Comments 14| Recommend 3
House committees approve E-Verify, photo ID measures

01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, April 30, 2009

BY STEVE PEOPLES



PROVIDENCE –– The issues have drawn fire from all sides. But Wednesday, there were no fireworks as separate General Assembly committees voted quickly and quietly to approve legislation seeking to crack down on both voter fraud and Rhode Island businesses that employ undocumented immigrants.

The bills are not directly related, according to their sponsor, Rep. John D. Brien, D-Woonsocket, but each has drawn sharp opposition from immigrant advocates such as the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Commission for Human Rights.

“This has been turned into some sort of ideological battle when all it should be is a jobs issue,â€