Fla. Senate guts proposed immigration bill cracking down on employers
Jonathan Mattise, Treasure Coast Newspapers

Posted May 3, 2011 at 5:55 p.m.
TALLAHASSEE – Amid impassioned and sometimes tearful debate, the Florida Senate largely gutted its immigration reform bill Tuesday by voting down an amendment to fine employers for hiring undocumented immigrants.

With the amended Senate Bill 2040, now carried by budget chief Sen. JD Alexander, only a few provisions remain in an reform bill that was feared to align the state with Arizona’s controversial immigration laws.

The amendment aimed to crack down on employment of illegal immigrants failed on a 23-16 vote, and what’s left of the bill will get a Senate vote Wednesday.

That leaves little wiggle room to work out differences with a stricter House reform by Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, by Friday’s end of session.

“There is no right answer in my view,â€