Thread: Mississippi Senate rejects House immigration bill

Mississippi Senate rejects House immigration bill

Chambers to continue talks to hash out differences

By Molly Parker
February 2, 2011

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The Mississippi Senate voted not to accept the House's version of the illegal immigration bill and instead moved to continue negotiations amongst the chambers in a conference committee.


Both the House and Senate versions of the bill say that if a law enforcement officer, during a routine stop, has reasonable suspicion to believe an individual is in the country illegally, the officer can ask for proof of residency.


But the House made two significant changes to the Senate's language by removing a section of the bill that county and city officials worried would open them up to lawsuits and creating stiff penalties for businesses that hire illegal immigrants, up to $25,000 a day for infractions.


Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, the bill's author, said a fee of that magnitude would put “almost any size business in Mississippi out of business and into bankruptcy.â€

[quote] Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, the bill's author, said a fee of that magnitude would put “almost any size business in Mississippi out of business and into bankruptcy.â€

[quote]Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, the bill's author, said a fee of that magnitude would put “almost any size business in Mississippi out of business and into bankruptcy.â€

Track the status of MISSISSIPPI state legislation here

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-226846.html