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Mexican Invasion Title: Indiana Iimmigration Bill Passes Senate Committee 8 to 1 (Arizona Style Immigration Law) Indiana Iimmigration Bill Passes Senate Committee 8 to 1 A bill to crack down on illegal immigration passed a Senate committee tonight 8 to 1. The vote -- with only Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Portage -- voting against it, came after more than four hours of at times emotional testimony, both from supporters and opponents of Senate Bill 590. Those who favor it argued that the federal goverment has failed to do its job, leaving the nation vulnerable to terrorists and criminals and costing the state millions in taxes spent on education, health and other services used by those here illegally. And, several said, employers are taking advantage of illegal immigrants, giving them jobs for lower wages and taking work away from citizens. Those who oppose it argued that bringing an Arizona-style law here will lead to people being asked by police to prove they are here legally, based on their skin color, broken English or foreign-sounding name. And, they added, this will hurt Indiana’s economic development as it sends the message that this is a state where those from other countries are not welcome and cost the state millions in legal fees, as it already is costing Arizona, to defend the law in likely court challenges. The bill now goes to the Senate Appropriations Committee because of its fiscal impact. While similar legislation has passed the Senate in the past, it’s died in the House when Democrats controlled that chamber. Now Republicans control both the Senate and House, increasing the likelihood that it will become law. Sen. Mike Delph, the Carmel Republican who authored the bill, said that all it does “is attempt to put teeth into exisiting law.” “Today, we say no more to illegal immigration and we say we really mean it. We want the rule of law restored. Period,” he said. The bill would require police who stop someone for another violation, such as a traffic stop, to ask for proof that they are here legally if they have “reasoable suspicion” that they are here illegally. It also requires all goverment meetings and documents to be in English; requires the state government to ask Congress for reimbursement of the costs of illegal immigration and bars those here illegally from getting some services, including in-state tuition at colleges. It also tries to crack down on those who employ illegal aliens. Delph had wanted the bill to strip businesses of their licenses to do business if they are caught at least three times hiring illegal immigrants. Instead, the bill was amended by the committee to penalize businesses by stripping businesses of whatever tax deduction that were associated with each illegal employee. The bill would hold any business harmless from any penalties if they had used the E-verify system to try to establish if the job applicant was here legally. The committee hearing came several hours after Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller joined a group of business, religious and university leaders in supporting an “Indiana Compact” that states that immigration “is a federal policy issue between the U.S. government and other countries — not Indiana and other countries.” Zoeller said he understood and shared the frustration of those who say the federal goverment has not lived up to its responsibility to secure the nation’s borders and address immigration and said he would defend the bill if it becomes law. But he also advised against passing it. “As the state’s government we must focus on our own vital role and be realistic about assuming federal enforcement responsibiities when the methods of doing so might be constitutionally suspect or fiscally impractical.” That argument, though, didn’t cut it with Bob Schrameyer, executive director of an Elkhart group, Citizens for Immigration Law Enforcement. “We are tired of lawbreakers thumbing their proverbial noses at our system and we are tired of the opponents of state immigration legislation continuing their lame claim that it’s a federal problem,” Schrameyer said. “It’s time for Indiana to act and end this culture of complacency.” Marion County Superior Court Judge Jose Salinas said he believes in the rule of law. He’d uphold this bill if it becomes law, he said, but fervently hoped it would not. Looking at Delph and the committee members, he told them that they don’t know what it’s like to be asked to prove they are citizens. “You’re never going to be posed that question, let’s be honest about that,” Salinas said. “I will. I have been in the past.” His voice breaking, Salinas, who was born in the United States, said that if Gov. Mitch Daniels, Delph and the other senators shouldn’t have to prove their citizenship in a traffic stop or some other infraction, that he shouldn’t have to either.
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#1. To: Murron (#0)
(Edited)
Deport the illegal invaders to Chicago, and let Rham Emanuel take care of them. ;) Give them a map to Bill Ayers crash pad, and Rev Wright's church. It's a great start, although it still needs to pass the fiscal committee, and then state congress, and gov signature.
#2. To: hondo68 (#1)
It's a great start, although it still needs to pass the fiscal committee, and then state congress, and gov signature. LOL...I agree with ya on that hondo.... If prayers help, they have mine.
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