For the second time in a week, conservative talk radio giant Rush Limbaugh used his massive platform to lavish praise on Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for his efforts to stop President Obama’s push to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants through executive action.
Here’s a partial transcript:
RUSH: Jeff Sessions, the great senator from Alabama, I’m sure sometimes feels like he’s all alone. He looks at what’s happening on the Southern border, and he can’t believe it. He hears what President Obama says and combines that with what he sees happening. He can’t believe it. He can’t believe that there’s nobody where he works in the US Senate, or in the House of Representatives, trying to do anything to stop this. So he decided that he was going to do so.
…And he did something that few in Washington have the courage to do.
SESSIONS (audio clip from Senate floor speech): Mr. President, you work for the American people, they don’t work for you, and they will not accept nullification of their law passed by their elected representatives. I’m calling on all members of Congress today to stand up to these lawless actions and sponsor legislation that will block them. I’m calling on every person in this body and in this house and in the House of Representatives to stand and be counted at this perilous hour.
RUSH: Folks, I have to tell you: It’s both appalling and astonishing that it has really come down to this. A United States Senator has to practically beg his fellow congressmen and countrymen to do something to stop these upcoming extra-constitutional executive orders. And he’s right. They will effectively overturn what is left of our immigration law.
On the heels of Rush’s comments, Sessions again took to the floor of the U.S. Senate on Thursday to call on his congressional colleagues to stand up for the millions of Americans who are out of work and stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the country. The current immigration packages being debated by the Senate and House do not include provisions that bar the president from taking executive action that would grant amnesty, which is a deal-breaker for Sessions.
Congress, as an institution, must not support any border package that does not expressly prohibit the President’s executive amnesty and block funds for its implementation… There is currently no legislation pending for a vote in either Chamber—House or Senate—which passes this test. As a result, both the House and Senate packages should not be supported…
[The President’s planned work permits for 5-6 million illegal workers come at] a time when millions of Americans are out of work. President Obama’s plan is a direct affront to every single unemployed American—particularly those in our poorest most vulnerable American communities. Who will speak for them? Who will give them a voice? Will this Congress? Will we hear their pleas?
Let’s put this in a bigger picture… The President’s planned work permits for illegal immigrations is in addition then, to this already huge flow of low-wage labor into the United States… Isn’t it time we did something for American workers?”
Congress is scheduled to go on a five week recess beginning Friday, and leadership from both parties has said they want to hammer out an immigration deal before they leave town.
Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims
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