Hardball Politics on the Save Act?

So sayeth the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps... Once again the SAVE Act is a bill, sponsored by former qb and current NC Congressman Heath Shuler, which would among other things set up a system where all employees would be identified and matched up against a central database so that employers can make sure that all their employees are legal. Here is a quick summary of how it would work...

SAVE would eventually require every employee in America to go through the E-Verify system. This internet system provides employers with an inexpensive, quick, and accurate way to verify that employees are not illegal aliens. The rules for use are such that no employee or employer suffers if there is a mistake in the system because there is ample time to correct errors on the employee's side and on the government's side.

Now, I have some reservations about the potential new bloated bureaucracy that this would create, however on paper this is by far the most sensible and productive bill dealing with illegal immigration that we have. Not only that, it is supported by an eclectic group of politicians and activist ranging from Latino groups to Tom Tancredo to John Murtha.

This bill should be on the fast track to becoming legislation. So why is it withering away in committee? The Minutemen have a theory. Here is a bit of an email I received...

Speaker Pelosi and her cronies are doing everything they can to keep House Democrats from signing a discharge petition that would bring the bi-partisan SAVE ACT (H.R. 4088) to a vote on the House floor. House rules require 218 Congressmen to sign the petition in order for a vote to occur, but only a handful of House Democrats have been brave enough to oppose Pelosi in order to save our country from the dangers of an open border and lax enforcement of our immigration laws.

As of this writing, only 150 Congressmen have added their names to the discharge petition in hopes of moving a vote this week, before the start of their two-week Easter recess. Some original co-sponsors of this bill have not added their names to the petition, for fear of reprisals by the House Democratic Leadership.

At least 69 Congressmen still need to sign the discharge petition in order for a vote to be held this week.

Now, it goes without saying that the Minutemen and Pelosi are bitter political rivals. They are nothing if not without an agenda. That said, this bill has been around since September. It was created by a Democrat. There is absolutely no reason why this bill shouldn't have seen a floor vote by now...unless the leadership doesn't want it. That is the clear implication of the email. Keep in mind the quasi amnesty DREAM Act saw a full legislature vote. If the leadership insists on seeing amnesty bills get votes, they should also allow enforcement bills the same luxury.