Thread: Alabama: Heated debate erupts over bill targeting illegal

April 04. 2007 4:52PM

Heated debate erupts over bill targeting illegal immigrants

By BOB JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer


A bill to make it a felony for illegal immigrants to attempt to vote touched off a heated debate in a House committee Wednesday before being approved.

House Majority Leader Rep. Ken Guin, D-Carbon Hill, accused the bill's sponsor, Rep. Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, of using the issue for publicity purposes. Hammon said illegal immigration needs to be publicized and at one point accused Guin, a lawyer, of trying to "cross examine me."

The bill was approved by the House Constitution and Elections Committee on a 7-3 vote and now goes to the full House for debate. But Guin indicated he would use his influence to make sure it doesn't come up for a House vote.

Hammon said the bill was needed to stop employers or others from bringing illegal immigrants to the polls to vote for a specific candidate.

"Our right to vote as a citizen is our most precious right," Hammon said.

But Guin said it is already a felony in state law for a person who is not legally entitled to vote to try to do so.

"I don't see the purpose of this bill. This is just a PR move," Guin said.

"We don't need to let those committing this felony get off the hook," Hammon said.

Voting against the bill were Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Tommy Sherer, D-Jasper. Guin did not vote, but predicted the bill would not make it all the way through the Legislative process.

"I'll reserve my vote for the Rules Committee," Guin said. He is chairman of the House Rules Committee, which could kill the bill by not placing it on the work agenda in the House.

Todd said rather than trying to punish the immigrants, legislators should try to penalize employers who hire them, particularly if they are helping the immigrants vote illegally.

"If employers are knowingly hiring illegal aliens, they should be the ones to be held accountable," Todd said.

http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... /704043873

"If employers are knowingly hiring illegal aliens, they should be the ones to be held accountable," Todd said.

No, they both should be held accountable!

Originally Posted by MW

"If employers are knowingly hiring illegal aliens, they should be the ones to be held accountable," Todd said.

No, they both should be held accountable!

Thats right lets don't get picky!!

The bill was approved by the House Constitution and Elections Committee on a 7-3 vote and now goes to the full House for debate. But Guin indicated he would use his influence to make sure it doesn't come up for a House vote.

We need a FOCUS CAMPAIGN for Alabama!!

But Guin said it is already a felony in state law for a person who is not legally entitled to vote to try to do so.

Well rocket scientist Guin, it's also ALREADY A CRIME for a person to be in America ILLEGALLY and that doesn't seem to mean a hill of freaking mexican beans to most of you.........so I'm guessing that those ILLEGALS would be making an effort to VOTE too and what's another itsy bitsy law anyway on top of all the others you don't enforce!

What asses these people are. One thing I do know without doubt, the good Lord passed them all by in a wide girth when he was handing out common sense & consciences These people are completely devoid of those qualities.

The state involved here is Louisiana, not Alabama:

(Story, "Heated Debate erupts over bill targeting illegal immigrants" quoted from the "Daily Comet", Tribodaux, Lafouche Parish, Louisiana, April 05, 2007.)

Originally Posted by Texas2step

The state involved here is Louisiana, not Alabama:

(Story, "Heated Debate erupts over bill targeting illegal immigrants" quoted from the "Daily Comet", Tribodaux, Lafouche Parish, Louisiana, April 05, 2007.)

OK, well thats good, do we need one in Louisiana to SIS, you could nip two states in the Bud at one time????

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Originally Posted by Texas2step

The state involved here is Louisiana, not Alabama:

(Story, "Heated Debate erupts over bill targeting illegal immigrants" quoted from the "Daily Comet", Tribodaux, Lafouche Parish, Louisiana, April 05, 2007.)

OK, well thats good, do we need one in Louisiana to SIS, you could nip two states in the Bud at one time????

Geez, THANX for thinking of me :P