Brooks and Capehart from April 15, 2022

 

Border Democrats and the Biden/Harris Administration Need to Develop Immigration Reform

Photo from the ACLU

Democratic Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, plus Congressmen Thomas O'Halleran and Greg Stanton, are calling on the Biden/Harris Administration to postpone the suspension of a Trump-era immigration law, Title 42.

Title 42 is an anti-immigration policy put forth by the Trump Administration using the COVID 19 pandemic as a pretext to stop asylum seekers from entering the country and applying for admission into the United States.

With Coronavirus levels subsiding (for now) and most Americans vaccinated from COVID 19, the Biden/Harris Administration would like to lift Title 42, a policy that it has defended in the courts, by May 23, 2022.

The problem is, despite the Administration offering a checklist (plan) of measures that it would take to counter a surge of immigrants after May 23, 2022 (including the placement of additional security personnel at the border,) Democrats in borders states like Arizona and those in close reelection contests are freaking out on the prospects of being labeled by the alternative reality conservative media sphere, led by Fox News and other reactionary media outlets, as “soft on immigration”

To counter Republican lying talking points, Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly have co-sponsored bipartisan legislation in the United States Senate calling for the Administration to delay the lifting of Title 42 for at least 90 days, work with border communities and have a more detailed plan in place before the lifting of Title 42.

In advocating this legislation, Senator Sinema, Chair of the Border Management Subcommittee, stated:

“Arizona communities bear the brunt of the federal government’s failure at our border, so we’re stepping in and protecting border communities by ensuring the Administration works hand-in-hand with local leaders, law enforcement, and non-profits to put a comprehensive, workable plan in place before lifting Title 42. I’ll continue pushing for transparency and accountability from the Administration to help secure the border, keep Arizona communities safe, and ensure migrants are treated fairly and humanely.”

Senator Kelly wrote:

“The Biden administration was wrong to set an end date for Title 42 without a comprehensive plan in place. It’s why today we are introducing bipartisan legislation requiring this Administration to implement a plan before lifting Title 42 that protects the public health and safety of our border communities and migrants. We need a secure, orderly, and humane response at our southern border and our bipartisan legislation holds the Biden administration accountable to that.”

In the House of Representatives, Congressmen Thomas O’Halleran and Greg Stanton have co-sponsored a similar measure in that chamber similar to the Senates.

In a statement on this legislation, Representative O’Halleran (CD-1) offered:

“I have long called for comprehensive immigration reform—investments in 21st-century border technology, protections for DREAMERS, and policies that ensure the safety of families on both sides of our southern border. That is why I’m joining a bipartisan group to introduce a bill that prevents the Biden Administration from rolling back Title 42 until a concrete plan to deal with the consequences to border communities is proposed and approved. Any changes to the current system must be robustly detailed and developed in consultation with local leaders, community advocates, and governmental entities in border states like Arizona. In requiring this concrete plan, we’re working to create a transparent process that will better ensure the health, safety, and humane treatment of kids and families on both sides of our southern border.”

Representative Stanton (CD-9) relayed:

“This Administration has yet to put forth a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to secure our border and ensure an efficient, humane immigration process. Lifting Title 42 without a plan in place risks the health and safety of both Arizona communities and migrants. Our bill will ensure that the federal government has time to prepare in consultation with impacted Arizona communities, law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations.”

It is astounding that none of these members of Arizona’s Democratic Congressional delegation have acknowledged in their social media posts what measures the Biden/Harris Administration has announced to counter any border surge. Furthermore, it is amazing that not one of them has put forth one idea (political talking points about safety and order do not count) about how to carry out the transition.

Sinema, Kelly, O’Halleran and Stanton have proposed nothing more than a measure designed to keep Title 42 in place until after the 2022 midterms.

This begs the question on why are they subscribing to the false talking points of the do-nothing Republicans and their allies in the alternative reality media.

Democrats do have another option to choose that could give them an advantage over Republicans this fall.

Challenge the Republicans and their awful record on Immigration.

Congressional Democrats and Administration officials need to put forth their own comprehensive immigration plan ahead of the 2022 elections and challenge the do- nothing Republicans to counter it.

It is time to stop being afraid of the hot air and bluster of do-nothing Republicans who only offer fear and demagoguery, not solutions.

Democrats need to stop fearing being labeled soft on crime and the border and forget what the pundits on Fox News are going to say.

Newsflash: Of course, they are going to say derogatory things about Democrats no matter what.

It is time for Democrats to stop whining, "please do not attack me on immigration."

Republicans do not cower in fear from what the people at MSNBC, CNN, and the rest of the mainstream media say about them and their policies.

Why should the Democrats care about what the right wing zealots at Fox and the other conservative outlets say?

It is time for Democrats to come out in full force and tell the truth about what Republicans are so they can counter the lies coming from the other side about them.

Democrats need to offer a comprehensive immigration plan that shows voters that they champion a strong and secure and robust border system at all points of entry into this country along with a sound immigration processing system that protects Dreamers and admits individuals that have legally fulfilled all the admission requirements.

In a recent poll conducted by OH Predictive Arizona Public Opinion Pulse, the top two issues for Independents in Arizona are jobs/economy and immigration. For Democrats, it is health care and jobs/economy.

For Democrats to win this November, they need to say what they have accomplished in all three areas and offer plans for what will happen if they remain in power after the November 2022 elections.

Delay tactics are not the correct answer anymore.

It is time for Democrats to go on offense and put Republicans and their disastrous prescriptions for the country on defense. 

The time for comprehensive immigration reform is now and Democrats need to challenge Republicans on why they are not for it.

 

 

 

Classless Republicans Walk Out of Senate Chamber After Vote Confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court

There is not a day that goes by when most Republicans demonstrate again to the American People why they should not be entrusted with any levers of power.

Watch the video link below of the floor of the United States Senate after the vote to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court concluded.

You see all the Democrats, including Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin standing up, celebrating and clapping.

The only Republican the people see clapping and standing up is Utah Senator and 2012 Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney.

He was one of three Republicans (along with Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski) to vote for now Justice Jackson.

Where were the other Republicans?

They walked out of the chamber in apparent protest.

What a classless and juvenile act from most members of the Republican Party.

Justice Jackson has a hundred times more class than all the Republican Senators that walked out.

Voters in this country should take note of the crass act these Republican Senators took after the vote.

Instead of being respectful toward the first African American Woman to sit on the United States Supreme Court, these "public servants" decided to appease their reactionary-white nationalist-Trumpist base rather than do the decent thing and acknowledge the historic significance of the vote.

These people, most of whom are the ones who stonewalled Merrick Garlands nomination to the Supreme Court and rammed through Amy Coney Barretts just before the 2020 Presidential election, have no business being in government.

Voters need to remember that when casting their ballots in 2022, 2024, and beyond.

 

Editorial Cartoons for the Week

 

Brooks and Capehart from 4/8/22

 

Gallego and Ansari React to the Biden/Harris Administration Raising Mileage Standards and Taking Steps to Securely Produce Clean Energy Materials

 While the energy headline from last week that received the most news coverage was President Biden announcing the release of one million barrels of oil a day from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to stem the tide of inflation resulting from supply chain hiccups and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were also two additional major energy related developments that can have potentially longer positive long term economic and environmental benefits for the American People.

The first was the April 1, 2022 statement from the The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the  Department of Transportation that will raise mileage standards for new vehicles from 28 mile per hour to 40 by 2026.

The second development, announced at the same time as the President's statement regarding the releasing a million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, was the Administration invoking the Defense Production Act to:

"...support the production and processing of minerals and materials used for large capacity batteries–such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, and manganese—and the Department of Defense will implement this authority using strong environmental, labor, community, and tribal consultation standards. The sectors supported by these large capacity batteries—transportation and the power sector—account for more than half of our nation’s carbon emissions. The President is also reviewing potential further uses of DPA – in addition to minerals and materials – to secure safer, cleaner, and more resilient energy for America..."

These two announcements, if fully implemented, will provide economic and environmental benefits to the American People at the gas pump, in the air everyone breathes, and in new good paying jobs from the construction of clean energy technologies which will help combat climate change.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari React to the Biden/Harris Administration Announcements. 

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari, two leaders in promoting combining clean sustainable economic development policies in their drive to smartly grow the fifth largest city in the country and combat climate change at the same time, offered their reactions to the Biden/Harris announcements.

 Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego[/caption]

On increasing the fuel mileage standards to 40 miles per hour by 2026, Mayor Gallego stated:

“Increasing fuel efficiency aligns with the Phoenix Climate Action plan goal to be net-zero by 2050, with 50% ghg emissions reductions by 2030. We also have set many targets related to transportation electrification, active transportation, and expansion of public transit. This focus and investment in advanced technologies and innovation will improve the climate, and we will grow new professional opportunities through green jobs.”

Councilwoman Ansari offered:

“I applaud President Biden’s plan to increase fuel efficiency standards to 40 mpg by 2026 – it is a step in the right direction but should be connected to a complete phase-out of gas-powered vehicles. In light of yet another United Nations climate report emphasizing that we have extremely limited time to act on climate, it is no longer the time to plan for using less fossil fuels but rather to plan for using no fossil fuels.”

On the Invoking of the Defense Production Act to secure vital clean energy raw materials, Mayor Gallego relayed:

“Our region is rich in natural resources, innovation, and the talent necessary for industries of the future, including semiconductor and electric vehicle battery manufacturing. President Biden’s actions will support the job growth Phoenix is already seeing by diversifying our economy in these industries, and it will strengthen technologies and innovation to improve the climate.”

 Phoenix Councilwoman Yassamin Ansari[/caption]

Councilwoman Ansari wrote:

“While I am heartened that the White House is including a goal to accelerate the transition to clean energy, domestic production of clean energy materials, and investments in energy efficiency, I am disappointed that the headlined action they are prioritizing is increased domestic production of oil. While it is important for the United States to be energy-independent and lower the costs placed on the shoulders of consumers, it is long past time that we avoid oil as the way to do so.”