Thread: Ga. lawmaker outlines changes to immigration bill

Ga. lawmaker outlines changes to immigration bill

by Kate Brumback, Associated Press

7 hrs ago

ATLANTA (AP) — A state lawmaker is taking some of the teeth of his proposed bill to crack down on hiring illegal immigrants in Georgia.

State Sen. Jack Murphy said Wednesday that the biggest change is removing penalties for private employers who don't use a federal database called E-Verify to check the legal status of new hires. The new bill also would exempt businesses with four or fewer employees from that requirement.

"The intent is not to be punitive but to get companies to follow the E-Verify system," Murphy said.

The bill still exempts employers, such as farmers, who use work-visa programs to bring in seasonal workers from using E-Verify. But the new version removes exceptions for companies that use the visas to bring in highly specialized workers.

Use of E-Verify by private employers is voluntary, and Murphy said making it a legal requirement would provide sufficient incentive for those employers to use the database without penalties.

"It hasn't been law before," said the Republican from Cumming. "When something becomes law, people look at it differently."

Some committee members noted that those who hire people in the country legally are already breaking the law and expressed concern that they probably wouldn't run the database checks if there was no penalty for not doing it.

Murphy said it may be necessary down the line to go back and add penalties for private employers if it turns out people aren't using the system once they are required to by law, but he said he doesn't feel that's necessary right now.

The bill does still impose penalties on public employers and their contractors who fail to use E-Verify because they have been required to use the program for several years.

The new bill says government officials would be punished for not using E-Verify only in the case of "intentional and knowing failure." Murphy said he didn't want anyone to be penalized for honest mistakes.

State Rep. Matt Ramsey, a Republican from Peachtree City, has proposed an immigration bill that is being considered by a House committee. The two bills have some overlap but are not identical.

http://romenews-tribune.com

The bill still exempts employers, such as farmers, who use work-visa programs to bring in seasonal workers from using E-Verify.

What a load of BS! We all know the farmers are some of the largest abusers when it comes to hiring illegal labor. I'm sure Sen. Murphy knows that too.

Originally Posted by jean

Ga. lawmaker outlines changes to immigration bill

State Sen. Jack Murphy said Wednesday that the biggest change is removing penalties for private employers who don't use a federal database called E-Verify to check the legal status of new hires. The new bill also would exempt businesses with four or fewer employees from that requirement.

IMO small businesses must eventually be included, but this bill is a step in the right direction.
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Americans first in this magnificent country

American jobs for American workers

Fair trade, not free trade

http://The new bill says government ...stakes. <br />

Most of the construction being done now because of the downturn is public money, and those traitor contractors are knowingly using illegal labor through subs and subs of subcontractors. They pay them in cash and have been found at many construction sites.

This is a disgrace. The State employs illegals to clean their offices - I used to be a State employee before I lost my job due to budget cuts and saw it for myself.

mickey
imwith you on ths one it all bs this bill the congress see what going On the American don't want any illegal immigrant In our country . this is going for years & they know this . it about time the congress wake the hell up Listen to the voice of American . we pay your salary we also pay for all of the Illegal immigrants IN our country
& it high time it stop
do you job we want Our job back .

no amnesty