Thread: Rendell rips laws on illegals again

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-a1_ ... 9730.story

Articles to his Thursday tirade.

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... ht=rendell


From The Morning Call
July 22, 2006
Rendell rips laws on illegals
Governor is out of touch with voters on issue, Swann spokesman says.
By John L. Micek Call Harrisburg Bureau
| The national battle over illegal immigration flared briefly Friday as an issue in this year's gubernatorial campaign after Gov. Ed Rendell sharply denounced a new Hazleton city ordinance that punishes landlords and businesses who hire and employ illegal immigrants.

Democrat Rendell said the ordinance and similar crackdowns are the work of ''mean-spirited'' politicians who ''feed off of hate and divisiveness.''

''The only ones I want to hear speaking up and complaining about immigration are the Native Americans who we screwed,'' Rendell said to a gathering of young professionals on Thursday.

A spokesman for Rendell's Republican challenger, Lynn Swann, was sharply critical of Rendell's comments, characterizing them as ''out of step'' with Pennsylvania voters.

But beyond the campaign rhetoric, both candidates share some common philosophical ground, saying that combating illegal immigration is largely a federal responsibility.

Rendell believes that ''Congress needs to step up'' and address the problem, his campaign spokesman, Dan Fee, said Friday.

''We're one nation and we should have one immigration policy,'' Fee said. ''The governor has been outspoken in his belief that our federal officials need to come up with a policy that is effective.''

Swann's spokesman, Leonardo Alcivar, said Swann also believes that Washington needs to formulate a policy that balances national and economic security.

Both candidates also believe that federal officials need to keep illegal immigrants from leapfrogging those who are trying to enter the country legally, thus robbing them of employment opportunities.

''They should not be rewarded,'' said Rendell, who agrees with President Bush's proposal to set up a guest worker program that would allow aspiring immigrants to take jobs ''that Americans don't fill'' as a way to help impoverished families seeking a better life.

Alcivar said, ''We have to ensure that we can control our borders and that people do not jump to the head of the line before people who are entering the country legally.''

Last week, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, a Republican, successfully pushed the ordinance through City Council. In addition to its punitive measures, the ordinance establishes English as the city's official language.

Barletta has said the measure will help curb crime, school crowding and demands for city services that he attributes to an influx of illegal immigrants into a city that was built on the backs of earlier Italian and Irish immigrants.

Barletta's actions have inspired other municipalities in the region, including Nesquehoning, Mount Pocono, Ashland, Frackville, Lansford, Shenandoah and West Mahanoy Township, to consider taking the same action. One, Hazle Township in Luzerne County, has put the ordinance on its books.

The legality of Hazleton's ordinance already has come under fire. Acting at the behest of U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-11th District, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service concluded this week that the city may not have the authority to enforce parts of the ordinance because it pre-empts federal law.

Hazleton's solicitor questioned the service's interpretation.

''I think that in a number of portions they've indicated that the ordinance does not violate federal law or the Constitution,'' solicitor Christopher Slusser said Friday. ''I completely disagree with their analysis.''

The ordinance doesn't penalize illegal immigrants, Slusser said. ''It cites business owners and landlords who rent to illegal aliens.''

What would be a violation is if the ordinance tried to act as immigration agents, imposing conditions toward gaining legal residency for example, he said. ''I don't believe the ordinance in any way attempts to regulate immigration.''

He took exception to critics who said the decision was done in hatred. ''This decision isn't…mean-spirited,'' Slusser said.

Rendell said the Hazleton measure and others like it skew the national debate over illegal immigration.

''A lot of this is being pushed by politicians who absolutely want to keep your eyes and ears away from real stuff,'' he said. ''They feed off of hate and divisiveness.''

But it is a potent campaign issue that candidates, mostly Republicans, have latched onto to solidify the support of core voters.

Facing a stiff challenge from Democratic state Treasurer Bob Casey Jr., incumbent U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., for instance, has made the issue one of the cornerstones of his re-election effort.

Santorum recently aired a television advertisement touting his support for stronger borders and increased security.

Sensing a potential wedge, state lawmakers also have delved into the issue.

This week, a Republican state House panel convened the first of four public hearings aimed at gathering information for potential legislation to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into the Keystone State.

Last month, the state House approved a Republican-backed measure making English the state's official language and requiring its use on all official documents and forms.

The legislation is now before the state Senate, where its fate is unclear.

During an appearance in Montgomery County last week with former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Swann said he believes policy-makers must use common sense when dealing with non-English speakers.

''English is the language of America,'' Swann said. ''But there is a strong need to make sure that everyone in our nation, with its history of immigrants, has access, has information that they understand so they can vote, so they can do basic things.''

john.micek@mcall.com

717-783-7305

Reporter Arlene Martinez and The Associated Press contributed to this story.



''We have to ensure that we can control our borders and that people do not jump to the head of the line before people who are entering the country legally.''

LEONARDO ALCIVAR

spokesman for GOP gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann

''The governor has been outspoken in his belief that our federal officials need to come up with a policy that is effective.''

DAN FEE, spokesman for Gov. Ed Rendell

Governor is out of touch with voters on issue, Swann spokesman says.

You can say that again.

''We have to ensure that we can control our borders and that people do not jump to the head of the line before people who are entering the country legally.''

LEONARDO ALCIVAR

Go Lynn Swann! Former Steeler receiver. Proud owner of four Super Bowl rings.

You got my vote.