I’ve repeatedly predicted that the National Commission on Financial Responsibility and Reform (NCFRR) would serve mainly as a Trojan horse for massive, broad tax hikes.  Who knew that the so-called “deficit commission” would also become a stalking horse for … immigration reform?  The Hill reports on the latest Democratic mission statement from the NCFRR:

Democrats want immigration reform on the table as the White House fiscal commission examines ways to reduce deficits, saying there is a “credible connection” between the issue and the country’s fiscal situation.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Andy Stern and Rep. Xavier Becerra (Calif.), both Democrats on the bipartisan fiscal commission, said reforms giving the 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States a chance to stay in the U.S. legally could boost the economy and thereby help pay down the debt.

Uh, sure.  Why not add amnesty to a debate over tax hikes and spending cuts?  May as well toss religion and sports into the mix as well.  Republicans responded with well-tempered disbelief:

Republicans expressed skepticism over adding immigration to the commission’s already substantial portfolio. The panel already is tasked with looking at tax, spending and entitlement policies to find a way to reduce deficits.

“The fiscal commission is supposed to focus on fiscal policy, which in my opinion is entitlement spending” but also involves discretionary spending and tax revenues, said Sen. Judd Gregg (N.H.), one of the panel’s six congressional Republican members.

Let’s parse this out a little.  The immigration problem has existed for decades, during which time we have had deficits and surpluses.  We now face annual budget deficits of over a trillion dollars this year and into the foreseeable future.  Those came as Democrats increased federal spending by over a trillion dollars a year in a three-year span of controlling Congress.  Under those circumstances, which correlates better to the deficit — illegal immigrants or Democratic spending?

Besides, doesn’t blaming deficits on illegal immigrants qualify as hatred?  Who knew the Democrats on the NCFRR were such bigots?  Someone call Contessa Brewer stat!  I kid, I kid, but that’s no more ridiculous than insisting on back-dooring amnesty under the rubric of deficit reduction.