Huh? Michigan's REPUBLICAN governor wants the state more welcoming to immigrants?

[alp227]

Found this blog post from Reform Immigration for America reporting that Rick Snyder, the Republican governor of Michigan, said in his State of the State address: "Immigration made us a great state and country. We need to be a place that openly encourages investors and entrepreneurs to come to our state."

I lived in Michigan until 1997 the summer before I began 1st grade, since then I've lived in California, with an Austrian immigrant, former bodybuilder, and actor as a Republican governor from 2003-2010.

Reform Immigration relays a statement from the Alliance for Immigrants' Rights: "...the big question is: what will the Governor do?" I've heard on DU that Snyder is pretty conservative (compared to California's rather moderate Arnold Schwarzenegger) so what do you think about Snyder's statement? If he wanted to rally his conservative base I'd doubt he'd say something like this because that'd rile up "sellout! socialist! RINO!" cries from the local teabaggers.

[marmar]

1. He's a corporate Repug for sure.....but socially much more moderate.

He's definitely out of step with the Repug mainstream.

[butterfly77]

2. for now...

[du_da]

3. I don't see the conflict

the current push from cons is anti-illegal immigration. To prevent backlash they are very vocal that this doesn't apply to legal immigrants. So the governor is covered by saying immigrants so long as he refrains from inviting illegals.

[customerserviceguy]

4. The key words are 'investors and entrepreneurs'

Not the same person as your great-grandpa who came to these shores without more than a few bucks in his pocket. And certainly not those who come here to do farm work, and send the money back to their relatives at home.

[alp227]

5. so I guess Snyder wouldn't support the DREAM Act.

ETA: Or maybe it's code for Canadians?

[customerserviceguy]

6. Probably not

Maybe it's code for rich Canadians.