DNC: McCain Skips Votes on Immigration Bills His Campaign Approved

March 14, 2008 -- Two weeks ago it was reported that John McCain's campaign approved a package of enforcement-only bills drafted by Senate Republicans to use immigration as a wedge issue. [washingtontimes.com, 3/6/08] The package was described by the LA Times as "the hardest-hitting package of immigration enforcement measures seen yet -- one that would require jail time for illegal immigrants caught crossing the border, make it harder for them to open bank accounts and compel them to communicate in English when dealing with federal agencies." [LA Times, 3/4/08]

Last night Senate Republicans forced votes on the Senate floor to add some of those bills as ammendments to the Budget Resolution being debated in the Senate. John McCain allowed Senate Republicans to go forward with that approach, but skipped the votes in favor of fundraising for his campaign. [2008 Senate Vote #58, 60 Thomas.loc.gov, 3/13/08]

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"John McCain's silence last night while his Republican colleagues in the Senate forced votes on mean-spirited enforcement-only immigration amendments speaks volumes about how far he is willing to go to pander to the far right. McCain has already made it clear he would vote against the comprehensive immigration reform bill he once sponsored, but by allowing the Republican Party to continue using immigration as a wedge issue, he is giving his stamp of approval to the scapegoating of immigrants that has become a staple of Republican campaigning. That's unacceptable, and disgraceful. John McCain ought to denounce the GOP's approach, not sanction it, and ought to have the courage to show up to vote when his campaign-approved bills are on the floor of the Senate."

Source: DNC

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