Thread: MT- House backs crackdown on illegal immigrants

By The Associated Press helenair.com | Posted: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 4:22 pm HELENA - The state House has endorsed two more measures aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.

Lawmakers voted 52-48 Wednesday to penalize businesses that hire illegal immigrants. The bill would require companies to use a federal immigration database or risk fines if they are caught employing the workers.

Critics pointed out that business owners are worried the regulation and new enforcement mechanism could be abused. Supporters say it is needed to make sure companies don't hire illegal workers.

The House also endorsed another plan in a 56-43 vote that would ban state agencies from providing services to illegal immigrants. Opponents argue that emergency responders and others would have a hard time figuring out how to enforce the proposed law.

Both face a final House vote on Thursday.

http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regi ... 03286.html

Related story.... HELENA - The House on Wednesday passed a pair of bills targeting illegal immigrants who are seeking jobs with Montana employers and trying to obtain state government services.

Rep. David Howard, R-Park City, sponsored both measures, which face a final House vote before moving to the Senate. Both passed on largely party line votes, with most Republicans voting for them and all Democrats, plus some Republicans, opposing them.

House Bill 274 would make it a crime for employers with 25 or more workers to hire "unauthorized aliens." Employers would be required to use the federal electronic verification system to make sure their employees aren't illegal immigrants. Employers that hire illegal immigrants could face the suspensions of their business licenses.

"It provides for a process for an employer to definitely be able to check to see if the person they're hiring is in fact legal to be in the United States," Howard said.

However, Rep. Margaret MacDonald, D-Billings, warned that a number of business trade associations oppose the bill because of its potential impact on them.

"What this bill sets in place is essentially a state bureaucracy to investigate Montana businesses and to penalize them," she said. "An individual, a competitor, someone who wishes ill will on another business can report a business if they believe they have violated the law."

Rep. Carolyn Pease-Lopez, D-Billings, said the federal government still hasn't made the electronic verification system mandatory because its error rate is too high. The error rates will slow down hirings, she said.

"This bill just promotes discrimination big time," she said.

However, Rep. Michael More, R-Gallatin Gateway, said the bill isn't onerous but is a necessary measure to protect Montanans seeking jobs.

HB 274 passed the House, 52-48.

Howard's other measure, HB534, would deny state services to "illegal aliens" to the extent allowed by federal law and the Montana Constitution.

He said the bill would shift the burden to users of government services to provide the proof that qualify for them. It requires state agencies to require a person seeking a state service to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or legal alien status.

The state agency, in turn, would be required to notify the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau under the Department of Homeland Security of any illegal aliens applying for state services.

Rep. Robyn Driscoll, D-Billings, said if women were kidnapped from Russia and brought to the United States as sex slaves and were beaten up, they would not be able to be treated in Montana hospitals.

"If an illegal alien gets convicted of murder in this state, are we not able to put him in prison?" asked Rep. Walt McNutt, R-Sidney.

Rep. Krayton Kerns, R-Laurel, replied that an illegal immigrant convicted of murder could be imprisoned here under the bill.

Rep. Diane Sands, D-Missoula, however, warned county health departments would be unable to respond to public health disasters involving illegal immigrants, which could endanger the population.

HB534 passed 56-43.

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-re ... 002e0.html

Unfortunatly the Gov of Montana (a Dem) says he will veto birthright legislation if passed by the Senate here.

Originally Posted by BillCunnane

Unfortunatly the Gov of Montana (a Dem) says he will veto birthright legislation if passed by the Senate here.

Guess you will have to vote the Idiot out of office ASAP....

HOUSE BILL 274
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-1185479.html#1185479

Rep. Carolyn Pease-Lopez, D-Billings, said the federal government still hasn't made the electronic verification system mandatory because its error rate is too high. The error rates will slow down hirings, she said.

"This bill just promotes discrimination big time," she said.

So an error rate of less than 3% is still to high for this woman? I guess they will oppose anything that is not 100% accurate in an effort to protect their raza. Hirings need to be "slowed down" in order to verify people have a legal right to work in this country! Bottom line, this woman does not want illegal invaders to be denied work in this country! That's what all her fuss is about!

Why does it seem as if every Rep with a hispanic name opposes efforts to crack down on illegal invaders? How is it "discriminatory" to verify someone's authorized to work in this country?

for the life of me i don't know why you mayor or you congress has to vote
On this Illegal immigrants Bs this has been going On for year & yes the
American are sick of this . they sneak Over & get every thing free . they know this they walk down the street like they own it
may be the gov or mayor has some illegal immigrant working for them
or maybe they have to listen to what Obama tell them . it not only the Mexico it all of the Other country to worry about . they came over for a visit & for got to leave ?
the way I see some may be mexico Mayor . or work In the wh what they want to vote to have the mexico stay In our country .but
are they then self USA Citizen ?
I don't think so
I don't think this should be about vote It about the life & our country
that we are fight for
get all of the Illegal I mmigrant Not only mexico all of the other country the hell Out
we want Our Job back & our country back I we vote ON that
now what the hell do you have to say ?
NO Amnesty