Huckabee's stand on immigration...

[defenseman]

Here you go....

Huckabee Releases Immigration Plan

Friday, December 7, 2007 11:00 AM

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DES MOINES, Iowa -- Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee proposes to stop illegal immigration with a Mexico border fence, more border patrol agents and forcing illegal immigrants to go home before they can return.


Released Friday, Huckabee's plan takes a tough stance -- similar to those of his GOP rivals -- though he has been more forgiving of some here illegally: As Arkansas governor, Huckabee attempted to make children of illegal immigrants eligible for scholarships and in-state college tuition.


Huckabee defended that Arkansas effort at a debate last month: "In all due respect, we are a better country than to punish children for what their parents did. We're a better country than that."


His new immigration plan does not address education, health care or other services provided to illegal immigrants that strain communities in early-voting Iowa and other places where people are angry about the issue.


In addition to building the fence and installing surveillance cameras along the border, adding law enforcement agents and making people go home, the plan would, among other things:



Punish employers who hire illegal immigrants, create a system to verify citizenship and stop the IRS and Social Security Administration from accepting fake Social Security numbers.



Pass a tax plan, called the FAIR tax, which would eliminate the IRS as well as income, corporate, payroll and other taxes in favor of a 23 percent sales tax. Huckabee said this would create an economic disincentive for illegal immigration.



Eliminate the visa lottery system and admission preferences for brothers and sisters of citizens, increase visas for highly skilled and educated applicants and expedite processing for Armed Services members.


His plan quickly drew criticism from a spokesman for rival Fred Thompson, Jeff Sadosky, who said the plan "contradicts everything he did as governor." He pointed out Huckabee denounced a 2005 raid on illegal immigrants at an Arkansas poultry plant and gave $1,000 in state funds to help children whose parents were arrested

http://www.newsmax.com/politics/huck.../07/55425.html

[defenseman]

Thoughts...?...dman

[Crushaholic]

Originally Posted by defenseman

Pass a tax plan, called the FAIR tax, which would eliminate the IRS as well as income, corporate, payroll and other taxes in favor of a 23 percent sales tax. Huckabee said this would create an economic disincentive for illegal immigration.

How in the world would this create an economic disincentive for illegal immigration? No payroll taxes would only mean more money for illegals to send back to their country. Plus, a sales-based tax would do damage to the economy because it will be a disincentive for consumers to make unnecessary purchases. It's a bad proposal on two fronts...

[defenseman]

Originally Posted by Crushaholic

How in the world would this create an economic disincentive for illegal immigration? No payroll taxes would only mean more money for illegals to send back to their country. Plus, a sales-based tax would do damage to the economy because it will be a disincentive for consumers to make unnecessary purchases. It's a bad proposal on two fronts...

I'll agree with you on the disincentive angle? Maybe someone here can explain it. However, having researched this subject, I'm thinking most folks may not have a true understanding of what the FAIR tax possibly is. I know it doesn't get added to the present cost of products and goods. I believe though, at it's core, the proposed tax assumes consumption is maintained at a relatively constant level or rises with population increase. You consume what you can afford/ necessities and revenues will grow automatically with the population increase. In any case, the numbers I've looked at if an item today costs 1.00 once Fair tax goes into affect, it'll cost between 1.01 and 1.02 is what I've been calculating. still looking at it though...dman

*I've also been wondering how this sort of tax will affect the "black market" industry in the country. Better or Worse? still looking at that.

[alkemical]

Originally Posted by Crushaholic

How in the world would this create an economic disincentive for illegal immigration? No payroll taxes would only mean more money for illegals to send back to their country. Plus, a sales-based tax would do damage to the economy because it will be a disincentive for consumers to make unnecessary purchases. It's a bad proposal on two fronts...

Taxes don't help the economy, really.

[defenseman]

Originally Posted by claviculasolomonis

Taxes don't help the economy, really.

Very true...less is better.....dman

[alkemical]

Look, if there was a flat tax - and the total cumulation of taxes i paid was like 20% - i'd be "OK" with that.

It's not great, but it's better than the 42-44% i pay now (add ALL the taxes you pay, sales tax, taxes on cellphones, gas, landlines, etc)

[cutthemdown]

Obviously it's a carefully crafted plan meant to help him win and not how he really feels about illegal immigrants. I don't care really as long as whoever wins the Presidency does what the people want. That's stop illegal immigration and get our country back!!!

[Rohirrim]

Nothing says "hypocrite" like a person who calls themselves a christian and supports the death penalty, let alone somebody who has carried it out numerous times.

[alkemical]

Did you know, one of the few people GW Bush kept from the death penalty was Henry Lee Lucas?