Pa. House panel to take up illegal immigrant bills

By Staff Writer
PhillyBurbs.com

HARRISBURG (AP) β€” More than a dozen bills designed to address illegal immigration in Pennsylvania are on the agenda of a state House committee.

The State Government Committee planned to vote on at least some of the proposals this morning in the state Capitol.

Chairman Daryl Metcalfe says he's trying to discourage illegal immigrants from coming to Pennsylvania by making it harder for them to keep jobs or get public benefits.

The Butler County Republican says one of his top priorities is a Senate-passed bill making most people seeking welfare, health care or other public benefits show a driver's license or similar ID and sign a form swearing they're in the U.S. legally.

Democratic Rep. Babette Josephs of Philadelphia says immigrants perform valuable farm jobs and a crackdown would be felt by children.

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