Thread: AZ: House votes to deny biz licenses for illegal immigrants

Comments after the story at the link.
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April 5, 2007
House votes to deny biz licenses for illegal immigrants
Associated Press
PHOENIX - House Republicans rounded up missing members on Thursday and eked out enough votes to pass a bill prohibiting state and local government agencies from issuing business licenses and permits to illegal immigrants.

The bill (HB2467), which failed Wednesday on a 29-26 vote, was approved 31-22 on Thursday. House passage requires at least 31 affirmative votes, a majority of the 60-member chamber.

Republican leaders held the voting board open for roughly a half-hour as they waited for several members to return to the floor and cast the deciding votes. Republican Reps. Judy Burgess of Skull Valley and Jennifer Burns of Tucson, cast the 30th and 31st votes, respectively, for the bill.

The license bill would require government agencies to verify the immigration status of those seeking to get or renew a business license.

Supporters said the measure would help dry up jobs that lure illegal immigrants into the United States and have government set an example for the private sector.

"This is not an onerous task on government," said the sponsor, Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa. "The applicant applying for the license would need to bring in evidence that they have a legal right to do business in the state."

Democratic critics said the bill would burden local governments.

"I have three words for this bill: Ineffective unfunded mandate," said Rep. Steve Farley, D-Tucson.

The House, which previously approved a bill to sanction employers who hire illegal immigrants, on Wednesday rejected two other lower-level immigration bills.

One would have prohibited state and local government agencies from accepting identification cards provided by the Mexican Consulate to its citizens, known as a matricula consular.

The other would have exempted people from other countries from the requirement to get an Arizona driver's license if they have in their immediate possession a license from their home country and evidence that they are in the United States legally.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/ ... =STY-87259

Very good new

One would have prohibited state and local government agencies from accepting identification cards provided by the Mexican Consulate to its citizens, known as a matricula consular.

wish that had passed too