Our boy governor has a grown up grasp of political grandstanding, as he demonstrated in his O’Fallon speech Tuesday.
Obviously, he had taken a look at the latest Rasmussen poll, which had him three points behind Jay Nixon (46-43), and had zeroed in on the most obvious way to ingratiate himself with Missouri voters: “74% of voters favor a state law making it illegal for businesses to hire illegal aliens.”
So Blunt promised to crack down on contractors hired by the state if they employ illegals. That’s crack down as in, conduct random onsite inspections of companies contracting with the state and, if the inspectors ask for documentation for workers that might be illegal, require the contractors to provide it within thirty days.
Or else. “Else” being:
“If the state uncovers illegal workers the first step will be to work through ICE and authorized state law enforcement to take appropriate action,” the release said. “Next, tax credits recipients may be subject to action by law and policy, including the five year ban from accessing any state programs as provided under current law.”
Blah-da-blah, blah-da-blah. Cover your mouth when you yawn.
The governor calls it a “tough new strategy”–maybe even tough enough to undo the damage caused when the state got caught contracting with Sam’s Janitorial Services, a company which employed dozens of illegals with falsified documents.
But his tough talk would be more believable if he hadn’t opposed an amendment by House Democrats (on the economic development plan) to require that companies that hire illegals pay back any tax credits they’ve received.
Instead of Blunt’s “may be subject to action by law and policy” (what the?!), the Democrats provided a specific penalty. And he shot them down.
Ok, ok. I get his newsletter or whatever it is. This is from the one I received yesterday from: “Bekah Cooper, Missourians for Matt Blunt ”
“New Poll Numbers Show Blunt and Nixon Neck-and-Neck
Give Your Support Today to Keep Missouri on the Right Track!
A report released today by Rasmussen Reports reveals that Governor Blunt and Democrat Jay Nixon are neck-and-neck in their poll numbers. Rasmussen shows Governor Blunt at 43 percent and Nixon at 46 percent. The margin of error is ± 4.5 percent, which means that it is too close to call who is currently ahead in the contest.
Missouri’s 2008 race for Governor is being called one of the most competitive in the nation, and Governor Blunt continues to steadily climb in the polls.
There will be many more polls between now and November 2008, but it is clear that Missourians are recognizing the positive changes Governor Blunt is enacting to make Missouri an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. We need your help today to keep Missouri on the right track under conservative
leadership!”
Don’t know how to do block quotes here.
I think I have read that the Rasmussen Poll always gives Bush his best numbers…maybe they have a slight conservative slant? I cannot believe that his numbers could possibly have come up that much…it seems like he commits one blunder after another. I get so sick of the Republican double talk and mean demagoging. He has no intention of putting any employers out..around where I live the immigrants (don’t know their legal status)work on the golf courses and for the large lawncare outfits probably Republican supporters.