Thread: NE:Debate on illegal immigration bill heats up

Debate on illegal immigration bill heats up
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By JEAN ORTIZ / The Associated Press Writer
Thursday, Feb 05, 2009 - 03:58:09 pm CST

OMAHA — Susan Smith has seen her words draw furrowed looks and even accusations of racism from those with a different view of how Nebraska should address illegal immigration.

But the founder of the Nebraskans Advisory Group also sees more positive responses to her Web postings, letters and testimony before policymakers.

She knows not every Nebraskan believes as she does that illegal immigrants are taking American jobs, taxing the health care, social services and educational systems and most importantly, amount to a huge national security threat.


Four bills and one resolution addressing illegal immigration are among legislation introduced by state lawmakers earlier this month.

LB34 -- Introduced by Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha, it would require all employers by 2011 to verify the legal status of employees by using a federal database operated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The checks would be conducted after hiring. Employers found in violation could have their business licenses suspended or revoked. Those who don’t perform the checks also would be barred from state contracts. People making false reports could face misdemeanor charges.

LB95 -- Introduced by Sen. Gwen Howard of Omaha, this bill would require companies wanting state tax breaks to promise in writing they hadn’t knowingly employed illegal immigrants in the past five years. If the state found out they had, they would be barred from receiving the incentives and would have to repay the state for tax breaks they had received in the past.

LB335 -- It would require those seeking state tax breaks to show evidence they electronically verified the legal status of all their employees. The bill, introduced by Sen. Mike Friend of Omaha, doesn’t contain language about past activity or possible repercussions.

LB403 -- Introduced by Sen. Russ Karpisek of Wilber on behalf of Gov. Dave Heineman, it would require state and local agencies verify legal status of anyone trying to collect public benefits. The bill names a host of benefits, including food assistance, unemployment, public housing, welfare and retirement. Unlike a similar bill introduced last year, it does not seek to repeal a law that allows children of illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition under certain conditions.

LR9 -- Introduced by Sen. Tony Fulton of Lincoln, this resolution is aimed at encouraging all local, county and state law enforcement agencies in the state to enter into agreements with federal authorities to train for and gain authorization to enforce federal immigration law.

--The Associated Press

Smith, however, is convinced most Nebraskans’ beliefs are in line with hers.

And she believes this could be the year that state lawmakers take some major strides to make it harder for illegal immigrants to get jobs or collect welfare and other tax-funded benefits.

“We’re going from a lawless state to a lawful state, and it’s a huge relief,’’ Smith said.

The legislation may have stirred hope in Smith and others on her side of an intense debate, but others say they fear the proposals could further divide communities and families and ultimately damage more than fix.

Two bills (LB95 and LB335) seek to ban companies from receiving tax breaks if they knowingly hired illegal immigrants. Another (LB34) would require all employers to check their employees’ legal status once hired.

A fourth bill (LB403) is aimed at keeping public benefits such food assistance and unemployment payments from illegal immigrants.

And a resolution (LR9) seeks to encourage law enforcement agencies in Nebraska to join a federal program in which they train for and gain authorization to enforce federal immigration law.

Revenue Committee hearings on the tax-break bills are both set for Friday. Hearing dates for the other proposals haven’t been set.

Lawmakers missed the mark, said Darcy Tromanhauser with the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest.

Tromanhauser called the proposals divisive, unproductive and expensive. She also said they are missing the most crucial part — a resolution urging federal policymakers to pass immigration reform.

“Until we reform the badly outdated system at the federal level, it doesn’t make any sense to jump in with both feet at the state level,’’ she said.

Tromanhauser is concerned about the cost of duplicating efforts to keep illegal immigrants from collecting tax-funded benefits — alluding to a federal law that already bars illegal immigrants from receiving most state benefits.

She’s surprised a lawmaker believes police, sheriffs or state troopers would want to don a second hat to enforce immigration law. Doing so could damage relationships they’ve worked to build, specifically within the Latino community. If people are distrustful of local law enforcement and swayed from reporting crime, that threatens the entire community, she said.

And she worries that mandating use of the federal E-Verify system, an Internet-based system used by about 100,000 employers nationwide to check employees’ legal status, could stress the Social Security Administration to the breaking point. The administration jointly operates the system with the Department of Homeland Security.

Illegal immigrants are coming to Nebraska for jobs, many of them in meatpacking plants and the construction industry, said Doug Kagan with Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom. It makes sense to focus first on employment measures.

“Give them a disincentive for working here by using E-Verify, then that will solve a lot of the other problems like the pressure on our welfare system and education system,’’ he said.

While some are looking at the proposals as bringing resolution, others fear the unintended consequences.

The measures, particularly the public benefits bill, have the potential to inspire discrimination and push people farther into the shadows, said Rob Dorton, an immigration attorney with Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska.

Dorton and other advocates for immigrants are heading into the session with a united front — they say for the first time. Their network, the Nebraska Immigration Advocacy Alliance, has met monthly for the last six months to talk about issues affecting immigrants, including legislation.

“Nebraska seems to have come late to the game as far as the nastiest kind of rhetoric, and I think some of those things have started to bubble up here,’’ he said.

He said the group is needed now, in part, because of that tension.

Smith has her own frustrations about inaction. That’s what got her involved in the issue a few years ago.

But she argues it’s not something Nebraska lawmakers can rest on.

She has her suggestions to strengthen the bills, including not giving employers until 2011 to begin checking the legal status of new hires. But Smith believes, for the most part, lawmakers are right on track.

“Now they understand this is not a race issue,’’ she said. “We are protecting our communities and jobs.’’
http://www.journalstar.com/news/politic ... 951901.txt

cvangel - Thanks for posting this.

I think it might have been you who posted another story on Fremont, NE yesterday. This is my state. I had tried to reach Susan Smith a few weeks ago with the phone number on FAIRs website, but the number was no longer in service. I was afraid maybe she had given up. This is good news!

I will try to contact FAIRs field rep regarding how to reach Ms. Smith. I'm very willing to help her.

Originally Posted by builditnow

cvangel - Thanks for posting this.

I think it might have been you who posted another story on Fremont, NE yesterday. This is my state. I had tried to reach Susan Smith a few weeks ago with the phone number on FAIRs website, but the number was no longer in service. I was afraid maybe she had given up. This is good news!

I will try to contact FAIRs field rep regarding how to reach Ms. Smith. I'm very willing to help her.

Yes it was me builditnow You're welcome. You might keep an eye on the ALIPAC Nebraska Focus campaign and participate there. I just saw it tonight. I'm sure all the info you need will be posted there before long. Here's the link:

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-80607.html

"cvangel" Thanks for putting that bill infor in the Neb. state focus campaign thread....we need to keep track of all the bills coming up in the states Much appreciated!

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

"cvangel" Thanks for putting that bill infor in the Neb. state focus campaign thread....we need to keep track of all the bills coming up in the states Much appreciated!

Welcome!

I guess it all depends on your viewpoint huh? I know this didn't change in a day.

Neb. immigration plans stir little reaction

Associated Press - February 6, 2009 5:35 PM ET

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The debate over illegal immigration in Nebraska, once at the boiling point, may have cooled to a simmer if reaction to legislative proposals is a barometer.

On Friday, state lawmakers got little reaction to two measures that would encourage businesses to not hire illegal immigrants. Last year, public hearings on immigration-related bills unleashed Nebraskans' pent-up anger over illegal immigration.

One bill (LB335) up for a public hearing on Friday would deny tax breaks to companies that didn't check to see if new hires were in the U.S. legally. The other (LB95) would make businesses that knowingly hired illegal immigrants repay taxes they didn't have to pay after getting state tax breaks to create jobs.

On the Net:

Nebraska Legislature: http://www.nebraskalegislature.gov/
http://www.nebraska.tv/Global/story.asp ... =menu605_2

Maybe they are alittle pre-occupied watching their childrens future being spent into oblivion in the United States congress by a bunch of idiots!

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

Maybe they are alittle pre-occupied watching their childrens future being spent into oblivion in the United States congress by a bunch of idiots!

Thats for sure!

I don't think anyone in Nebraska who was angry about illegal immigration before has changed their minds. If those in favor of these bills are preoccupied, then hopefully so are the illegal invasion defenders.

Added to Home PAge
http://www.alipac.us/article3960.html

Neb. Illegal Immigration Plans Stir Little Reaction

Published: Saturday, February 7, 2009 12:31 AM CST
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The debate over illegal immigration in Nebraska, once at the boiling point, may have cooled to a simmer if reaction to legislative proposals is a barometer.

On Friday, state lawmakers got little reaction to two measures that would encourage businesses to not hire illegal immigrants. Last year, public hearings on immigration-related bills unleashed Nebraskans’ pent-up anger over illegal immigration.

Just a handful of people came to the Capitol to speak about the measures on Friday, none of them representing businesses that some observers thought might be opposed.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska opposed a bill (LB335) supported by Gov. Dave Heineman. Laurel Marsh, representing the group, said it could breed discrimination by encouraging employers to turn down applicants based on their race.

“In a time of growing economic uncertainty, the last thing we need is legislation that could make it more difficult for Nebraskans to work,â€