Politico: Lawmaker takes red pen to immigration letter

Rep. Mark Takano, a former high school teacher, took a red pen to a letter about immigration reform some of his Republican colleagues were circulating.

 

The California Democrat “graded” the two-page unsigned letter, giving it an F and asking the writers to “see me after votes,” posting a copy on his Tumblr page.

 

He was okay with the first sentence, “Our immigration system is broken and in need of serious reform,” saying it was a “strong thesis.”

 

Even when the Republicans said they wanted a secure border, interior enforcement and a streamlined and modern system, Takano wrote in the margin, “seems like you support the Senate bill which addresses all of this.”

 

Takano took the most issue with claims in the letter that lack evidence.

 

When the letter says not all of the senators read their immigration bill, Takano underlined it and asked for evidence. When the letter writers wrote they were “disturbed by the secret and underhanded way” the bill was being handled, it again got called out by Takano’s red pen for lacking evidence.

 

The letter writers were clear saying they oppose, “any effort to pass immigration reform in one large comprehensive bill.” Takano shot back,”Please argue policy, not procedure!”

 

And he wasn’t letting the letter writers get off without a redo.

 

“Weak draft, re do: include evidence, remove tawdry allegations, address pathway issue,” he wrote.

 

And he assigned another task.

 

“The assignment was to address what should be done about the 11 million people already here. Did you purposefully leave it out? If you don’t understand the bill — come by my office and I’ll explain it.”