded, and it’s never met.Created by Congress nearly three years ago under the health care law, the panelists were appointed, but that’s about as far as it has gone. The lack of action was noted at a hearing Tuesday of a subcommittee of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.”
X Factor
Sandwich Generation Takes A Hit Supporting Adult Children And Aging Parents. “More parents are providing significant financial support for their adult children even as they cope with the needs of their own aging parents, according to a new survey of the middle-aged ‘sandwich generation.’”
James Carville, Mary Matalin Leaving CNN. “CNN contributors and political power couple James Carville and Mary Matalin are leaving the network, Carville told POLITICO today.”
This & That
Nate Silver Picks 49ers to Win Super Bowl
Warner Brothers Greenlights “Entourage” - The Movie
That Cuddly Kitty Is Deadlier Than You Think
2nd Amendment Violation, Kinda: 5 Year Old Suspended For Making Lego Gun
Ashley Judd Splits With Race Car Driving Hubby
Shirtless Bradley Cooper Causes Girls To Fall Off Bikes At The Gym
Americans To Eat 123 Billion Buffalo Wings During Super Bowl