Former President Bill Clinton said the House Republicans' principles on immigration policy have a "refreshing virtue of candor" in denying undocumented immigrants the right to vote. Clinton was speaking at the Clinton Global Initiative America three-day forum in Denver Wednesday.
"The House put out some principles last year which basically...said what we're trying to do is figure out a plan that would allow these people to stay here and work, earn money, and pay taxes as long as they don't vote...which is you know, a refreshing virtue of candor."
Clinton was referring to principles the House Republicans introduced to their conference in January. The principles stress that Republicans remain opposed to a comprehensive immigration bill, like the one passed last year in the Senate stating that there would be no "special path" to citizenship, writing instead that people living in the country illegally will be able to do so "without fear."
"There will be no special path to citizenship for individuals who broke our nation's immigration laws – that would be unfair to those immigrants who have played by the rules and harmful to promoting the rule of law. Rather, these persons could live legally and without fear in the U.S., but only if they were willing to admit their culpability, pass rigorous background checks, pay significant fines and back taxes, develop proficiency in English and American civics, and be able to support themselves and their families (without access to public benefits)."