This Issue: Democrats make case to Senate 'referee' for 8-million amnesty in Budget Reconciliation. (Also, COVID concern at the border.)

Senate Parliamentarian hears amnesty arguments
Today, the Senate parliamentarian heard opposing arguments from Democrats and Republicans over whether an amnesty for illegal aliens can be included in the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill.

The Hill reported the Democrats argued for an amnesty for eight million illegal aliens.

It is unlikely that anything will be known about the parliamentarian's position until the reconciliation bill comes to the Senate floor for debate. A formal ruling will come if amnesty is included in the bill by Democratic leaders and if any Senator objects and asks the parliamentarian to rule if amnesty can remain part of the legislation.

At issue is whether the amnesty violates the "Byrd Rule," which was adopted in 1985 and limits provisions in a reconciliation bill that aren't directly related to the budget. The reason Democrats are trying to use the reconciliation process to jam through a major amnesty is that they can do so without any Republican votes while avoiding a filibuster. That makes the parliamentarian decision so crucial here, though passing the reconciliation amnesty is also dependent on all 50 Democratic Senators voting in favor. That is why calls and emails to Democratic Senators telling them NO AMNESTY is even more crucial. If only one Democrat peels off, the amnesty doesn't pass no matter what the parliamentarian rules.

NumbersUSA President Roy Beck stated today:

"Although the parliamentarian could with a single sentence rescue the country from irreversible calamity, the decision would come just before floor debate and a vote. Too much is at stake in case the ruling goes against us, which would leave us with a few days, at most, to react. That is not nearly enough time. We cannot rely on a favorable ruling. We dare not risk that. We must mobilize national opposition to force the amnesty out of the reconciliation bill before it ever gets to the Senate parliamentarian for a final ruling."

Public health concerns remain about COVID-positive border crossers
Last night President Biden announced a vaccine mandate for private businesses who have over a hundred employees, and immediately generated a great deal of intense criticism, including from several state governors. While this is not something that NumbersUSA takes a position on, it does highlight a glaring inconsistency on the part of the Biden Administration when it comes to public health.

Some critics of the Administration's COVID edicts have rightfully pointed out that the southern border remains unsecured, and polices put in place by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have encouraged many border crossers to enter the U.S. and make frivolous and fraudulent asylum claims.

Last month, it was reported that 18 percent of those who came as part of so-called family units and 20 percent of unaccompanied minors who had recently crossed the border had tested positive for COVID.

Any public health policies put in place by the federal government must take into account immigration. The Biden Administration has consistently failed on that point.

Eric a. ruark, Director of Research