Wrong Again, Rep. Steve King
In an anti-immigration reform speech earlier today on the House floor, GOP Rep. Steve King (R-IA) said:
"If they get their way, there will be more Americans that are actually dead. Because there's not a day goes by in this country that there isn't at least one American citizen that dies at the hands of someone who is unlawfully present in the United States whether it is an act of homicide, or it's an act of willful manslaughter, whether it's an OWI on the streets of America…Steve King's not dead wrong. Let's keep more Americans alive." [CSPAN, 4:24 pm]
King regularly says outlandish, crazy statements but this is over-the-line.
Comprehensive immigration reform is about keeping families together, strengthening the American economy and bringing millions of workers in our country out of the shadows of fear.
The American public is calling for change, whether Rep. King likes it or not.
- 79 percent of Americans support comprehensive immigration reform (CIR);
- Over 600 business organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce;
- H.R 15 would reduce the deficit by nearly $1 trillion;
- Religious leaders have called for immediate action;
- Newspaper editorials nationwide are fed up with the House's inaction and excuses;
- And most recently, agriculture groups have grown frustrated with House GOP's failure to act on reform.
Rep. King's remarks are outrageous – so too is the House Republican record on immigration.
Unfortunately, Speaker Boehner and the House Republican Conference have paid little more than lip service to this key priority. In fact, the only items they have voted on are on extreme measures, including Congressman King's amendment, that would result in the deportation of DREAMers.