Rep. King: Bush Plan Is ‘Amnesty'

WASHINGTON — President Bush may have derided some conservatives' criticism of his immigration plan as "empty political rhetoric," but one New York Republican isn't changing his tune.

Rep. Peter King of Long Island yesterday stood by his position that the current bill before Congress amounts to "amnesty," and he said it was even "worse than the current law."

In a rare move last week, Mr. Bush took on his conservative critics, accusing them of using scare tactics to boost opposition to an immigration bill that he supports. "If you want to scare the American people, what you say is [that] the bill is an amnesty bill," the president said last week in Georgia. "It's not an amnesty bill. That's empty political rhetoric, trying to frighten our fellow citizens."

The language angered many conservatives, who were key players in helping Mr. Bush win two elections and who have largely backed him throughout his presidency.

When asked on CBS's "Face the Nation" whether he was "trying to frighten people," Mr. King said, "No, not at all."

"I have great regard for President Bush," he said, "but I disagree with him on this."

Mr. King and other critics of the immigration bill have focused on a provision that would grant legal status to many of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants now in America. "It's not going to work, and no matter how they try to disguise it, this is amnesty," Mr. King said.

Supporters of the legislation disagree, pointing to the requirement that illegal immigrants pay thousands of dollars in penalties and wait several years, among other measures, before they are eligible for permanent residency or citizenship. "Nothing could be further from the truth," Senator Salazar, a Democrat of Colorado, said yesterday on "Face the Nation."

Mr. Salazar said Mr. King was part of the "round-them-up-and-deport-them crowd."

Like many hard-liners on immigration, Mr. King has stopped short of advocating the deportation of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants — a move that most say is unrealistic. He and other foes of a comprehensive bill have said the government should focus on enforcing current laws, strengthening the border, and cracking down on employers who hire illegal immigrants. They argue that many immigrants would then return to their home countries voluntarily. Mr. King urged yesterday waiting "three to four years" before dealing with those that remain.

Mr. Salazar said America couldn't afford to wait. "I think it would be an abdication of responsibility on the part of our American leadership if we don't get to a solution on immigration reform, and we don't do it this year," he said.

[In related news, Senator McCain will deliver a message today to the other Republican presidential candidates: Opposing an immigration bill for political gain will only worsen the problems of undocumented immigrants and an unsecured border.

Mr. McCain plans to talk about the bill at an event in Coral Gables, Fla., today, and excerpts of his prepared remarks take aim at other Republicans in the race.

"I would hope they wouldn't play politics for their own interests if the cost of their ambition was to make this problem even harder to solve," Mr. McCain said in the prepared remarks obtained by the Associated Press.]