Hastert's Sham Border Tour
In another example of the "do-nothing" GOP Congress' failure to address the priorities of the American people, House Speaker Dennis Hastert refused to take action on much-needed comprehensive immigration reform and instead scheduled a sham border tour that stops in Nogales and Camp Grip, Arizona today and in El Paso, Texas tomorrow. The sham tour, along with the House GOP's recent sham hearings, is a political ploy to divide Americans, stall much needed reform, and distract from Republican failures. The tour comes after Republicans have consistently blocked Democratic efforts to improve America's border security and have been unable to keep our country safe.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on Washington Republicans' failures on immigration reform and border security:
"This tour and the sham Republican hearings are simply more political gamesmanship, because the truth is the American people can't trust Republicans with their security. You can't trust Republicans when they say they will deal with border security, after they routinely block Democratic attempts to strengthen our borders and have underfunded vital programs aimed at keeping America safe. Republicans have failed to keep America safe.
"The President has been in office for nearly six years, and with his Republican-controlled Congress has done nothing to strengthen our borders. They have actually made things worse by blocking Democratic efforts to increase funds for border security, port security, the COPS program, and many other key homeland security programs. Americans should see these so-called hearings for what they are: desperate measures from a party desperate to hold on to control.
"If Republicans were serious about border security and comprehensive immigration reform, why are they stalling? The truth is the Senate bill has critical border security measures that everybody supports but it is being held up by House Republicans who want to scapegoat immigrants as a political strategy to try to win in November.
"Democrats will continue to fight for immigration reform that strengthens our borders, protects U.S. workers and their wages, reunites families and allows hard-working immigrants who pay taxes and obey the law the opportunity to earn the right to apply for the responsibilities of citizenship."
