Mitt Romney Speaks to Local Republican Party

Published Thursday, May 24, 2007
Mitt Romney Speaks to Local Republican Party

By Bill Rufty
LAKELAND -- The immigration bill now before Congress must be rewritten so that it does not reward the 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney told a crowd of 305 at the Polk County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner in Lakeland this evening.

Although he refused to use the word “amnesty,” as other opponents of the current immigration bill have, Romney said he doesn’t mind if illegal immigrants apply for legal work visas, but not before those who have obeyed the law by staying in their own country to apply have done so first.The specifics of whether they should go back to their countries of origin to apply for a visa or pay a fine can be worked out after first securing the borders and developing a system for determining the legality of an immigrant employee, he said.It was the second year in a row that the local Republican Party has hosted a major national GOP figure at its annual dinner.

U.S. Sen. John McCain, who like Romney is running for the Republican nomination for president, was the keynote speaker last year.Romney also said that the early presidential primary date for Florida makes the state an important, multiple stop for all candidates. Florida moved its primary in 2008 from March to January.For the complete story of Romney’s speech and press conference, see Friday’s edition of The Ledger.