President speaks on immigration in Brunswick

President George Bush was in coastal Georgia Tuesday to push for an immigration bill that many in his own party are divided on. The President spoke in Brunswick at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, which trains border patrol and immigration agents, among other federal officers. Bush directly addressed his G-O-P critics, saying the bill currently before Congress is tough on illegal immigrants--requiring fines, back taxes and other provisions before they gain legal status.

"This is not an amnesty bill" Bush said. "If you want to scare the American people, what you say is, the bill's an amnesty bill. That's empty political rhetoric trying to frighten our fellow citizens".

Bush noted Georgia agriculture as one aspect of the economy which depends on a steady supply of immigrant workers. He said sending 12-million illegal immigrants back home is not an option.

Concerning the wildfires in southern Georgia and northern Florida, Bush pledged federal aid to help battle the blazes. So far, it has cost over 45-million dollars to fight the fires. The blazes have charred over 580-thousand acres in Georgia and Florida since starting in mid-April.