Thread: Kobach: Bill is amnesty for workers (Kansas amnesty fight)

Kobach: Bill is amnesty for workers

The Hutchinson News
By John Hanna - Associated Press

TOPEKA -- Kansas business groups asked legislators Monday to set up a program for placing illegal immigrants in hard-to-fill jobs in agriculture and other industries as a House committee kicked off a week of hearings that are likely to highlight divisions among majority Republicans.

The Federal and State Affairs Committee scheduled two days of testimony on a bill drafted by a coalition that includes agriculture groups and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, and their measure also drew support from immigrant rights advocates. They said the proposal represents a realistic approach to dealing with an estimated 45,000 illegal immigrant workers in Kansas.

But the committee also planned to begin hearings Wednesday on four bills backed by Secretary of State Kris Kobach and his allies, designed to discourage illegal immigrants from staying in Kansas. Kobach, a Republican, is a former law professor who helped draft tough laws in Alabama and Arizona.

Kobach criticized the bill backed by the business coalition as an amnesty measure for illegal immigrants and predicted it can't pass the House, where his fellow GOP conservatives are in the majority. But the state chamber is a major player in Republican politics, and the agriculture groups joining it not only lean toward the GOP but have strong influence among rural lawmakers.

Chairman Steve Brunk, a Bel Aire Republican, said he's not yet sure which approach the committee will embrace. Republicans could become so split that none of the immigration bills ultimately pass -- a dynamic that's already prevented Kobach from seeing legislative successes in his home state even as he helps lawmakers in others.

"It's an issue that kind of crosses unusual political lines," Brunk said.

The new program proposed by the business groups would create a pool of immigrant workers that businesses could tap after the state certifies a labor shortage in their industries. The state would support individual workers' requests from the federal government for authorization to continue working in the U.S., despite not being able to document that they are in the country legally.

The measure is designed to help commercial dairies and feedlots in western Kansas, as well as landscaping, roofing and some construction businesses.

Eric Stafford, a state chamber lobbyist, described the proposal as an alternative to "harmful" legislation that would hurt the economy -- a reference to the laws in Alabama and Arizona. Religious leaders called the business coalition's bill compassionate.

"This could be a model bill for other states to follow," Rep. Reynaldo Mesa, a Garden City Republican, said as he testified in favor of the measure. "This is not about amnesty. This is not about citizenship. This is about dealing with reality."

But Kobach said during an interview that the bill is an amnesty proposal because it would allow illegal immigrants to stay in Kansas. He said it makes little sense to direct them into hard-to-fill jobs when U.S. citizens who are out of work collect unemployment and benefits from the state.

"It seems to me we'd all be better off if these jobs went to U.S. citizens," Kobach said.

And some legislators want to pursue Alabama- or Arizona-style measures, arguing that their constituents are frustrated with the federal government's failure to check illegal immigration.

Starting Wednesday, the committee will consider two bills that would require state and local government agencies and government contractors to use the federal e-Verify program to check the status of new workers.

A third measure would make it a crime to knowingly harbor an illegal immigrant and require applicants for government assistance to provide proof that they're in the U.S. legally. A fourth bill would direct law enforcement officers to check the status of people they stop for other reasons if there is a "reasonable suspicion" that the people stopped may be in the U.S. illegally.

Kobach said such measures represent attempts by the state to ensure that existing laws on immigration are enforced. But Lalo Munoz, director of the Latino Information Network of Kansas, said the goal is to make life in Kansas "unbearable" so that illegal immigrants leave.


Source: The Hutchinson News: Kobach: Bill is amnesty for workers

RELATED ALIPAC ACTIVIST News ..

Illegal Immigration Invasion Supporters Are Pushing for Amnesty Bill in 2 states


KANSAS

WARNING: Some Illegal Immigration invasion supporters in the Kansas legislature are moving to pass a form of state level AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS joining Utah which is currently the only state to do so.

Stop Amnesty in Kansas by getting on the phones with ALIPAC supporters from every state.

Step 1: Read and understand and share this article.
AMNESTY WARNING: Debate starts in Kansas Legislature on illegal immigration

http://www.alipac.us/content/amnesty...migration-172/

Step 2: Craft your own distinct version of ALIPAC's strategic message.

"Dear ______: I am calling/writing today to ask you to oppose this state level Amnesty for illegal aliens in Kansas. Please oppose and stop the Amnesty House Bill 2712. A huge majority of your legal American constituents oppose this bill which is supported by fringe business and religious leaders looking to profit from the illegal alien invasion of America. Kansas voters are going to be shocked when they find out which Kansas lawmakers are supporting Amnesty and the illegal alien invasion of America on Election Day 2012. We will be working hard to inform them of which lawmakers support HB 2712. Please do the right thing and stand with your American constituents against Amnesty bill 2712."

Kansas Lawmakers (Focus on House first)
Legislators | Kansas State Legislature


Please put in as much time as possible on these state campaigns. If you run out of things to do or you have failed to take action to stop licenses for illegal aliens in New Mexico then visit our past email alert to put in the work that must be done to stop and reverse the illegal immigration INVASION of America.

New Mexico effort...
National Battle Against Illegal Immigration Hinges on New Mexico Today: Take Action

We are also happy to see that those we helped in Arizona to pass SB 1070 are now defending and arguing before the Supreme Court for more bills like this which constitute DEFENSE FROM INVASION!

Supremes told Arizona law repels 'invasion'

http://www.alipac.us/content/supreme...-invasion-171/

If the Supreme Court rules our way on this in April, we will get enforcement legislation up in many states, we just have to protect our bills early in the year.

The ALIPAC Team
www.alipac.us

#KS Forums for Justice - View Single Post - #KS http://bit.ly/fOcrJl

#NM Forums for Justice - View Single Post - #NM http://bit.ly/edNfJL

#AZ Forums for Justice - View Single Post - #AZ http://bit.ly/hObNL7

FEDERAL ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ACTION ALERTS MENU: Californians for Population Stabilization - Issues and Legislation

Kansas Representatives
Kansas State Senators and House Reps. contact info.

KANSAS LAWMAKER CONTACT INFORMATION:

STATE HOUSE: House | Kansas State Legislature
House | Kansas State Legislature

STATE SENATE: Senate | Kansas State Legislature
Senate | Kansas State Legislature

Kansas: US House of Representatives



Huelskamp, Tim 202-225-2715
119 W IRON AVE
SALINA KS 67401-2600
https://forms.house.gov/huelskamp/we..._contact.shtml
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Twitter

Jenkins, Lynn 202-225-6601
1001 N BROADWAY ST
PITTSBURG KS 66762-3956
Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins : Contact Me
Lynn Jenkins - Wall | Facebook
Twitter

Yoder, Kevin 202-225-2865
7325 W 79TH ST
OVERLAND PARK KS 66204-2908
https://yoderforms.house.gov/email-me
Congressman Kevin Yoder | Facebook
Twitter

Pompeo, Mike 202-225-6216
7701 E KELLOGG DR
WICHITA KS 67207-1706
https://pompeo.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
Congressman Mike Pompeo | Facebook
Twitter

Kansas
Huelskamp, Tim R 202-225-2715 67501
Jenkins, Lynn R 202-225-6601 66762
Yoder, Kevin R 202-225-2865 66204
Pompeo, Mike R 202-225-6216 67207

United States Senate for Kansas:
Moran, Jerry - (R - KS)
354 RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-6521
Moran, Jerry (202) 224-6521 Wichita, KS 67226
E-mail Jerry - United States Senator Jerry Moran
Twitter
Jerry Moran - Government Official - Washington, DC | Facebook
Roberts, Pat - (R - KS)
109 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-4774
Roberts, Pat (202) 224-4774 Overland Park, KS 66210
E-mail Pat - Contact - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts
Twitter
Pat Roberts - Wall | Facebook