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Reminding the group that Congress failed twice in the past three years to overhaul the nation's immigration laws, McCain said he did not want to try a third time until the government can "prove we have the resources to secure our borders and use them." At the beginning of his speech, a heckler who yelled to stop the war and to bring home the troops. McCain paused and resumed speaking after the heckler and another woman were removed from the ballroom. He also took five questions from the audience, including three on the subject of immigration. In his remarks, McCain said the two failed bills, which he supported, would have dealt "practically and humanely" with illegal immigrants "without excusing the fact they came here illegally or granting them privileges before those who have been waiting their turn outside the country." Critics of the 2006 bill he backed, however, said it would have granted just such privileges to some illegal immigrants. It would have allowed those who have been in the country five years or more to remain, continue working and eventually become legal permanent residents and citizens after paying at least $3,250 in fines and fees and back taxes and learning English. Obama told the La Raza gathering Sunday that he supports up to a 50 percent tax credit for small businesses providing health insurance to their employees, a program he hopes has special appeal to Hispanics and other minority groups struggling for a toehold in the U.S. economy. ___ On the Net: McCain: http://www.johnmccain.com/
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