Immigration tricky in Kansas too, especially for GOP

3/3/2008

By CARL MANNING

Associated Press

TOPEKA -- Legislators feel pushed to attack illegal immigration because the federal government hasn't done enough about it to satisfy many of their constituents.

Yet, at the same time, they're discovering why the issue seems impossible for the president and Congress to resolve. Immigration bills before the Legislature have generated strong opposition from a coalition of powerful business groups.

The clear conundrum, especially for the Republicans who have majorities in both chambers, is whether to side with powerful groups in the business sector or with voters whose anger could cost lawmakers their political jobs.

Business opposition tells legislators that in the world of politics, sometimes the best action is no action. But because of how many voters feel, that isn't an easy option.

"It makes it a struggle. They can't please two constituencies," said Bob Beatty, Washburn University political science professor. "It's not something you see everyday, legislators thumbing their noses at the business interests in the state."

Kansas isn't alone in struggling with the issue. The National Conference of State Legislatures says 600 immigration bills are floating in 41 states this year.

During the past week, House and Senate committees heard hours of testimony urging everything from doing nothing to rounding up illegal immigrants and sending them home.

Some lawmakers want to require employers to use the federal E-Verify database to see whether a prospective worker is legal and impose penalties against those who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Also being considered are proposals to deny most public benefits to illegal immigrants, allow local governments to ban them from renting houses and require local and state law enforcement officers to review the citizenship of people arrested or detained.

"Normally it's not a state's jurisdiction but we have more pressure to act due to the inactivity of Congress, which is inexcusable," said. Sen. John Vratil, a Leawood Republican.

Conservative Republicans have been driving the issue. They've been helped by Kris Kobach, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor who specializes in immigration law -- who also is state GOP chairman.

Kobach help draft an Arizona law punishing employers hiring illegal immigrants. Since it took effect in January, scores of immigrants -- legal and illegal -- are fleeing the state or going back across the border.

And for Kobach's fellow conservatives, like Rep. Brenda Landwehr, who's helping lead the charge in the House, attacking illegal immigration is a no-brainer.

"You listen to the lobbyists or you listen to your constituents, and we're hearing that Kansans want something done," said the Wichita Republican.

It's also not lost on legislators that this is an election year and immigration will be high on the issues list.

"I campaigned on this issue four years ago," said Sen. Phil Journey, a Haysville Republican. "It's an issue broader than most. It's a fiscal issue and a social issue, so it blends that normal divide in political debate."

But it's an open question whether legislators can pass something.

"Elected officials reflect some of the angst of their constituents. They'll respond in some way," said Sen. Pete Brungardt, a Salina Republican whose committee is handling Kansas immigration legislation.

His House counterpart, Rep. Arlen Siegfreid, an Olathe Republican, said he expects some sort of compromise bill from his committee.

Others, including Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, aren't so sure.

"It's a pervasive issue because there are so many parts of the problem that have to be addressed that it's likely beyond our ability to solve the problem this session," the Topeka Democrat said.

And having influental groups line up against various proposals is an important factor.

The coalition opposing the E-Verify proposal includes The Kansas Chamber, Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Livestock Association.

Arizona, Colorado, Georgia and Oklahoma already mandate E-Verify but Illinois has banned its use amid concerns about its reliability, the NSCL says.

The coalition fears the legislation could go too far and have unintended consequences. Their concerns shouldn't be taken lightly.

"The coalition is saying 'proceed cautiously' and that the code word for 'don't be punitive.' They are the major business interests in the state. They carry a lot of clout," said Hensley, the state's longest serving legislator.

Also, a patchwork system of state-based immigration laws creates its own set of problems. Business group say stronger laws will cause legal immigrants with family members in the country illegally to leave the state. In turn, they say, that could hurt local economies depending on an immigrant work force

"If Latinos are seeing the rounding up of illegal immigrants, it's not an atmosphere conducive of legal immigrants wanting to be there," Beatty said.

All this has given some legislators a better appreciation of Congress' inability to pass meaningful immigration legislation.

"It's the federal problem under a microscope, what Kansas is going through. The problem of illegal immigrants versus what business needs to operate," Beatty said.

Passing nothing will make the business groups happy. Then, legislators can go home, say they tried, blame those in Washington and promise to do better next year.

--------

EDITOR'S NOTE: Carl Manning has covered Kansas state government and politics since 1998 for The Associated Press. He also has covered state government for the AP in Tennessee, Pennsylvania and Missouri.