May 21, 2007 2:21 PM

Stan Weekes, executive director, Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform

Mark_Wolf(Q) Welcome Stan Weekes, executive director of the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform. Tell us about the alliance and how you came to be associated with it.
Stan_Weekes(A) The Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform was started a number of years ago by Bill and Jan Herron. My involvement start several years ago with my production of a series of balanced library forums. This activity lead to a spokesperson position and directorship around the first of this year.

Mark_Wolf(Q) The proposed immigration bill has riled critics on each side of the immigration debate. What are your objections to the bill?
Stan_Weekes(A) It's like a 'Blue Light Special' For the next 10 minutes buy this deeply discounted package, that no one is certain of the contents, that you just have to have because it such a great deal. It;s only good for a little while, get it while it's hot. Almost like the carnival. It gives away the farm.

American(Q) I just want to know when we begin the impeachment procedings on Bush & Cheney?
Stan_Weekes(A) Waste of time and effort!
Mark_Wolf(Q) Those who favor the bill say that while it's not perfect, it does move the debate forward. Ken Salazar said it moves people "from the shadows of our society into the sunlight of America." What's your objetion to the Z-visas that would allow people here illegally to become legal, but not yet citizens?

Stan_Weekes(A) First off, American jobs belong to American citizens. Many generations of work, taxes, effort have created these opportunities. The line begins at the back. If you didn't come here through the proper methods, Why should you get anything?

Mark_Wolf(Q) Given the burdens already on the federal immigration bureacracy do you see any chance that this will actually be put into effect?
Stan_Weekes(A) If this bogus effort does become LAW, what's your 'take a number' going to be? 29,762,401....Are you going to wait for that opprotunity? Nope! You will go looking for the first chance you get to bring home the money to support you and yours. It's human nature. The problem is that there are plenty of bosses wanting to 'cook the books', hire you for a bit, stiff you if they can, and cut their costs. Without labor law enforcement, the onlly ones making the big bucks are a handful of employers, the multi-national corps, and the rich folks who save by using those services.

Mark_Wolf(Q) How do you respond to those who say the country needs workers - legal or not - to perform jobs which have traditionally gone begging for workers?
Stan_Weekes(A) The estimate of the 'illegal alien' workforce is less than 5%. Many jobs can be mechanized, the 'living wage' increased to encourage Americans to re-enter the workforce, and the critical benefits package expanded to those who have lost so much.

kenman(Q) I found it to be very interesting that individuals that release from prison the right to vote is taken away however illegal may be give the right to vote once they are citizens of united state even though they broke the law too what are your thoughts on extending voting to new citizens..
Stan_Weekes(A) One of the most important parts of this legislation you don't see is the TAX AMNESTY. The President didn't seem to think that paying back taxes was enough of a consideration to even require it to be part of the bill. Everyone should receive the back taxes break. I testified before the State legislature earlier this year on the 'proof' of citizenship to vote bill. It is stunning that all you have to do is affirm you are here to sign up, and who knows what's going on in that area. The claims are there is no proof of violations, but how would anyone know.

Mark_Wolf(Q) What would you like to see done to deal with illegal immigration?
Stan_Weekes(A) CAIR has 4 major concerns: First there should be a 5 year halt to all immigration; there should not be an amnesty; the birth right citizenship should be denied unless one parent is legal; and the existing laws need to be enforced. In addition, I believe the Marines should be assigned to the Border, with the BP re-assigned to the interior cities for re-enforcement of ICE. The US Supreme Court 5-4 decision concerning the required educational mandates be challenged, and that criminal alien absconders have a bounty placed on their case to ensure deportation.
snoman joined.

Mark_Wolf(Q) What do you think liberals/progressives don't understand about illegal immigration?
Stan_Weekes(A) Having spent 35 years in Boulder, it is always an interesting discussion with my fellow progressive friends. Somehow, someway, they stalled out on their progressive thinking. As a 30 professional in the energy conservation field, as an owner of PV panels, load centers, batteries and even my own windgen, I am amazed that the realization of the importation tens of millions of third world folks to our country, let alone the millions that will want to come to Colorado does not register. I am stunned that the disconnect occurs about global warming, water issues, sprawl and infrastructure. What part of this state is going to be better with millions more residents?

Mark_Wolf(Q) CAIR makes an argument that doesn't seem to get a lot of attention in the immigration debate: energy costs and sustainability are hurt by the population grown of illegal immigration. Can you summarize that position?
Stan_Weekes(A) In Boulder, much of the discussion about sustainability has been twisted to include Social Sustainability. This is the third leg of the stool. There has been a corruption of the enviromental and economic sustainability concepts from 30 years ago. Now we need to invite poverty into our country, enable and aid those poor folks, create the housing and services, at taxpayer expense, to assist people who don't belong here to start with. The number of jobs and services flowing in that sector is amazing and that may be one reason so many desire to support this legislation. I am convinced that the local taxpayers, mostly through property taxes, are going to pay the bulk of these costs. The bill is coming in the mail--it's added to your home loan, paid monthy and unless you step up, call your Senators, and draw a line, you, your children and your grandchildren will be paying for a long time.

snoman(Q) There are so many things I find amusing from the open borders crowd, but there continual harping about "bringing people out of the shadows" cracks me up. What shadows? These illegals have no qualms about demanding their "rights" and marching through any US city at will. What shadows are they referring to???
Stan_Weekes(A) Snoman: The darkness has to do with the phony documents the whole system runs on. 90% of the kitchen workers in the resturants in Boulder, every resort town in Colorado, and at nearly every construction site carry 3 or 4 sets of phony ID's. Governor Ritter has a bill on his desk that 'remodels' the ID process. Please call your state Senator or Rep, ask them about how they voted on HB07-1313. It was very busy during this session; many didn't realize what the results would be concerning this bill. Ask them to call the Governor, express their belated reservations, and VETO this. It is BAD LAW. It takes the ability of the rulemaking decision power, transfers it to statute (controlled by the Legislative branch) and disallows the DMV to react to changing conditions. Somethings don't belong in the Constituion, this doesn't belong in the statutes. Please Veto it, Governor Ritter. Do the right thing.

snoman(Q) Stan - Liberals never see the unintended consequences of their "feel good now" ideas and policies. They want to "feel good" now about helping the downtrodden - as long as they do not start living in their gated communities.
Stan_Weekes(A) I would recommend you visit our website cairco.org I will be starting a local action project in the near future. Think of the results if we don't pay attention, act locally and let our gov't representatives know how upset we are with this sell out of our country.