Immigration reform bill falters in South Carolina
By Lee Bandy
SouthCarolina Insider

April 27, 2008 — It looks as if the South Carolina legislature will adjourn this year without adopting an immigration reform bill.

The emotions run deep.

The measure hit a stalemate Wednesday evening when three House members walked out of a negotiating committee meeting.

The walkout followed a day during which the House and Senate blasted each other for holding up the bill.

The disagreement erupted over an interpretation over rules that govern how the committee can change legislation.

The issue members want changed is a provision that would place strict requirements on private businesses’ hiring practices.

Critics want strict regulations to close what they say is a loophole that allows the hiring of illegal immigrants.

The business community has said the change would make state law conflict with federal laws about asking for employees identification.

Already, the Senate has failed to get the so-called loophnole closed. The House has never dicuss the issue.

Wednesday’s meeting featured a testy exchange between Republican Sen. Jim Ritchie of Spartanburg and GOP Rep. Jim Harrison of Columbia.

Harrison started his tirade when the meeting got a late start, and he accused Ritchie and other senators of trying to dodge signing bill.

Ritchie fired back, saying, “the House has insisted on killing immigration reform for two years.â€