You're watching...
Wall Street Journal senior economics writer Steve Moore on Obama's immigration plan and the Keystone Pipeline.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
And just as members of congress on both sides -- -- -- good morning everybody on this President's Day this is both a members of both parties are working.
On some sort of bipartisan.
Emigration bill.
A copy of president Obama's plan has been leaked.
One part of it illegal immigrants would be allowed to become legal permanent residents of this country within eight years.
Senator Marco Rubio had this to say.
It's actually proposed the president's bill would be dead on arrival in congress leaving us with unsecured borders.
And a broken legal immigration system for years to -- Steve Moore is -- -- economics writer -- the Wall Street Journal he joins us now from Washington DC.
Do you think this White House plan though despite the tough language from the likes of senator rubio.
Really does throw a wrench into reaching any kind of bipartisan agreement.
I dig any I do I -- I think this was a real setback because this is very delicate negotiations I'm very pro immigration myself I think you do need to find a way to a lot more immigrants into this country and -- -- have a way that people been here.
Can have some kind of path to legalization.
But you know that has to be coupled with some kind of tougher border security if you're gonna get Republican votes every one knows that -- again.
And for summaries of the presence basically saying all we're not gonna move forward with the border security but we are gonna move forward with these other elements of the bill and date and I think that's -- Keller I think it goes nowhere and I think Marco Rubio -- -- right.
That Republicans simply will not vote for.
What could only just ignore it why -- -- in the first place in Washington there's always a reason.
That thanks -- -- out why would it compound.
At this juncture because the groups on the left don't -- border security of this of this was kind of olive branch.
To the out left wing groups out there who do not want more border security they'd they'd they'd -- to -- these groups favor illegal immigration itself.
I think the president was trying to basically reach out to his lap blanket say look we're not going to -- You know make it tougher for people get into this country illegally I really think it comes down to politics -- What he what if the president wants decide to continue this if the president wants to side with the unions.
There's also that the second part of the president's plan that Republicans must really hate.
Is the fact it doesn't lay out -- say guest worker program for low skilled workers in this country say to fill jobs.
That Americans and legal residents don't want.
Because again the unions have opposed this time and again and businesses are in favor of it this is an even bigger issue is it not -- -- business community.
-- huge this is the one that the business community has been talking about -- for five or ten years that they need the guest workers they agriculture industry needs they.
And I guest workers for not doing they give up crops and then picking crops -- the fruits and vegetables you've got by the -- of the service industries they got hospitals the hotels the restaurants need need those workers and so you're right the unions don't like that increased stock.
Labor force but you know this all makes me wonder -- -- you know just a cut to the chase here.
What the president really wants to get this done you know there are a lot of Republicans who believe and I don't know where the president really stands on this but.
But a lot of Republicans believe he just wants to use this issue immigration.
As a political issue to get Hispanic vote rather than the solve the problem and when I saw that leaked report -- -- I it made me think maybe this president really doesn't wanna get a bill side.
-- -- wall street journal editorial page pointed out this was his that immigration was the one exception.
To a partisan agenda that the president has proposed -- they don't move sit right there I'm gonna touch on something else now want your reaction broke OPEC.
So tens of thousands you probably saw this video tens of thousands of protesters crowded the National Mall in Washington DC yesterday.
To protest plans for the Keystone Pipeline they are urged the president to halt plans on the project an honor his inaugural pledge to act.
On climate change.
Now if it gets approved the Keystone Pipeline would carry oil from Canada and oil sands.
Down to refineries.
In Texas along the Gulf Coast and increase Canadian imports of crude into this country and not take -- wall listen that's.
Two thirds of what we currently import.
From the much less friendly country of Venezuela Steve Moore is still standing by.
Again this is an issue of the unions want this because it would create jobs but this is -- -- big decision for the president.
Does he side with the environmental groups is supported him in two elections.
Or does he side with energy independence.
But this certainly shouldn't be a tough decision and in this really is about as close to a -- -- and her from a policy standpoint as you can possibly think up I mean the president always talks about infrastructure right.
-- they talked about that over and over again in this us state of the union speech he rice talks about union jobs this is all this is infrastructure this -- union jobs something like 3000 union jobs and by the way the great thing about -- they -- -- it doesn't cost a penny to the taxpayers because it's all privately -- now here's the problem with those with the environmentalist argument even if you agree with the promise that global warming is a big problem that somehow this oil is gonna contribute to global warming.
You know what if -- if it's not consumed here.
It's going to be consumed somewhere else it's not like the oil and gas is gonna go away date and so.
I don't think that the about miles from really thought this through I think they're just trying to close down oil and gas development in North America I wish I don't think they don't want it.
Canada has said point blank this oil will go to China there will be -- I'm there with much.
It's -- with much to lose our environmental standards on refineries in that nation.
But two point of Canada.
Mean not to make fun of our northern neighbors but.
Do you really wanna make the it would make this country mad because the kind of Canada has made it clear it could retaliate against the US our biggest trading partner and and our most important trading partner and we do we need to be worried about.
-- -- Well that's a great question I mean look we did their part of NAFTA right and -- you're exactly right most Americans don't realize that our number what -- Trade partner is not you know as -- it is Canada and -- we have obviously very good relations with down.
And I just don't really understand the rationale of not building a senate.
There were some environmental concerns remember in Nebraska about whether this pipeline would go through some of the water well first they've solved all those problems and that was actually the first resent the President Obama gave for not building -- made his first term.
That problem has been resolved.
Now I see no reasons other then.
Kowtowing to the very radical -- -- and not bringing these jobs in the -- to America.
Thank you so much stay more from the Wall Street Journal too hot issues great insight thanks against -- -- -- -- --
