(Cross-posted, in slightly different format, at Daily Kos.)

Sure, fine, okay-- global warming exists after all... but only to the extent that it's one more thing we can blame on the immigrants.

Such is the fascinating scholarship now offered to us by the brilliant minds at the Center for Immigration Studies.

Luckily, we have America's Voice-- a group I've had the pleasure of working with, a group doing everything it can to combat this inanity and work toward the sort of sensible, humane, comprehensive policy that American citizens have been calling out for.

In my first diary here about America's Voice, I wrote about the group's name. Then I wrote about one particularly odious band of racists who oppose our agenda...

There's more...

(Cross-posted on Daily Kos)

Last week I was here talking about America's Voice, with whom I'm working to  foster a dialogue about a sensible and humane immigration policy that works for everyone.

We got a pretty good discussion going in the comment thread, but it would have been great to get more perspectives involved.

Here's the thing: there are people who make the topic uncomfortable for civilized discourse because they speak with a snarl when they discuss immigration. They are bullies: they love nothing more than to shout louder than the next person to convince themselves they've won an argument. They speak as though there were something wrong with the people who come here to improve their lives and contribute to the wonderful tapestry of cultures that is modern American society. They've got their opinions, and they've got their anecdotes, and most importantly they've got their fear.

There's more...

Last month I posted my suggestions for the incoming Democratic Congress on tax policy.  Yesterday the DCCC sent out an email surveying us on what we want the House to do in its first 100 hours.  Ignoring the timeframe, I added below some more actions our newly Democratic Congress should take in 2007-08--please take the survey yourself and send them these suggestions!  (Or just include the ones you like :)  I know I'm a bit of an inside the Beltway policy wonk, so I'm happy to explain anything or answer questions.  Thanks!

ban racial profiling, pass the Innocence Protection Act (DNA testing before someone is executed), ENDA (bans employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (formerly known as the Hate Crimes Prevention Act), end asbtinence-only "education", lift the cap on wages taxed for Social Security, update the 1978 Gas Guzzler Tax so it applies to all cars getting less than 25 mpg, raise fuel efficiency standards to 40mpg, raise the tobacco tax, give the FDA authority to regulate nicotine as a drug, fully fund NCLB, IDEA, Head Start, the Child Care Development Block Grant, and Section 8 (rental housing vouchers for the poor), extend paid FMLA coverage to workplaces of 25+ employees, restore the Clinton ergonomics rule, enact mental health parity, pass clean elections law, cut the Defense Dept, increase Pell Grants and Stafford Loans--not regressive tax deductions for tuition, spend more on rail and other transit and less on air and highway travel, BAN earmarks, create progressive Individual Development Accounts, create an affordable housing trust fund, pass the Kennedy-DeLauro sick leave bill.

DO NOT BE WIMPS!  Pass good bills and force Bush to sign or veto them!

There's more...