necn.com
Emotions run high as Mass. lawmakers debate immigration bill
May 26, 2010 6:50pm

(NECN: Alison King, Boston) - Emotions were running high at the Massachusetts State House today. At issue, a crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Sen. Richard Tisei/(R) ma minority leader: For the life of me, I don't get it. Why it is that somebody can't produce a driver's license or proof of residency in this country.

The Massachusetts Senate debated an immigration proposal Wednesday that had narrowly gone down in defeat in the House last month when it was filed by representative Jeffrey Perry, a Republican congressional candidate from Cape Cod.

Jeffrey Perry/(D) Sandwich: The bill if passed would make sure that before anybody gets in any line for a social entitlement benefit whether it be housing, welfare any form of public assistance that that individual must prove that they're here legally in Massachusetts.

Perry was feeling more optimistic about the measure in the Senate following a series of events that have put the immigration issue back into the spotlight recently.

The immigration debate grew heated following a morning news conference at the State House held by opponents of the Republican's proposal. But more attention ended up being focused on the comments of Derreck Shulman. The New England Regional Director of the Anti Defamation League.

Shulman: "When we look at the opponents of immigration, what we see is not always pretty. Among the most outrageous critics of immigration are racists, white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and other extremists who blame immigrants for all our nation's problems."

Sen, Richard Tisei: Other people are calling us Neo Nazis and white supremacists. It's an outrage, it's disgraceful. And it just shows, Madam President just how out of touch people are in this building."

Several Democrats quickly spoke out condemning Shulman's remarks, including the senate president, Therese Murray.

Sen. Therese Murray: Civil debate is what takes place here, there is no room for the type of rhetoric that we heard this morning from either side.

But it didn't stop a democratic measure from passing, which over-rode the original amendment, thereby - according to the republicans, weakening their proposal to the point of being meaningless.

The Democrats immigration amendment will now be further discussed in a conference committee.

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