12:21 AM January 30, 2008
Immigration bill sails though Ind. Senate

By Dan McFeely
dan.mcfeely@indystar.com

Despite fears it might open the door to racism and warnings that Indiana’s economy would suffer, the state Senate on Tuesday night passed a bill that would crack down on businesses that employ illegal immigrants.

The 37-11 vote came just before 10 p.m. after another lengthy debate. If the bill becomes law, the attorney general would have the authority to shut down a business for violations.

Senate Bill 335 moves on to the House of Representatives for consideration. House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, said after the vote that he had not read the bill and would decide later whether to give it a hearing.

Faced with charges that his bill is an affront to human rights, Sen. Mike Delph, R-Carmel, ripped into what he called the true targets of the legislation — not workers, but companies that make big profits by paying low wages, often in cash, and threaten illegal immigrants with deportation if they complain.

“Where is the humanity in that?â€