Tucker: Candidates Need to Address Immigration Issue

By Pamela Tucker

Presidential debate season is now upon us and in the coming days and weeks, the entire dynamic of the primary campaign will shift as candidates begin to meet face to face and engage directly on their ideas for the nation. The first debate is quite appropriately in New Hampshire.

For some, 16 candidates on the Republican side, gathering in one place, at one time is daunting and too much to ask of a process that relies on canned answers and one-liners in order to stand out. That may be true, but I encourage the candidates and voters to make the best of it. You can say a lot in a short amount of time.

In particular, I am interested in hearing the different views and approaches to a debate we have held for entirely too long in this country: illegal immigration.

Our field of GOP candidates has already taken questions from voters on the campaign trail about this topic, illegal immigration has been a top priority issue for media coverage, and I imagine it will be a hot topic on the debate stage when most of the field gathers in New Hampshire and again in Ohio for the first debates.

The same must hold true for the Democrat primary candidates. We have not heard much detail on how to resolve this problem. How does each candidate’s plan differ? Both political parties must clearly articulate their positions and the strengths of their plans. For both parties, how can we reach common ground that benefits our country?

Here is my request: don’t cover ground we have already covered in this topic, let’s get to the major points where there are major differences. The entire GOP field has embraced the need to tighten our border security. Although I would like to hear more about how those plans differ, that’s not for the debate stage. Border security has broad support and we can hear the fine print of ideas from the candidates on the trail.

What we need is a cross-section of answers to how our nation is to handle the 11.5 million illegal immigrants in our country right now, and WHY each candidate’s approach is the best one. Recently, candidates including Governors Chris Christie and Jeb Bush have detailed their ideas for resolving this difficult challenge. Others have very different views and have also spoken about their ideas, but this is the point where the debate can be lively and informative.

To the field: Why is your approach better than the alternatives? What impact will it have on our nation’s economy? What impact will it have on families in the U.S? How much will your plan cost taxpayers?

These are the questions I hope are asked and these are the answers voters need and deserve when making an informed decision about which candidate has the best approach for resolving this decade-old immigration debate.

In past cycles, candidates have been demonized for their answers to illegal immigration, and I believe that is precisely why we are still debating the issue. We are at gridlock on an issue that is completely solvable. The answers to immigration reform can unlock an economic boost for this country - if we make the right choices.

I am a founding member of Granite Staters for Common Sense Immigration Reform. We are hoping to hear detailed answers to these important questions. No matter what you believe, no matter which approach makes the most sense to you, there is a way to make immigration reform a gateway to improving our country. This issue has an impact on our job market, our health care system, and of course, on law and order in our communities.

Ladies and Gentlemen in our presidential primary, take advantage of these debate moments to show you have thought through these questions and you have answers that will earn you votes in New Hampshire.

State Rep. Pamela Tucker, R-Greenland, represents Greenland and Newington.