February 18. 2009 10:27AM


Indiana Senate panel OKs immigration crack down


INDIANAPOLIS — A state Senate committee has advanced a proposal to crack down on companies hiring illegal immigrants.

The Senate's Labor Committee voted unanimously today for the bill, which would revoke the business licenses of companies that repeatedly hire illegal workers. The bill now moves to the full Republican-led Senate for consideration.

Even if the proposal clears the Senate, it may struggle in the Democratic-controlled House. House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, has said he believes immigration is a federal issue and that he prefers the House doesn't deal with the topic this session.


A group of House and Senate lawmakers met over the summer to work on the issue, but they could not agree on even a basic immigration proposal.


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