Mo. House panel rejects Senate immigration bill

Mo. House panel rejects Senate immigration bill
By CHRIS BLANK, The Associated Press

May 12, 2008 | 8:38 p.m. CST

JEFFERSON CITY — A House committee rejected a Senate-approved immigration bill Monday while the governor’s office touted state troopers’ arrest of 250 illegal immigrants since last summer.

The Senate bill has been the main immigration measure, with provisions that would have initially required employers to verify immigration status and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to get special federal immigration training. Illegal immigrants also would be restricted from receiving public benefits and attending college.

The measure’s House sponsor said the vote to reject the Senate bill means that legislation sponsored by House members is now “the best chanceâ€