Oberweis dumps helicopter for fireplace in new TV spot

Jim Oberweis has traded in his helicopter flying over Soldier Field for a cozy spot in front of a roaring fireplace.

But the conservative Republican's message is the same in his current campaign as it was in a previous campaign: America needs to crack down on illegal immigration.

The Sugar Grove millionaire seeking to represent the 14th Congressional District released a detailed border security plan Thursday. The plan was the subject of what is expected to the first of many TV campaign commercials, also unveiled Thursday on his Web site, JimOberweis.com.

"Providing for the security of the American homeland must be, as it always has been, the federal government's top priority -- and securing our borders is a fundamental element of that task," he said in a news conference.

During his run for the U.S. Senate three years ago, the dairy magnate stirred up controversy with a commercial in which he flew over Soldier Field and said 10,000 illegal immigrants -- "enough to fill Soldier Field every single week," he claimed -- infiltrate the United States on a daily basis.

The plan unveiled Thursday seeks to: finish building a border fence, construct more detention facilities, hire more Border Patrol and Drug Enforcement Administration agents, deputize local and state law enforcement officials to assist Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, create a national database to track all foreign workers and student visa holders, issue biometric identity cards to all foreign visa holders, toughen sanctions against employers who hire illegal immigrants, and make English the country's official language.

Oberweis didn't estimate how much it would cost to implement his ideas, but said it would be "dramatically less than what we're spending today to maintain security."

State Sen. Chris Lauzen, one of three Republicans running against Oberweis, pointed to actions he has taken at the state level to crack down on illegal immigration. He voted against one proposal that allows illegal immigrants to receive tuition discounts at Illinois colleges and another that would have allowed illegal immigrants to obtain drivers licenses.

"My record is of actually sponsoring the legislation to stop encouraging (illegal immigration) by providing benefits to people who break the law," said Lauzen, who represents Aurora. "He has campaign promises. I have a public service record."

Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns said Oberweis' newest proposals echo those made during his Senate campaign.

"If you listen closely you can almost hear the propellers of his helicopter starting up again," he said.

The fourth GOP candidate, Michael Dilger of Evanston, could not be reached for comment.