Obama has power to change immigration policy
To the editor:
The Sunday letter from Don Davis regarding President Obama's new immigration policy ("Obama dictate") was chock full of misrepresentations. Mr. Davis asserts that the new policy circumvents the legislative process and the Constitution. He also says he believes that illegal immigrants should have a path to citizenship.
First of all, this new measure is not legislation. It's a law enforcement decision whether or not to pursue certain kinds of cases, which falls under the purview of the executive branch. This is the same kind of discretion given to police officers, for example, when it comes to issuing a traffic ticket or only a warning. The administration is merely exercising its discretion to not proceed with this kind of case. Every administration, Republican or Democrat, has done that at one time or another.
As for any constitutional issues, again this is an executive branch prerogative. There is no circumvention of Congress because they have nothing to do with it.
As for the path to citizenship argument, it is the intractability of the Republicans that has stymied any hope of reform legislation. The DREAM Act, a pathway to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, has been introduced and reintroduced in Congress since 2001, always as bipartisan legislation. It is the Republicans, though, who have repeatedly filibustered its passage.
With all of the hand-wringing and wailing over this policy change, it is worth noting that this administration has been the toughest on deportations in recent U.S. history. According to Reuters, it has deported more in one term than George W. Bush did in two.
Jim Graham
Las Vegas
The right way
To the editor:
My great grandfather, Gottlieb Weisser - a brewer born in Germany - became an American citizen on Oct. 21, 1886. He did what was required, as did millions of others from all corners of the globe.
By discounting the citizenship procedures, President Obama has insulted every person who worked hard to gain the honor of becoming an American, at least in my opinion.
While I never met my great grandfather, I and my family are indebted to him. Had he not done what he did, we would not be citizens today.
To me, this policy is just another cheap way for Democrats to increase their voter rolls - and I think it stinks.
Bruce Feher
Las Vegas
Circumventing laws
To the editor:
Where was the alarm when the president declared that he will not enforce certain laws simply because, in his opinion, it's the right thing to do? Today it is immigration laws. Which ones will be next?
Last month, Barack Obama tried to force religious institutions to violate their beliefs because it's the right thing to do. The California Supreme Court has declared that a vote of the people on gay marriage is invalid because the judges don't agree with the outcome of the election.
Whether or not you agree or disagree with these decisions, every American should be up in arms. No one person, even the president of the United States, has the right to circumvent laws legally enacted by the voice of the people.
Dictators come to power when people sit back apathetically until someone makes a decision that they don't like or that affects them. Unfortunately, by then it may be too late to protest.
Perhaps the powers-that-be will decide that members of the public are too stupid to govern themselves. Oh wait, I think I've already heard that.
Vicky De Leo
Overton
Battle cry
To the editor:
In his June 10 letter, labor attorney Adam Levine blames North Las Vegas officials for "not negotiating in good faith" with the unions. What is the meaning of this overused phrase? Certainly there have been negotiations. Salaries of police and firefighters in North Las Vegas are higher than the national average and the cost of living here is below the national average.
The term "not negotiating in good faith" has become the mantra or battle cry of the unions to get whatever they want.
Regardless of past expenditures, there aren't sufficient funds in the North Las Vegas budget to meet the union contract requirements. When public officials do not cave into union demands they are by definition "not negotiating in good faith."
Taxpayers should not be confused by union rhetoric. The real issue? The unions want more taxes levied on the public to pay for their lavish salaries and benefits. But it is ridiculous when police and firefighter salaries are higher than compensation for the city manager or mayor.
Barbara Malone
Las Vegas
Worse AGs
To the editor:
Why do I love the Review-Journal? Who else has the sense of irony to publish a letter to the editor on Sunday accusing Eric Holder of being "the most partisan, biased and politically driven attorney general in U.S. history" - on the 40th anniversary of Watergate?
An award for such performance would be named the John Mitchell Memorial Trophy - and Ed Meese would have retired it long ago.
Keep it coming, folks.
Lonny Zarowitz
Las Vegas
