Time for regular order on immigration

Apparently, “regular order” in today’s congressional language means different strokes for different folks. To me, it has always meant taking an idea as to how our country can be improved, finding someone on the other side of the aisle that agrees, taking the idea to legislative counsel to draft a bill, introducing the bill in the House, referring it to subcommittee, holding hearings to determine how all the “special interests” (i.e., voters) feel about the bill, marking it up (i.e., amending) the bill, passing it if you have the support of a majority … and then on to full committee with additional hearings if necessary, mark up (amending the bill with improved language) and, finally, passage if there is majority support. Then, on to the House floor, where you go through the same procedure with amendments, and ultimately, the wishes of the majority are determined. Then, on to Senate consideration.

{mosads}From way out here in the country, I thought that was the process that Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) had agreed to with the Freedom Caucus. Sure fooled me! And I had personally applauded him for agreeing to return to regular order; I believed he was — and still is — the right man, in the right place, at the right time. He has a very difficult job and deserves our support. He certainly has mine for attempting to restore regular order to the House.

It is in that vein that I pose a question to the Freedom Caucus: Why did you not object to the Speaker’s first decision to take immigration reform off of the table until a new administration is elected? Is it because you do not “trust” the president? What does trust in the president have to do with regular order in the House? And are you willing to say now that you will trust the next president — no matter whom he or she may be — or will you come up with a new excuse in the next Congress? The president only comes into play when he has a bill on his desk. Before that, he has only his opinions to be considered. To this old simple “Blue Dog,” it seems that having a regular order process instituted immediately on immigration reform has taken on a new state of emergency in two important areas: economic growth and national security.

With the recent escalation of terrorism around the world (Egypt, Paris, Mali), protecting our borders (east, west, north and south) should be a given. Making as sure as possible that those who come here, or reside here already, are here legally, mean us no harm, and only want to work and support their families, should easily get 270 votes. And now, with more Mexicans going home than trying to enter America, a much different challenge for our economy is arising.

We the people are very interested in what our 535 elected leaders believe needs to be done to secure our borders and protect our homeland. We know you can do better than deport 11 million undocumented workers, which would destroy our economy. We believe you can do better than pick on refugees. We know there has to be better ideas than building a wall along our northern and southern borders. We believe you should find 270 votes to deal with the current emergency as soon as possible, not wait until 2017 to begin. We may not have that much time.

Having a regular order debate on immigration reform in 2016 would be very educational for all voters. We are getting it from those who want to be our next president. Why should we not get the same from those who want to be our representatives? If you are content to do nothing but make it a political issue between “liberal” Democrats and “conservative” Republicans, just remember that 85 percent of the public believes Congress is not doing a very good job of anything, and we still believe national security is too important to be politicized. If you want to continue to make Mexico and Canada our enemy equal to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), we voters want you to explain yourself — before we cast our votes!

It is very apparent to us that the free world must confront — declare war on — radical Islamic terrorists (not on Islam, and certainly not on Muslims). The United States must sooner, hopefully, rather than later, reestablish itself as world leader. But how? We know it won’t be easy. In fact, we believe it is going to be one of the most difficult challenges the free world has ever faced. It deserves a serious legislative approach. To those who want to be reelected to Congress in 2016, Yogi Berra had some good advice: “I tell the kids, somebody’s gotta win, somebody’s gotta lose, just don’t fight about it!” To the Freedom Caucus, Yogi never had a chance to know you, but his advice would still be very appropriate to consider on the subject of comprehensive immigration reform. Remember the that president does not affect regular order in any way, until he has a bill on his desk!

We need regular order on immigration in 2016. And since we know most of you can walk and chew gum at the same time, a regular order on fixing our debt. I would be surprised and really disappointed if the current Blue Dogs would not welcome you to the kennel for a visit. Blue Dogs need the company; they’re sort of lonely in there. You don’t have to like them, and it will cost you hardly anything — just a little old juicy bone every now and then. Who knows? You may make a real friend. That used to define regular order. Might still work if you gave it a try.

Stenholm is a former U.S. representative from Texas, serving from 1979 to 2005. He is currently a senior policy adviser at Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC.