I often complain on this blog about the lack of effort on the border and the destructive effects of illegal immigration - and rightly so. But as Assemblyman Bill Emmerson (who does have a small portion of Riverside County) points out in this article from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin a few days ago, one solution that is critical to solving the border problem is to improve the Mexican economy.

Mexico's President is obviously critical to that effort and the new President, Felipe Calderon is at least talking a much better game than his predecessor former President Vincente Fox.

Fox was so far to the left and so rabidly open borders that he wouldn't even meet with Republican members of the Senate and Assembly in a 2006 Sacramento visit.

Calderon not only was happy to meet with all members in the legislature, but delivered gems like, "Mexico does not encourage migration out of its country," and "no Mexican should need to leave Mexico for work."

He followed up by talking about the trade between CA and Mexico and vowed to make a stronger commitment to environmental issues.  Emmerson is right that this is especially important because this is REAL pollution that is doing REAL environmental damage.  I would imagine this pollution puts the stuff American enviros complain about, like a new housing tract, to shame.

And in an effort to get tougher on crime and reduce corruption, Calderon ordered pay raises for the federal police and the armed forces and "immediately ordered massive raids on drug cartels."

"By January 2007, the first major arrest of a drug cartel leader was complete and the following day, in a controversial move, the Calderon government announced the extradition of several drug gang leaders to the United States."

To all my Minutemen friends out their, you are right, Calderon is still no Tom Tancredo.  But I agree with Assemblyman Emmerson, he is a big improvement on the last guy.

Calderon Sends the Right Message

By Assemblyman Bill Emmerson
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - 2/23/08

Mexico's new President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa traveled to Sacramento recently to address a joint session of the California Legislature. His speech offered a refreshing change in tone from that of his predecessor's visit to Sacramento in May 2006.
    
When former President Vincente Fox addressed the Legislature in 2006, he refused to meet with Republican members of the Assembly and Senate. Conversely, President Calderon was most willing and gracious to meet with both Republican and Democratic members. From the beginning, President Calderon invoked a positive tone and illustrated his willingness to work with all members of the Legislature, showing his commitment to solving problems.

In his speech, President Calderon pledged his cooperation with the United States and California, stressing that collaboration between our two nations would lead to a safer border. President Calderon expressed emphatically that Mexico does not encourage migration out of its country because Mexico loses resources and families are separated, which causes increased problems.

He reiterated that Mexico wants to increase opportunities for its citizens and that migration inhibited that objective. I was especially encouraged when he pronounced that his administration is committed to promoting sustainable development so that "no Mexican should need to leave Mexico for work." ...

...Overall, I was extremely impressed by President Calderon and welcomed much of what he had to say. Whereas I was disheartened after listening to former President Fox's speech to the Legislature in 2006, President Calderon left me feeling optimistic about future relations between the U.S. and Mexico.

Calderon focused on solving problems, and I look forward to seeing the reforms he spoke of materialize, because a healthy Mexico would benefit both of our countries.

Assemblyman Bill Emmerson, R-Rancho Cucamonga, represents the 63rd District, which includes Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga and Upland.