Chet Edwards For Congress

September 21, 2006

Truth Test: Taylor Attack Ad II

After launching the first negative television ad of the general election, Van Taylor has followed up with another desperate attack ad that is just as false and uses scare tactics to distort Chet Edwards' record.

Van Taylor Attack ad:

“Chet Edwards is lying. The Congressional Record proves he voted to give food stamps to illegal aliens, but Edwards won't take responsibility.”

The Truth:

Chet Edwards voted for the 1996 Welfare Reform Bill, which is current law, that barred illegal aliens from receiving federal welfare benefits, including food stamps. For reference, see Section 401 of Public Law 104-193, entitled, “Aliens who are not qualified aliens ineligible for Federal public benefits.” (Roll Call Vote 331, 7/18/96, H.R. 3734; Roll Call Vote 383, 7/31/96, H.R. 3734)

Van Taylor Attack Ad:

“…Chet Edwards voted to protect illegal aliens who were arrested for a crime from deportation, allowing them to be released on bail. Some have committed heinous crimes including rape and murder.”

The Truth:

This is an outrageous and false claim. Chet Edwards voted to end “catch and release” practices when he voted for the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act on Dec. 16, 2005. This bill ensures any incarcerated illegal aliens are not released back into local communities and are removed from the United States after serving their sentences. For references, see Section 223, “Institutional Removal Program”, and Section 225, “State Authorization for Assistance in the Enforcement of Immigration Laws Encouraged”. (Roll Call Vote 661, 12/16/2005, H.R. 4437).

Votes cited in Van Taylor's ad do not support his claims:

Van Taylor Attack Ad:

Displays image of Congressional Record page H5608, which displays Roll Call Vote 367 (7/13/04) to support false claim that, “…The Congressional Record proves he voted to give food stamps to illegal aliens…”. ”

The Truth:

This vote, which Taylor used in his last false attack ad, did not give food stamps to illegal aliens or have any impact on current law at all. Taylor continues to offer no substantiation whatsoever for his false claims.

• Roll Call 367 (7/13/04): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the FY05 Agriculture Appropriations Act

This redundant amendment had no impact on current law, which already prohibited food stamps going to illegal aliens. Edwards voted for that prohibition in the 1996 Welfare Reform bill on 7/31/1996. During debate, Rep. Tancredo even admitted his amendment would not change current law in any way: “Rep. Kaptur: '…for the record, does the gentleman's amendment in any way change existing law regarding immigration and food stamp eligibility?'…Rep. Tancredo: 'It does not.'” (Congressional Record, 7/13/04)

Amendment failed by a vote of 156-262, with even the Republican Chairman of the subcommittee that wrote the underlying bill, Rep. Henry Bonilla (TX), voting against this amendment.

Van Taylor Attack Ad:

Cites Roll Call votes 262 (6/16/05), 177 (5/17/05), 341 (7/8/04), 270 (6/18/04) and 309 (6/24/03) to back up the false claim that “…Chet Edwards voted to protect illegal aliens who were arrested for a crime from deportation, allowing them to be released on bail.”

• Roll Call 262 (6/16/05): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the Science, State, Justice, Commerce Departments Appropriations Act.
  
  This redundant amendment had no impact on current law and would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. The amendment simply states that funds cannot be used in any manner against the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, a law that Chet Edwards supported. During debate over the amendment, Rep. Tancredo admitted, “My amendment does not make any new laws or create any new penalty or change any laws on the books.” (Congressional Record, 6/16/2005)
  
  Amendment failed by a vote of 204-222.




• Roll Call 177 (5/17/05): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
  
  This redundant amendment had no impact on current law and would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. The amendment simply states that funds cannot be used in any manner against the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, a law that Chet Edwards supported. Rep. Tancredo admitted during debate, “The law is on the books; I am not creating law here.” (Congressional Record, 5/17/2005)
  
  Amendment failed by a vote of 165-258




• Roll Call 341 (7/8/04): Amendment by Rep. King to the Commerce, State, Justice Departments Appropriations Act.
  
  This amendment would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. This misplaced amendment attempted to take money from the Department of Justice to fund current laws, which Chet Edwards supports, that encourage local officials to work with Federal immigration enforcement agents. However, as Republican Congressman Frank Wolf said during debate, “Enforcement of this section of the immigration law is the responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security…No agency funded in this bill has that responsibility. The gentleman should have done the amendment on the right bill… it just does not fit.” (Congressional Record, 7/08/2004)
  
  Amendment failed by a vote of 139-278.




• Roll Call 270 (6/18/04): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
  
  This redundant amendment had no impact on current law and would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. The amendment simply states that funds cannot be used in any manner against the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, a law that Chet Edwards supported. Rep. Tancredo admitted during debate, “This amendment does not change the law, it does not repeal the law, it does not add anything to the law.” (Congressional Record, 6/18/2004)
  
  Amendment failed by a vote of 148-259.




• Roll Call 309 (6/24/03): Amendment by Rep. Tancredo to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
  
  This amendment would not have protected incarcerated illegal aliens from deportation. The amendment took away all port security, airport security, first responder, disaster and other Department of Homeland Security funds from states and cities if they were not in complete compliance with a specific provision of immigration law about sharing information between local and federal officials. While Chet Edwards supported and voted for the immigration law, he joined the overwhelming majority of House members who refused to leave states and cities vulnerable to terrorist attacks by supporting this amendment.
  
  Amendment failed by a vote of 102-322.