Thread: Nebraska-Wightman discusses legislative issues

Wightman discusses legislative issues

Published: Friday, January 21, 2011 2:46 PM CST

LEXINGTON – Nebraska State Sen. John Wightman spoke with a concerned group of Lexington citizen’s during a conference call Wednesday morning at Tri-County Hospital.

Wightman stated that nearly 700 new bills were introduced this year, which he said was about average. He did note that not very many of them cost any money.

With Thursday being the last day bills could be introduced, they will now go to committees where they will be looked at more closely.

Two of the main topics of discussion during the conference call were the cigarette tax, LB590, introduced by Sen. Mike Gloor of Grand Island and the Arizona-style immigration reform, LB48, introduced by Sen. Charlie Janssen of Fremont.

LB48 would require law enforcement officials to check the immigration status of a person who has been lawfully stopped, detained or arrested when reasonable suspicion exists that the person is unlawfully present in the United States. It would also prohibit state, county, city or political subdivisions of the state from limiting or restricting the enforcement of federal immigration laws. It would prohibit the hiring as an employee or independent contractor a person who is unlawfully present in the United States.

Finally, it would require those who must carry a certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card to do so. Illegal immigrants who are employed would be violating Nebraska state law and the bill would impose criminal penalties of up to one year in jail, while a $1,000 fine would be levied on anyone found guilty of harboring an illegal immigrant or of “recklesslyâ€

Wightman staffer said that he can not support any bill dealing with this because the majority of people in Lexington work for meat packing plants and the staffer said they did use E-Verify at the plant.

It seems the district is multi cultural, with hispanic and Sudanese and that the schools have adopted well and such.

he also said that the meant packing place is still begging for workers.