http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/23563

Creighton co-sponsors bill targeting illegal aliens
Legislation would penalize businesses

By Dave Pidgeon, Intelligencer Journal Staff
Intelligencer Journal

Published: Jun 20, 2006 8:13 AM EST

LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - While congressional efforts in Washington, D.C., to reform immigration policies remain stalled, state Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg are trying to pass legislation aimed at illegal aliens.


State Rep. Tom Creighton, a Rapho Township Republican, is co-sponsoring a bill that would eliminate taxpayer-funded nonmedical benefits for illegal aliens and impose penalties on businesses and agencies that hire illegal immigrants.

State Rep. Gordon Denlinger, a Narvon Republican, said the proposed legislation would curb a growing "underground economy" of illegal immigrants.

"Should we be supporting an illegal activity and subsidizing it by providing costs?" he said Monday. "When we only selectively enforce our law, all law becomes weakened in the process."

Creighton was not immediately available for comment Monday night.

State Rep. Mike Sturla, a Lancaster city Democrat, said the bill is a political ploy by the Republican Party.

"My sense is this is part of the ongoing strategy in the Republican Party right now to find someone else to blame for the problems that exist in this country," he said. "It's either the gays or the immigrants or the single mothers. You name the list."

Democrats, he said, are pushing to raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage above $5.15 an hour. If successful, a higher minimum wage would cut down on businesses hiring illegal immigrants, according to Sturla.

"The reason we believe people are hiring illegal immigrants is because they are the ones who are willing to work for $4 or $5 an hour," he said "If we can change and pay people a living wage, we would have jobs for Americans that aren't below poverty wages."

The debate about what to do with the 11 million illegal immigrants in America heated up months ago as the U.S. Congress attempted to reform current policies.

President Bush, Republicans and Democrats have differing ideas on what to do, ranging from worker programs to mass deportation to building security fences across the United States' border with Mexico.

The issue also has prompted some American towns to take action on their own.

In Hazleton, a city in Pennsylvania's coal region north of Lancaster, the mayor and City Council back new ordinances that would impose fines on landlords who rent to illegal aliens, revoke business licenses for merchants who hire illegal immigrants and make English the city's official language, according to the Associated Press.

The Associated Press said a murder case involving two illegal immigrants led to the proposed town ordinances.

Dave Pidgeon's e-mail address is dpidgeon@lnpnews.com.