Jeb Bush Pens New Year Wish: Immigration Reform in 2014

Former Florida Governor and amnesty advocate Jeb Bush alleged that America’s economy needs an influx of foreign workers across all sectors and declared that 2014 would be a “blockbuster year that finally takes [immigration] reform” across the finish line.  

Bush noted that “every member of the House leadership team has expressed commitment to move reform forward in 2014” and the “home stretch” is in sight.” Bush wrote his op-ed a day before President Barack Obama on Friday said that comprehensive immigration reform had been his “biggest” goal in 2013. Obama said it was “frustrating” that he could not accomplish his biggest policy objective even though only three percent of Americans feel that immigration reform is the nation’s most important priority. 

Despite studies that have found that the so-called shortage of high-tech workers is a myth and the Congressional Budget Office’s determination that comprehensive immigration reform legislation would lower the wages of American workers, Bush alleged that more foreign workers who will work for cheaper wages would be good for America’s economy. 

Bush also praised his Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) hiring of a former policy adviser who worked with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) to push amnesty. House Republican leaders have indicated that they would press ahead with piecemeal legislation on immigration reform. Democrats and President Barack Obama have said they would be okay with immigration reform being broken up so long as all the pieces passed. 

“Our economy requires an immigration system that allows for a future flow of workers and new citizens that reflects our nation’s economic and labor needs,” he wrote. 

As Breitbart News has reported, Boehner reportedly told House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to wait until next year for amnesty, and proponents of comprehensive immigration reform cheered the recent budget agreement because it “would potentially clear the legislative calendar for amnesty.” As for a potential timetable, Pelosi has said if amnesty passes, it will before June. And, as Breitbart News has noted, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said supporters of amnesty would make a final attempt to pass an immigration bill in the spring after the Republican primaries. 

Amnesty advocates may be going all-in next year to pass the legislation because Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) conceded that next year may be the last chance for comprehensive immigration reform since because the next Congress will not take up the issue.