Tipsheet

Amnesty Lite: (Less Carbs Than Amstel Light)

Mitt Romney isn't sure what amnesty is -- or if the Immigration bill is, in fact, amnesty.

As the Sioux City Journal reports, he referred to it as "amnesty Lite" (which sounds to me like a refreshing drink) ...

Asked his definition of amnesty, Romney said "it is such a loaded term and we probably ought to get a lawyer to say. And I understand that in some respects this (SB 1348) is not technically amnesty, because it does come with some penalty. It comes with a $5,000 penalty, so technically lawyers would probably tell us that's not amnesty. On the other hand, it has one of the key features of amnesty -- and one that I find not fair -- that is, that everyone would be allowed to stay indefinitely. Whether or not that is technically amnesty, it is amnesty-lite, amnesty in form, and it is something which I don't support."

For more on the amnesty debate, check out Peggy Noonan's column.