Thread: SC gov calls for state-level immigration action

May 29. 2007 2:52PM

SC gov calls for state-level immigration action

By JIM DAVENPORT
Associated Press Writer

Gov. Mark Sanford sidestepped questions Tuesday about a federal illegal immigration proposal and instead called on South Carolina legislators to act quickly on statewide legislation.

The immigration issue in Washington has caused a rare divide between the state's two U.S. senators, who are both Republicans, and Sanford refused to weigh in on the contentious proposal.

"This is a very serious issue, but it's not what we're dealing with today," the Republican governor said at a Statehouse news conference flanked by other state legislators. "At the federal level, what they're dealing with is a shotgun blast on the larger issue of immigration. ... We're dealing here with a micro rifle shot."

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, parting ways with President Bush, has criticized the federal legislation because he says it gives illegal immigrants amnesty in the guise of a new type of visa. U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham - a longtime Sanford ally - has taken heat for his role in writing and supporting the proposal.

Sanford would not discuss the visas at the heart of the Graham-DeMint dustup.

"That is a large issue, an explosive issue ... but it isn't what we're talking about," Sanford said.

The state-level proposal calls for changes in the law that would make it a felony to harbor or transport illegal immigrants and bars government contractors from hiring illegal immigrants. It also forces businesses to pay state payroll taxes on illegal immigrants.

There's not much time for the proposal to pass, though. Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn next week.

Sanford's call for tougher state legislation came as President Bush visited Georgia, saying political courage was needed to move the federal legislation forward. The president noted skepticism about the federal government's ability to fix immigration. "Give us a chance to fix this problem. Don't try to kill this bill before it gets moving," Bush said.

Two weeks ago, Republicans at the state GOP convention here booed and shouted "No" at Graham as he tried to explain his support for the federal legislation. They cheered DeMint, who said he'd work to defeat it if it appears to give illegal immigrants amnesty. By the end of the day, the state GOP had adopted a resolution saying it "adamantly opposes blanket amnesty for anyone who has not gone through the appropriate legal channels to enter our country."

Sanford wouldn't comment on the federal legislation then, either.

Last week, Glenn McCall, the state GOP's third highest ranking member, sent an e-mail letter to his party faithful calling for them to pressure Graham on the issue.

But Graham isn't without supporters. The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce posted an open letter on its Web site applauding the state's senior senator for his work on the issue and cautioned state action on immigration "would transfer the burden of compliance to the business community and expose employers to unfair liability."

After the news conference, Sanford said he'll leave it up to Graham and DeMint to mend their differences. "The nature of any political battle is it's there for a day and gone the next day, so I'm sure they'll do just fine," he said.

Meanwhile, Democrats are enjoying the rare split within the GOP, which controls the state House, state Senate and eight of nine statewide offices.

"It gives me no greater pleasure than to watch them fight each other over whose idea is worse," said state Rep. Todd Rutherford, D-Columbia.


http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs..../APN/705291688

Wed, May. 30, 2007
Sanford joins immigration debate
Governor, who favors Senate bill, urges lawmakers to move forward
By NOELLE PHILLIPS - nophillips@thestate.com
Gov. Mark Sanford waded into the state’s immigration debate Tuesday, but it might be too late for him to influence the Legislature to pass reform this year.

Five days remain in this year’s session, and the Legislature already has a full agenda, including the state’s $7.3 billion budget, Department of Transportation reform, workers’ compensation and school choice. Plus, the House and Senate are bickering over whose immigration reform bill should move forward.

“The purpose of this meeting is to say, let’s just grab one of these bills and not let the opportunity pass us this session,â€