Post by johng on Jul 22, 2009 17:40:38 GMT -5
Here is some interesting material on 2 separate but seemingly related Obama issues:
Fingerprint Bill Due By Labor Day, Smer Says
Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Charles Smer announced yesterday at his panel's hearing on immigration reform that he expects to introduce legislation by Labor Day which would require every citizen and immigrant working in the United States to have fingerprint information on file with the government, associated with either a new identification number or a plastic ID card identifying the person as someone legally authorized to work in this country. Akin to a social security card, passport, driver's license and company identification cards at many places of employment, the card could eventually substitute for all of those things if the computer information now associated with each different form of identification were to be linked by computer to the new identification number or card.
The Homeland Security Department estimates it would cost more than $200 million annually to operate such a system once it is up and running. Extrapolation from that figure indicates the initial cost of setting up the system and fingerprinting all working citizens and resident aliens authorized to work here would cost between $2 billion and $5 billion. Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus strongly favors the proposal, saying, "As Congress examines biometrics as part of a new and better system, I want to encourage you to ignore the naysayers, those who claim this can't be done. Incorporating an effective employment verification system is our only hope for truly ending illegal immigration."
Welcome to Gattaca, ladies and gentlemen. Form a line here, roll up your sleeves and ink your fingertips.
Is Health Care Reform On the Ropes?
President Obama is refusing to release to news media the list of health industry big wigs who have met with him at the White House in recent weeks to discuss health care reform legislation, and according to Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Charles Grassley, when Obama met with Blue dog Democratic Congressmen last week to discuss changes their caucus wants to the House version of the measure, the Representatives listed ten major changes they want before a floor vote in which their opposition could kill the legislation altogether. Grassley reports the president responded "You're going to destroy my presidency." Republicans, hopeful the August recess will give their anti- administration advertising campaigns in key states a chance to gain traction, keep referring to health care reform legislation as Obama's "Waterloo."
Utah Senator Orin Hatch has dropped out of negotiations in the Senate Finance Committee on that chamber's version of health care reform legislation, noting as reasons for his withdrawal the employer mandate, unfunded Medicaid mandates, and inclusion of a public option which he believes will lead quickly to a single payer health care system. Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan, speaking for himself and others who oppose abortion rights, predicts the House version of the bill will not pass unless it abortion opponents are permitted to offer an amendment on the floor prohibiting use of public funds to pay for any abortion procedures. "If we don't get a clean shot, if we don't get the amendment we want ... I think it's enough to take down [the legislation]. I'm not just going to roll over."
Finally, after yesterday afternoon's weekly Democratic policy luncheon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was asked by a reporter whether the notoriously foul-mouthed White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had consulted with Reid on the Senate bill. Reid's response: "Any guidance from Rahm? No, but he did call me twice during lunch. And I would like to say his language is getting better, but I think it's getting worse."
James G. McConnell
Attorney At Law
32 Birchwood Drive
Palos Park, Illinois 60464
Phone: (708) 923-9934
Fax: (708) 923-9936
Worldwide Mobile: (312) 287-1343
Website: James G. McConnell - Home
E-mail: james.mcconnell@james-g-mcconnell.com
Blog: chicagoconstructionlaw.blogspot.com/
Fingerprint Bill Due By Labor Day, Smer Says
Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Charles Smer announced yesterday at his panel's hearing on immigration reform that he expects to introduce legislation by Labor Day which would require every citizen and immigrant working in the United States to have fingerprint information on file with the government, associated with either a new identification number or a plastic ID card identifying the person as someone legally authorized to work in this country. Akin to a social security card, passport, driver's license and company identification cards at many places of employment, the card could eventually substitute for all of those things if the computer information now associated with each different form of identification were to be linked by computer to the new identification number or card.
The Homeland Security Department estimates it would cost more than $200 million annually to operate such a system once it is up and running. Extrapolation from that figure indicates the initial cost of setting up the system and fingerprinting all working citizens and resident aliens authorized to work here would cost between $2 billion and $5 billion. Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus strongly favors the proposal, saying, "As Congress examines biometrics as part of a new and better system, I want to encourage you to ignore the naysayers, those who claim this can't be done. Incorporating an effective employment verification system is our only hope for truly ending illegal immigration."
Welcome to Gattaca, ladies and gentlemen. Form a line here, roll up your sleeves and ink your fingertips.
Is Health Care Reform On the Ropes?
President Obama is refusing to release to news media the list of health industry big wigs who have met with him at the White House in recent weeks to discuss health care reform legislation, and according to Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Charles Grassley, when Obama met with Blue dog Democratic Congressmen last week to discuss changes their caucus wants to the House version of the measure, the Representatives listed ten major changes they want before a floor vote in which their opposition could kill the legislation altogether. Grassley reports the president responded "You're going to destroy my presidency." Republicans, hopeful the August recess will give their anti- administration advertising campaigns in key states a chance to gain traction, keep referring to health care reform legislation as Obama's "Waterloo."
Utah Senator Orin Hatch has dropped out of negotiations in the Senate Finance Committee on that chamber's version of health care reform legislation, noting as reasons for his withdrawal the employer mandate, unfunded Medicaid mandates, and inclusion of a public option which he believes will lead quickly to a single payer health care system. Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan, speaking for himself and others who oppose abortion rights, predicts the House version of the bill will not pass unless it abortion opponents are permitted to offer an amendment on the floor prohibiting use of public funds to pay for any abortion procedures. "If we don't get a clean shot, if we don't get the amendment we want ... I think it's enough to take down [the legislation]. I'm not just going to roll over."
Finally, after yesterday afternoon's weekly Democratic policy luncheon, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was asked by a reporter whether the notoriously foul-mouthed White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel had consulted with Reid on the Senate bill. Reid's response: "Any guidance from Rahm? No, but he did call me twice during lunch. And I would like to say his language is getting better, but I think it's getting worse."
James G. McConnell
Attorney At Law
32 Birchwood Drive
Palos Park, Illinois 60464
Phone: (708) 923-9934
Fax: (708) 923-9936
Worldwide Mobile: (312) 287-1343
Website: James G. McConnell - Home
E-mail: james.mcconnell@james-g-mcconnell.com
Blog: chicagoconstructionlaw.blogspot.com/