Tom Coburn: “I intended to vote against the amendment. I do not support the amendment and I wish to explain why. The Bingaman…”

“I intended to vote against the amendment. I do not support the amendment and I wish to explain why. The Bingaman amendment No. 1267 would have allowed certain future legal temporary workers to renew their work visas from the United States, rather than being required to leave the country for a period of time to reapply. In order to have a true temporary worker program, workers must only come to the U.S. for a season and then return to their home country. If workers are instead permitted to stay in the U.S., they will likely establish economic and familial roots, and will not want to leave when their legal visa has expired. People who want to take part in our society should seek legal citizenship, rather than extending upon an agreement that was intended to be temporary. I encourage those who have respected our laws and want to live in our country to apply for a green card and become a U.S. citizen.”