One Tough Border Collie
Well, maybe both can be done, but in the event that a consensus is not reached about what you do with a temporary-worker system or those who are in here illegally, that should not preclude or prevent us from acting on what absolutely needs to be done, and that is to secure our borders--and it should have been done years ago. Clearly what the president is advocating [for guest workers] is not the same as what I am advocating for.
What in your mind is a good temporary-worker system?
I think there are structures such as the [visa] program for seasonal workers, and it is to me a template of how a legal temporary-worker system should operate. The employers, many of whom are small businesses ... in the seafood industries, the hotel, hospitality industry, maybe landscapers. They certify that they cannot find any Americans to fill the jobs that they've been advertising. And then they are matched up with someone who has checked out from another country. And they come in temporarily to work there.
If we construct an effective workable temporary-worker system in this country then employers are going to want to hire--all of this has to do with enforcing the law. Over a period of time employers are going to want to hire those who are legal. It'll get to a point for those who are here illegally [that] they are not going to be able to find work ... because [employers] are not going to want to get hit. There is pragmatism to having this kick in over a period of years. I'm not one who is advocating that we round up whatever number there is.
What do you think will happen with the legislation before Congress?
The House has already come up with a very, very strong--and maybe in some aspects stronger than necessary--securing-the-border approach. The Senate is going to come up with probably a strengthen-the-border approach but then also reward illegal behavior. That will go to [House-Senate] conference. The House isn't going to back down on it. ... I think there will be some amelioration of some of the positions they have taken. There is all this grousing about making it a felony versus a misdemeanor [for being in the country illegally].
Would President Bush veto what Congress passes?
If we had a secure-the-borders bill and he vetoes that ... I would advise that that would be a very unwise action.
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