Cord Byrd: “I oppose the amnesty provisions included in this bill. Nevertheless, I voted against the Coburn amendment, because it…”

“I oppose the amnesty provisions included in this bill. Nevertheless, I voted against the Coburn amendment, because it would have codified expedited procedures in the Senate for considering the Presidential certifications required by the amendment. Exempting legislation from debate and amendment in the Senate is a dangerous practice, and contrary to the constitutional purpose of this unique institution. One need only look to the legislative line-item veto or budget reconciliation process to understand how such procedures could be abused. Had those expedited procedures not been included in the Coburn amendment, I would have supported it. Mr. President, I oppose amnesty for illegal aliens. Waiving our immigration laws, instead of enforcing them, is amnesty--no matter what the level of fines and penalties assessed. It encourages others to flout our laws knowing that they could be similarly rewarded. Amnesties undermine the great American principle that the law should apply equally and fairly to everyone. This bill would create a separate set of rules--one for those who obey the law and one for those who do not. It is a special set of laws for those who chose not to follow the regular process that everybody else had to go through. It is a congressional pardon for lawbreakers--both for illegal aliens and the unscrupulous employers who exploit them.”