Show-Me State of Mind for June 18th, 2008

No Amnesty for Employers or ImmigrantsWhen it comes to immigration, Congressman Sam Graves likes to say, "You can't fix a leaky faucet while the water is running."I couldn't agree more, and that's why Graves' record on immigration leaves those of us who live here in Missouri scratching our heads. Sam's been in Washington so long that he's left the water running, forgotten to call the plumber, and now demands to know where the water is coming from!More than 5 million illegal immigrants have entered the United States since Graves and President Bush took office together in 2001. We all know that unsecured borders and attractive jobs are what draw immigrants. That's why securing our borders and cracking down on lawbreaking employers must be our top priority.Congressman Graves talks tough on immigration, but he's really exploiting the issue for political gain while undermining our efforts to fix the problem. In 2005, Graves voted to cut $48 million from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. These are the folks charged with keeping our borders safe. How could Graves write in March 2005 that "our current immigration policy is sick," only to vote a few months later to cut funding for border agents? In 2006, Graves voted against a bill that would have cracked down on smuggling illegal immigrants across the border - only one example of his siding with businesses who knowingly hire illegal workers. Businesses and individuals who break the law by recruiting, hiring, and harboring illegal immigrants must be held accountable for their actions.Why would Graves do this? Because businesses who benefit from cheap immigrant labor and oppose employer sanctions are funding his reelection campaigns. Graves is so beholden to these special interests that he is still pushing for more work visas even though he knows that millions of immigrants who entered the country on these visas have overstayed and become illegal immigrants.We need a Representative who will work to fix the immigration problem by strengthening our borders and enforcing our laws. And we especially need someone who will oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants, and for lawbreaking employers.Kay Barnes is a candidate for U.S. representative for Missouri's 6th Congressional District