Thread: Ark- panel rejects illegal immigration bill

Feb 23, 2011 5:16am LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas House panel on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have prohibited most non-emergency state services to illegal immigrants, a move that prompted the measure's Republican sponsor to accuse Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe of playing politics by opposing the ban.
Calling the bill "mean-spirited," Beebe later accused Rep. Jon Hubbard, the sponsor, of whining and not understanding the legislative process.

The bill rejected by the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee would have prohibited Arkansas from offering state benefits for illegal immigrants except during emergencies or when life-saving measures are required.

During a daylong hearing Wednesday, Hubbard changed the measure four times to address lawmakers' concerns that it went too far. He tried unsuccessfully to withdraw the bill for more changes before it was rejected on an 8-9 vote.

After the vote, Hubbard accused opponents of the bill of playing a "political game" and singled out Beebe when asked who he blamed.

"I think it goes to the top. I don't know where else it would come from ... It'd have to go to the governor," Hubbard, R-Jonesboro, told reporters. "I don't think the governor wanted this passed and he probably did whatever he wanted to do to see it didn't pass, and he was successful."

Beebe said the bill died regardless of his opposition.

"He doesn't need to be whining about me," Beebe told reporters after the vote. "Part of my job as governor is to tell folks how I feel about legislation, good and bad, when I have a strong position."

Hubbard amended his proposal to address two of the biggest complaints from Beebe and others. He also removed a provision that would have required anyone seeking state benefits to sign an affidavit and to have the state pay for a notary to verify the signature. Beebe and state officials had complained that proposal would have cost the state millions of dollars to hire additional employees.

Hubbard also changed his proposal so it would allow prenatal care for illegal immigrants. Under a program that was created when Republican Mike Huckabee was governor, Arkansas provides prenatal care for women who are in the country illegally. The care is provided by the state to women earning up to 200 percent of the poverty level who are either undocumented, or who are documented citizens but have not been in the country legally long enough to qualify for a similar Medicaid program.

Hubbard had initially called the care a magnet that drew illegal immigrants to the state, but later removed it from his proposal after several lawmakers objected.

State officials said they were still worried about the impact the legislation would have.

Paul Halverson, director of the state Health Department, said the state's health centers don't check for citizenship status when they provide services such as immunizations and testing for sexually transmitted diseases.

"Anything that would have a chilling effect on people not coming to the Health Department to receive testing and early treatment is a negative on the health of this state and the people who live here who aren't interested in getting a disease, but may in fact be unwittingly exposed to diseases that could have been prevented," Halverson said.

During occasionally heated exchanges with the panel, Hubbard defended his proposal against complaints that it would punish children for the action of their parents.

"I don't want to hurt children," Hubbard said. "At the same time, I think these people are exploiting the compassion of the people of Arkansas because they know if they come here then they're going to provide benefits for them."

Beebe said he also opposed the bill because it would prevent the state from immunizing schoolchildren if they were in the country illegally.

"I thought that was mean, I thought that was not good public policy and I still don't think it's good public policy and I didn't like the bill for that," he said.

The tiff between Beebe and Hubbard echoed a 2005 fight between Huckabee and a Republican lawmaker over similar legislation to forbid public assistance to illegal immigrants. Huckabee called that proposal "inflammatory ... race-baiting and demagoguery."


Associated Press Writer Chuck Bartels contributed to this report.


HB1292: http://www.necn.com/02/23/11/Ark-panel- ... 45bac4c431

Originally Posted by topsecret10

"He doesn't need to be whining about me," Beebe told reporters after the vote. "Part of my job as governor is to tell folks how I feel about legislation, good and bad, when I have a strong position."

"This guy needs to be schooled, or the family business investigated!"
Anyone who does anything to help illegal aliens in America is committing a federal crime! That is the federal law! I too have a strong position!

Originally Posted by stevetheroofer

Originally Posted by topsecret10

"He doesn't need to be whining about me," Beebe told reporters after the vote. "Part of my job as governor is to tell folks how I feel about legislation, good and bad, when I have a strong position."

"This guy needs to be schooled, or the family business investigated!"
Anyone who does anything to help illegal aliens in America is committing a federal crime! That is the federal law! I too have a strong position!

Ditto that!

ARKANSAS 1292

http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1178775.html#1178775