Tennessee Republican Sen. Bill Frist, who has declared his intention to run for Senate majority leader, has a weak record on immigration – a core conservative issue – according to groups and organizations that rate lawmakers on their positions.
Such groups have given Frist low marks on the issue of curbing illegal immigration, voting to limit legal immigration, immigrant amnesty and the implementation of a so-called “guest worker” program – where residents south of the border are given special permission to come into the U.S. to work.
Many who do come into the U.S. under such programs never leave, critics say.
Last month, Americans for Better Immigration gave Frist an overall grade of “D” over the span of his career.
“Sen. Frist voted to continue a chain migration system that has been the primary reason for annual immigration levels snowballing from less than 300,000 in 1965 to around a million today,” said a profile summary analysis in November by Numbers USA, a group seeking immigration curbs.
Issues2000.org, meanwhile, said Frist had “no opinion” to this statement: “Immigration helps our economy – encourage it.”
Frist has announced his intention to seek the Senate majority leader position. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., announced earlier today that he would not retain the leadership post when the 108th Congress convenes next month.
The Mississippi Republican stepped down as Senate leader earlier today after taking fire from Republicans and Democrats for two weeks following his endorsement of Sen. Strom Thurmond’s 1948 segregationist presidential campaign at the South Carolina senator’s 100th birthday party.
But Frist, an ally of President Bush, may not be the first choice of most conservatives. Besides his weakness on immigration issues, WorldNetDaily reported Friday that the junior Tennessee senator championed the nomination by President Clinton of former Surgeon General David Satcher, a fervent supporter of unrestricted abortion and someone who actually performed abortions.
And, Frist once told National Public Radio that there are no absolute right, absolute wrong answers in medicine. During last year’s stem-cell debate, the Tennessee Republican proposed using leftover embryos from in vitro fertilization clinics for scientific research. The Weekly Standard also noted that Frist believes there is a moral imperative to use one unsalvageable life to save another.
Frist, who has also voted in support of bills designed to allow foreign workers from Mexico into the U.S. temporarily, to assist farmers, “has not introduced, co-sponsored or spoken in favor of legislation in the 107th Congress that would reduce chain migration,” said the NumbersUSA analysis.
And, “on the heels of the release of a GAO report finding no proof of a high-tech worker shortage and evidence of abuse in the H-1B program, Sen. Frist voted for this foreign-worker bill that contained no worker protections or anti-fraud measures,” said the analysis.
The Tennessee Republican did, however, vote against extending an amnesty program to illegal immigrations in 2000 and for a border-security measure in 2002 requiring an entry-exit system in which every visa holder is checked with a biometric identifier upon entering or exiting the U.S.
In stepping aside, Lott thanked his supporters.
“In the interest of pursuing the best possible agenda for the future of our country, I will not seek to remain as majority leader of the United States Senate for the 108th Congress effective Jan. 6, 2003,” he said.
“To all those who offered me their friendship, support and prayers, I will be eternally grateful. I will continue to serve the people of Mississippi in the United States Senate,” he added.
Bush praised Lott for his decision.
“It was a very difficult decision Trent made on behalf of the American people,” said the president in a statement. “Trent is a valued friend and a man I respect. I am pleased he will continue to serve our nation in the Senate and look forward to working with him on our agenda to make America safer, stronger and better.”
Sen. Pete Dominici, R-N.M., threw his support to Frist and told Fox News he wanted to move up a Jan. 6 Republican conference meeting to debate the party’s fate and affirm Frist as the party leader.
“I think in order to get on with things … we ought to seriously consider by acclamation electing [Frist] as the new leader and that we do it sooner rather than later so we can get on with our work and complete our holidays in good spirits, knowing we have done the country and the Republican Party’s business,” he said.
Sens. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky have also expressed an interest in becoming majority leader.
Virginia’s two Republican senators, John Warner and George Allen, have also backed Frist.
Related stories:
Lott steps down as majority leader
Meet Bill Frist: Heir to Lott throne
Lott’s daughter hits back at segregationist
