Brussels attacks pushing SC Senate vote on Syrian refugee bill

The State ^ | 22 March 2016 | ANDREW SHAIN

[Gamecock]

Republicans in the S.C. State Senate want to vote this week on a bill that would require the tracking of refugees entering the state.

The proposal also would hold refugees’ sponsors liable for any crimes committed by settlers from terrorist nations.

Opponents filibustered the bill last week. But the attacks Tuesday by ISIS terrorists in Brussels are expected to speed the Senate’s action. The attack at a Belgian airport and subway station killed at least 31 people and wounded nearly 190, according to news reports.

State Sen. Kevin Bryant, the Anderson Republican who co-sponsored the bill, said S.C. authorities have little or no knowledge of the background of refugees entering the state.

“We’re not going to roll out the red carpet for ISIS,” he said.

Thus far, only two Syrian refugees have resettled in Richland County, arriving late last year with the help of the Lutheran Services Carolinas charity. However, that group has resettled nearly 50 refugees from different countries in the state, according to published reports.

Sen. Kevin Johnson, a Clarendon Democrat who opposes the bill, said lawmakers should have compassion for refugees fleeing violence in their homelands, rather than try to make it harder for them to settle in South Carolina. He said refugees would prefer to remain in their countries but can’t because of violence.

“The attacks in Brussels make the point that I have been trying to make all along,” he said. “We have people in these countries ... they’re living in absolute terror and someone has to be concerned about their plight. These people need a safe place to go.”

Johnson said lawmakers who favor the bill have little trust that federal law enforcement and government officials can stop terrorists from entering the state disguised as refugees.

Johnson added, “I have faith in these agencies, that they’re going to do all they can.”

If passed, the bill would require:

▪ Refugees to provide their address, telephone number, work information and criminal record to the S.C. Department of Social Services within 30 days of arriving in the state

▪ Social Services to post the refugee database on its website and share information about refugees with the State Law Enforcement Division

▪ SLED to check that refugees pose no safety risks

Also, sponsors who bring refugees from a country recognized by the federal government as a state sponsor of terrorism could be held liable in civil court for any criminal activity by those refugees.

Bryant said he plans to eliminate a provision in the bill that would require that no state or local government money be spent to benefit refugees. Opponents raised questions about how that would affect child refugees who attend public schools.

New York is the only other state in the country now considering a similar refugee registry, the Associated Press reported.

The Republican-dominated Senate gave the bill priority status by a 32-4 vote last month. All four “no” votes came from Democrats.

However, eight Senate Democrats, including Minority Leader Nikki Setzler of Lexington, backed putting the proposal at the top of the Senate calendar. Setzler said he supported debating the bill, but would not say how he will vote on the proposal.

If it passes the Senate, the bill still must win approval in the House and Gov. Nikki Haley’s signature before it would become law.

Haley, a Republican, has expressed her concerns about the lack of vetting of refugees to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and FBI Director James Comey.

[Gamecock]

Sen. Kevin Johnson, a Clarendon Democrat who opposes the bill, said lawmakers should have compassion for refugees fleeing violence in their homelands, rather than try to make it harder for them to settle in South Carolina. He said refugees would prefer to remain in their countries but can’t because of violence.

“The attacks in Brussels make the point that I have been trying to make all along,” he said. “We have people in these countries ... they’re living in absolute terror and someone has to be concerned about their plight. These people need a safe place to go.”

Muzzies are blowing up Belgium and that is proof we should let Muzzies into SC unsupervised?

The stupid is strong in that one.

[Mr Apple]

“Moderate Muslims are the tall grass in which jihadi terrorists hide undisturbed.”

6 posted on February 13, 2016 at 6:27:28 AM CST by Gaffer

***********

[JEDI4S]

NONE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO COME HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

[Mr Apple]

“We’re not going to roll out the red carpet for ISIS"

Did you hear that treasonous scumbag Obama!

Terror Comes To America Thanks To Muslim President: 12/11/15 Full Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcurlxQkpwQ

The Muslim population of America is expanding at warp speed

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/01/the_muslim_population_of_america_is_expanding_at_warp_speed.html

[Pearls Before Swine]

If this passes, I look for Obama’s DOJ to mount a legal attack on it similar to the attack they mounted on Arizona’s migration laws.

[Gamecock]

?

[upchuck]

You betcha. Thanks for the ping Gamecock. Here is part of an email I received today on this topic:

Brian Bilbro is the Plaintiff in an important lawsuit, which seeks to stop the state Refugee Resettlement and Asylum Program in SC. Mr. Bilbro is a husband, father, son, and provider, who has courageously stepped forward to take whatever steps are necessary to protect the citizens of this state.

This lawsuit has been filed against Gov. Haley, SCDSS, Lutheran Services and World Relief, both of which are filed as "charities" and report multi-million dollar revenues.

These four defendants have retained the best and largest law firms in South Carolina and most recently, the Southern Poverty Law Center from Georgia has asked to come into the case to represent the non-profit charity out of Columbia -the one which settled Syrian refugees in the Midlands of SC in December 2015, despite the Governor’s letter in November 2015 requesting that not occur.

Hilton Head Attorney and Patriot Lauren Martel is representing Mr. Bilbro. Both are available to speak to your tea party, patriot, or other community group. Lauren and Brian spoke to Laurens County Tea Party on March 17th, then on the following day, they addressed a gathering of elected officials and community leaders in Laurens County, which was sponsored by Laurens County Tea Party.

South Carolina Ping   
Send FReepmail to join or leave this list.

Keep up with what our Congresscritters (House and Senate) are doing. Sign up for the free MegaVote email service here.

Ping PS - Visit the SC FReepers discussion board here.