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12-30-2010, 09:50 PM #1
Showdown Expected in Kansas Over Immigration Laws
Showdown Expected in Kansas Over Immigration Laws
Published December 30, 2010
Kansas is one of many states looking into requiring employers to use e-verify, a federal program through which employers check government databases to confirm whether a prospective worker is authorized to work in the United States.
Kansas is expected to join a growing number of states whose lawmakers plan to introduce an Arizona-style law on immigration in the new legislative session.
But the state's largest business organization is preparing to put up a fierce fight.
Kansas legislators expect next year to push for legislation that would crack down on illegal immigrants and discourage businesses from hiring them. Earlier this year, Arizona passed the nation's toughest state-level immigration law, parts of which are being challenged in federal court.
One of the top legal minds in that movement is about to take office as Kansas' secretary of state, and he said he's ready to advise lawmakers.
But strong opposition is expected from the state's business community, particularly the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. Gov.-elect Sam Brownback also is cool to sweeping immigration proposals, preferring to focus on the state's budget woes and creating jobs.
The chamber's resistance creates an odd political dynamic in a Republican-leaning state with large GOP majorities in its Legislature and, soon, no Democrats in statewide elective office. Some legislators advocating the low-tax, small-government agenda favored by the chamber will be fighting the state's largest business group on immigration.
So far, the state chamber has prevailed. But advocates of get-tough measures like those instituted in Arizona believe they're tapping into national frustration with federal inaction and expect pressure to build on the Legislature after it opens its annual session and Brownback is sworn in Jan. 10.
"A few interest groups who are plugged into the legislative process can derail something," said Secretary of State-elect Kris Kobach, a law professor on leave who's gained national attention for working on immigration issues with legislators in other states, including Arizona. "But ultimately, I think you find that, in end, if the people of a state really want a statute, it eventually happens."
The Kansas Chamber has focused its opposition on proposals requiring employers to verify that workers are in the U.S. legally and fining companies or taking away their licenses if they hire illegal immigrants.
Chamber officials argue those laws can impose draconian punishments for unintentional mistakes. Kent Beisner, the Kansas Chamber's president and chief executive officer, also said if Kansas enacts rules and other states don't, Kansas will find it harder to attract and keep businesses.
"We want to be as competitive as we can be," Beisner said.
Many legislators saw the chamber as a big reason why Kansas' last attempt to enact a sweeping immigration law that included penalties for employers failed in 2008. The House and Senate were negotiating a final version but couldn't agree.
"There were at least a number of business interests that simply did not want to see any meaningful immigration reform bill that dealt with the employment issue," said state Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican who helped lead the push in 2008.
The nonprofit, Washington-based Pew Hispanic Center estimates that 65,000 immigrants in Kansas were among the 11.1 million in the U.S. illegally in 2009. The center also estimates that 50,000 Kansas workers, about 3 percent of the total, are illegal immigrants. It says the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. has dropped in the past few years.
State legislators nationwide have grown less willing to wait on the federal government to address the issue. The National Conference of State Legislatures said that in the first half of 2010, state lawmakers considered almost 1,400 immigration proposals four times as many as five years ago.
Kobach helped write this year's law in Arizona empowering police to question anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally, a policy some Kansas lawmakers hope to enact in their state. He also was involved in drafting a 2008 Missouri law that penalizes businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Kinzer said he and other legislators are interested in not only those measures, but also repealing a state law that gives some illegal immigrants a break on tuition at state universities and colleges.
And Kobach campaigned successfully on a promise that he'll seek a law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls and proof of citizenship when they register to vote for the first time in a new place.
Groups providing services and advocating for immigrants worry about how such proposals would hurt families with some members in the U.S. legally and others illegally.
They argue legislators would do better to provide immigrants with help in gaining citizenship.
"We have short-term memories about the contributions of immigrants to this country," said Mary Lou Jaramillo, president and CEO of El Centro Inc., a Kansas City, Kan.-based social service and advocacy group.
Brownback has endorsed Kobach's voter ID and proof-of-citizenship. But he said other immigration measures adopted elsewhere are still being challenged in court.
"I don't think we should be going at it going at those areas that are in the middle of litigation," he said during a recent interview.
Meanwhile, the chamber's resistance is important because it's a major player in state politics. The chamber and its political action committee have reported spending more than $1.1 million on lobbying and campaign-related activities in the past six years.
One vice president and lobbyist, Jeff Glendening, is a former member of the state House majority leader's staff. A former lobbyist, Rachelle Colombo, left the House majority leader's staff to join the chamber and then earlier this month became chief of staff to House Speaker Mike O'Neal, a Hutchinson Republican.
And, of course, lawmakers have listened to its arguments in the past.
"Immigration should be resolved at the federal level," Beisner said. "It hasn't been addressed there, and I think that's where it needs to be addressed."
This is based on an Associated Press story.
Read more: http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politi ... z19eLonrMwSupport our FIGHT AGAINST illegal immigration & Amnesty by joining our E-mail Alerts at http://eepurl.com/cktGTn
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12-30-2010, 10:34 PM #2
I am hoping Kansas cracks down hard on illegals. I know they are destroying the public school system in Wichita Ks by making demands on the system to serve only them
"When you have knowledge,you have a responsibility to do better"_ Paula Johnson
"I did then what I knew to do. When I knew better,I did better"_ Maya Angelou
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12-30-2010, 10:46 PM #3Originally Posted by uniteasone
THe NYC school are bad they have so many of the illegal immigrant In Our school we don't like it they have no birth paper . they want every thing free
No AmnestyJoin our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
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12-30-2010, 11:16 PM #4
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We need more states ready and willing to enact tough illegal alien laws like the few we have heard of.
They should also make and release publically a list of the big business's complaining about the proposed tougher illegal laws so the people know who to hold responsible and can hold that business accountable.
Still I think it would be best for all these states to come together and try and coordinate specific bills together in each state to be unison. But in the end we will still need federal legislation to stop the curb because a few states are likely just out of reach w/o federal legislation such as Cal and NY for instance. Eventually all the illegals will end up there where they prosper and get it in state laws to grant them everything so they are legal to go elsewhere.
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12-31-2010, 12:55 AM #5"We have short-term memories about the contributions of immigrants to this country," said Mary Lou Jaramillo, president and CEO of El Centro Inc., a Kansas City, Kan.-based social service and advocacy group.
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12-31-2010, 04:43 AM #6Originally Posted by Syanis------------------------
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12-31-2010, 05:47 AM #7
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Originally Posted by mkfarnam
"The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall
propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the
Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for
proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and
Purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of
three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths
thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress"
A check that was established to help prevent corrupt federal government from getting stuff done. Unsure how it would work far as regular laws but least an amendment such as...
Children of Illegals do not recieve birth citizenship, and something like it being barred from Political and Judicial officers supporting non Citizens rights over Citizens rights. Being seen as supporting foreign nationals over Citizens being grounds for impeachment.
Probably a better chance of getting that done that way then waiting for congress to ever get something done properly.
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12-31-2010, 10:04 AM #8
I get so sick of hearing the excuse that we should remember that we are a nation of immigrants to justify illegal immigration. No, we are not a nation of immigrants anymore. We are a nation of Americans by several generations now. When the first immigrants came here they came here legally, not illegally. A fact that seems elude the pro-illegals.
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12-31-2010, 10:05 AM #9But strong opposition is expected from the state's business community, particularly the Kansas Chamber of Commerce. Gov.-elect Sam Brownback also is cool to sweeping immigration proposals, preferring to focus on the state's budget woes and creating jobs.
Where the heck is the common sense in this country? And Mr. Brownback, you need to come up with a better stand, this is getting stupid.
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12-31-2010, 08:53 PM #10Originally Posted by mkfarnam
well they sure in hell better hurry up . they have Our Country a mess . & Obama did not help any I Hope they impeach im fast. & all the other are Not Much help at allJoin our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)
Laura Loomer - Woke up this morning to a @nytimes article...
03-27-2024, 11:36 PM in General Discussion