Thread: Senate Approves Immigration Compliance Act

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Senate approves Immigration Compliance Act
By Jim Tharpe, Carlos Campos

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/08/06 02:05 PM

The state Senate today passed the “Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act,” the most comprehensive attempt at immigration reform ever to come before the state Legislature, on a 40-13 vote.

The proposal, also known as Senate Bill 529, now moves to the state House of Representatives.

Senators passed the complex proposal after two hours of muted debate.

State Sen. Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) began outlining Senate Bill 529 at 1 p.m., setting the stage for what is expected to be a contentious debate on the issue.

“I wish the federal government had protected our borders, but they have failed,” said Rogers, who authored the legislation.

The Senate debate was preceded by a morning rally on the Capitol steps at which advocates for the immigrant community condemned Rogers’ proposal as “unjust, inhumane and unconstitutional.”

Rogers’ bill has widespread support in the Legislature, and is expected to become law. Polls show that more than 80 percent of Georgians want the Legislature to confront the issue.

The bill would financially punish employers who hire illegal workers, prohibit anyone with a public contract from hiring undocumented workers, prohibit adult illegal immigrants from getting many public benefits, and it would crack down on human trafficking.

Rogers’ bill would not deny emergency health care to illegals and it would not prohibit their children from attending public schools — the federal courts have guaranteed those benefits.

Debate on the bill came after two public hearings and a half-dozen town hall-style meetings about the proposal.

Rogers argued immigration is a state and local issue as well as a federal issue.

Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson (R-Savannah) argued illegal immigrants are overburdening state schools, prisons and the health care system. He said Georgia spent $92 million last year in Medicaid funds on emergency health care for illegal immigrants.

“Our heart has no limit, but out pocketbook does,” Johnson said.

Johnson said America is now a “rainbow of people” but should be a country that “ wants to export a higher standard of living to other people, not import a lower standard of living to ours.”

He said 12 million illegals are now in the nation,a number that is growing by 500,000 a year. Georgia, he said, has the 7th largest illegal population in the United States.

“This put a huge burden on our state and our economy we simply cannot keep up with,” he said.

Johnson took issue with critics who argue the state should wait for the federal government to act on the issue.

“We’ve waited long enough,” he said. “If the federal government cannot or will not control the U.S. borders then it’s time for the state to do what they can

added to homepage. Hurray!

http://www.alipac.us/article-1093-thread-1-0.html

You know, every time I read that it almost makes me want to







Thanks again, Y'ALL!

Tears of joy, you know...

“We’ve waited long enough,” he said. “If the federal government cannot or will not control the U.S. borders then it’s time for the state to do what they can

Yeehaaaa...they finally woke up and smelled the coffee. States have rights and obligations, too.

Way to go Georgia....may your light be a beacon for the REST of the states.

RR

YEEEEAAAHHH!!!!!!!YIPPPEEE!!!!HIP-HIP HURRRAYYYY!!!! IT IS A GREAT DAY FOR GEORGIA AND A GREAT DAY FOR AMERICA!!!!!!