Thread: KS: Gov. Brownback, it’s time to step up on immigration

Gov. Brownback, it’s time to step up on immigration

The Kansas City Star
March 2, 2011
By Mary Sanchez

If Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has been waiting for the choir, it’s in perfect pitch now.

Brownback’s been tepid toward politicians gearing up to push Arizona-like immigration proposals through the Legislature.

He indicated he might oppose the bills, stating recently to an industry group what should be obvious: Immigration is a federal issue.

But so far, he’s offered no firm commitment to veto the legislation if passed.

Well, Governor, have no fear of backlash.

The Kansas Business Coalition met with about 70 legislators Wednesday in Topeka.

They represented the livestock and dairy industries, builders and contractors, agribusiness, the Kansas Economic Progress Council, along with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, to name just a few.

The coalition pegged the proposals for what they are: unfunded mandates that would cripple already cash-strapped city and county budgets.

They’d create minefields of potential lawsuits and stymie businesses with costly, bureaucratic regulations.

The group wasn’t coming from a kumbayah, soft-on-illegal-immigrants stand.

Its goal is to educate people about the potential business costs, legal implications and fiscal realities.

“Instead of fixing the problem, they’re trying to build around it,â€

Gov. Brownback, it’s time to step up on immigration.

I agree 100% Gov. Brownback. It's been time to steepen immigration laws in every State and gain much better control over the U.S. before its too late.