Ianus
02-01-2009, 06:23 PM
I guess the pressure worked (http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/02/gillibrand-a-work-in-progress.html) somewhat & Senator Gillibrand is now changing her tune.
After the two-hour meeting, el Diario repored Gillibrand had "changed her tune" on immigration, promising to work with President Obama on “comprehensive immigration reform that has an earned path to citizenship” for people without documentation.
She also pledged to support the DREAM Act, would make it possible for many undocumented high school students to obtain a legal status after meeting certain eligibility requirements, and follow the lead of her predecessor, Hillary Clinton, on a bill that would secure funding for ESL programs.
The new senator would not commit to calling for a halt to large-scale immigration raids and said she would meet with Mayor Bloomberg to discuss local police acting as immigration agents.
Assemblyman Peter Rivera, who has been among the most outspoken of the anti-Gillibrand
crowd, upsetting fellow critics by referring to her in a press advisory as "xenophobic," said today's meeting was "fun and important," but "the proof will be in the pudding."
"It's too early to know whether this is going to have a long-term effect," Rivera said. "It was a nice meeting, and she committed herself to really learn more about immigration and use us as advisers."
"...She said a lot of the votes she took, particularly on immigration, were Republican measures that were not going anywhere but used to prod members like her into taking a position on these issues."
That sounded a lot to me like Gillibrand was telling the Hispanic lawmakers her personal ideology on immigration doesn't match her record, which was borne of political expediency and a marginal Democrat's desire to hold onto her seat in a GOP-dominated district....
......Rivera said Gillibrand promised to take walking tours of the various members' districts and also speak to the president on the issue of raids and amnesty.
"We started a dialogue and dialogues are important," Rivera said. "We're going to reserve judgment until after her first 100 days, which is very, very soon. I don't expect an answer tomorrow. It's foolish and not practical."One more yes vote for Dream.
After the two-hour meeting, el Diario repored Gillibrand had "changed her tune" on immigration, promising to work with President Obama on “comprehensive immigration reform that has an earned path to citizenship” for people without documentation.
She also pledged to support the DREAM Act, would make it possible for many undocumented high school students to obtain a legal status after meeting certain eligibility requirements, and follow the lead of her predecessor, Hillary Clinton, on a bill that would secure funding for ESL programs.
The new senator would not commit to calling for a halt to large-scale immigration raids and said she would meet with Mayor Bloomberg to discuss local police acting as immigration agents.
Assemblyman Peter Rivera, who has been among the most outspoken of the anti-Gillibrand
crowd, upsetting fellow critics by referring to her in a press advisory as "xenophobic," said today's meeting was "fun and important," but "the proof will be in the pudding."
"It's too early to know whether this is going to have a long-term effect," Rivera said. "It was a nice meeting, and she committed herself to really learn more about immigration and use us as advisers."
"...She said a lot of the votes she took, particularly on immigration, were Republican measures that were not going anywhere but used to prod members like her into taking a position on these issues."
That sounded a lot to me like Gillibrand was telling the Hispanic lawmakers her personal ideology on immigration doesn't match her record, which was borne of political expediency and a marginal Democrat's desire to hold onto her seat in a GOP-dominated district....
......Rivera said Gillibrand promised to take walking tours of the various members' districts and also speak to the president on the issue of raids and amnesty.
"We started a dialogue and dialogues are important," Rivera said. "We're going to reserve judgment until after her first 100 days, which is very, very soon. I don't expect an answer tomorrow. It's foolish and not practical."One more yes vote for Dream.