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Originally Posted by h3wlett
That is an interesting article and one that I believe has major implications not only for many undocumented immigrant families but potential DREAM Act beneficiaries as well.
Essentially, Rubio introduced a bill this week to block refundable credits from going to U.S.-citizen or legally resident children who have an undocumented parent provider. This is the same Child Tax Credit that many of you undocumented youths have acquired your ITINs through. Anyway, Rubio " claims that his proposal will end a “scam that costs American taxpayers $4.2 billion."
The purpose of the child tax credit " was not designed out of concern for low-income parents; it was enacted to help keep America’s children from falling in to poverty. In fact in 2009 the child tax credit and its refundable companion prevented 1.3 million American children from falling in to poverty. This is why Congress only requires the Internal Revenue Service to ensure that the child being claimed is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien."
"Immigrant parents of American-born children can claim the child tax credit using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, or ITIN, which enables immigrants who are not eligible for Social Security numbers to file and pay federal taxes."
I believe undocumented immigrant children (with ITINS) could be claimed by immigrant parents as well. Hence, that is how so many of you have ITINS in the first place.
Anyway, his bill threatens not only undocumented children but citizen children as well.
The hypocrisy comes when one realizes that ITIN filers contributed $7 billlion in federal taxes towards Medicare and Social Security, from which they will never receive any benefits. All the while only $4.2 billion in refundable credits were issued in 2010.
 One hopes this bill is Rubio's attempt at pacifying his xenophobic, racist, colleagues. He can say, look, I still hate illegal immigrants just like you guys! His hope is that his coworkers will view his upcoming DREAM Act bill as more palatable. This move indicates his desperation and complete misjudgment of the depths of evil that resides in his fellow congressman. They will not be fooled by this move. Don't be surprised if they pass this bill and block Rubio's DREAM Act. The net result for Rubio is that he can claim to latinos that he tried to pass a version of the DREAM Act. Latinos are fucking stupid so they will believe that. Meanwhile, he will be able to claim to the rest of the right wing conservative republican base that he hates illegals and even tried to pass a bill to punish them. Hence, he clears the way to securing the VP nomination or potential future Presidential runs.
This bill explains Rubio's intentional 2 month delay on the DREAM Act. He does not intend for his DREAM Act bill to pass. He just wants to be on record has being purportedly for illegal immigrants while at the same time bashing illegal immigrants as he is accustomed. |
I think we all kind of need a middle ground here, there's far too much factionalism and endless bickering on this post. Does the Rubio Dream act have a chance of passing? Yes, but it does face a hard road towards being accepted by the house, I think we must all agree on that fact.
I think we can all also agree though that there is hope that perhaps a compromise solution can be reached that can be accepted by all sides!!!! That can also not be denied by anyone, this bill has gained traction and hype in a way previous editions have lacked.
Lastly, I think we can all agree from that article that Rubio is at times a tea party nut who fails to see the contradictions between his positions and the fact that he is a Cuban American and has only coasted to his position in his life due to laws that we could all see as "amnesty". But again he is a republican and by aligning ourselves with him for the time being it comes with his history and overt political ambitions.
I think we all really need a middle ground here, and I think we can all verify these facts above. There's no point in fighting guys, we all have different views, different thoughts, and perspectives. But what we must not let happen is for ourselves to denigrate each other because of differing positions. At the end of the day, all we have are our families, friends, and each other. And at the end of it all, we are living history and only the events will confirm who is right and who is wrong. And I believe that no matter what happens, fifty years from now we'll look back at this chapter in our life and laugh at it.