Chambliss, Isakson not backing down from support of immigration reform bill

By Marcus E. Howard
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer

MARIETTA – Despite a few boos from fellow Republicans at last week’s state GOP convention when he mentioned support for the Senate’s controversial immigration reform bill, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss said he and Sen. Johnny Isakson would continue to defend it.

“I knew from day one when I came to Congress that this was an explosive issue,” the Republican from Moultrie said during a conference call with reporters Wednesday. “This is a great country we live in and everyone has a right to express themselves.”

He added that he thought there was more clapping at the convention in support of the legislation than booing.

“I disagree that most Georgians are opposed to this,” Chambliss said. “We’re getting more and more positive comments about it.”

There have been reports of a large volume of constituent calls to both senators as they go on the defensive against some liberals, who criticize the legislation as complicated, and against some conservatives who call it amnesty in disguise.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Isakson said during the conference call. “But we look forward to working this thing to its conclusion.”

The bill now being debated in the Senate represents a major change in the nation’s immigration system that would reduce the importance of family ties and admit future immigrants based on their skills, education levels and job experience.

A proposed new visa called, “Z visa,” which would allow illegal immigrants to pay fees, as well as a $5,000 fine, in order to obtain the visa, would allow them to get on track for permanent residency and United States citizenship.

Also, a new class of guest workers would be allowed to temporarily work in the U.S. after new security measures are in place.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted to keep a provision of the immigration bill that would allow hundreds of thousands of temporary foreign workers to annually enter the country.

The next day, Senators voted 74-24 to cap the number of temporary guest workers at 200,000 a year. Chambliss and Isakson each voted for the guest-worker cap.

Chambliss called Tuesday’s main vote “very critical” to the bill’s survival.

Nevertheless, the Georgia’s two U.S. senators said their overall support of the bill remains contingent on tighter border security.

“Johnny and I are continuing to adhere to basic principals of border security first,” Chambliss said.

“We said we’d wait for the amendment process to proceed before making a final decision. I hope the final bill is a bill that I can support.”

Isakson and Chambliss both stressed that they didn’t believe the immigration bill – which must clear the U.S. House before President Bush, who supports it, can sign it into law – offers amnesty to the roughly 12 million illegal immigrants estimated living in the U.S.

However, that still is a tough sell to some officials in Georgia who remain adamant that the legislation is too lenient for people who have illegally entered the country.

“I have a great deal of respect for Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss and I believe they are doing what they think is the best thing,” state Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) said. “We just disagree over the need for a new law.”

Rogers, chairman of the Georgia Senate Immigration Reform Caucus, said based on past government failures, he believes the federal government does not have the capability to process and keep track of all the people who would receive temporary work visas.

“The problem is not the law,” he said. “The problem is enforcement of the law.”

Jerry Gonzalez, executive director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, said he has a few concerns about the bill such as the temporary guest-worker program.

“It’s setting up for potential problems with people overstaying their visa,” Gonzalez said.

Nevertheless, Gonzalez said his organization, which represents approximately 200 officials, organizers, and business leaders, largely supports the immigration reform bill.

“We appreciate Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss rolling their sleeves up and trying to get something done,” he said.

Gonzalez said for the past two weeks his association and its supporters have been urging the senators to “make the bill a better bill.”

Chambliss and Isakson said they would return to Georgia and continue to educate residents about the bill during the Senate’s Memorial Day holiday recess.

Isakson said he expects the final Senate vote on the immigration reform bill to come as early as June 9.

mhoward@mdjonline.com