Posted on 04/07/2005 7:52:36 PM PDT by pulaskibush
Today was a busy day. SB206 (proof of citizenship for welfare) by Jim Holt was before the State Agency and Government Affairs Committee at the Arkansas State Capitol. Tuesday, only two of the committee members showed up, which delayed any vote. Today, they were all there for the morning session (after some pressure from conservative activist). After Holt made beginning statements, Sen. Wilkins began whining at Holt about a pamphlet and it's "hatred" and "bigotry" how globalist we need to be and how there was a bunch of demagogery blah blah blah. It turns out Holt never passed out the pamphlet and nobody knows who did, making the Wilkins whining a waste of time. The Sanchez family from Bentonville spoke for SB206. During the morning session, some old ACLU guy claimed SB206 violated the Consitution. He reinterpreted the Fourteenth Amendment saying "No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges of anyone". I immediately whipped out my pocket constitution and found the Fourteenth Amendment. The ACLU guy lied. I went Holt's wife who was in session and marked the section of the Constitution. She was ready to give my constitution to Holt when Holt read the Fourteenth Amendment from his own Constitution. The ACLU guy was embarassed. Here's the complete section:
Amendment XIV - Citizenship rights. Ratified 7/9/1868. 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
I slept a little during the afternoon, and then helped lobby against HB1525 when I heard it had been revived. During the afternoon session, only four Senators showed up; Wilkinson, Wilkins, Farris, and Baker. Me and Mr. Sanchez went to the offices of Broadway and Critcher (Argue was a guarunteed no vote) Testimony was given for and against the bill. The head of DHS said the bill would not effect the delivery of babies. Some social worker claimed they would have to have a library to determine wether someone was able to get welfare. A mexican-American woman spoke about how her family had struggled to come here legally and spoke for SB206. Holt saw that the bill would be killed in committee and so he pulled the bill. He can bring it up again or wait until next session. It's more likely that a ballot initiative will be needed for this issue like in Arizona.
HB1525 which provides in-state tuition and scholarships (scholarships may have been removed) has been puked back up. Sections By Doug Thompson Arkansas News Bureau: Hank Wilkins IV, D-Pine Bluff, quietly asked that Tuesday's vote against the bill be expunged. He asked just before a recess Wednesday afternoon while most senators were out of the chamber and most of those who remained were carrying on conversations. The measure passed on a voice vote. No one asked for a roll call. Rep. LeRoy Dangeau, D-Wynne, was presiding over the House when the request came to send HB1525 back. Dangeau ruled that the voice vote favored sending HB 1525 to the Senate, although there was loud opposition. After Dangeau's ruling, at least one House member yelled "roll call," to force a roll call vote, but no roll call was taken.
Rumors are that Bookout and G. Jeffers may switch votes. We've talked with both and they say no. Holt may try to permanantly kill the bill. I think Broadway, Laverty, Horn, Miller, Malone, and Trusty as loose cannons. Some pressure on Whitaker and Higginbothom may get them to vote no or non-vote.
Here's the details of HB1525:
Senate - Apr 6 2005 4:11:28 - Vote by which HB1525 failed was Expunged
Senate - Apr 6 2005 4:11:13 - Returned From the House as requested.
House - Apr 6 2005 3:36:00 - Returned To the Senate as requested.
House - Apr 6 2005 8:22:45 - Returned From the Senate having failed to pass.
Senate - Apr 5 2005 5:44:55 - Returned To the House as Having Failed to Pass.
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/
Yeas: 13 Argue Brown Bryles Higginbothom Hill J. Jeffress Luker Madison Salmon Steele Whitaker Wilkins Wooldridge
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Nays: 20 Altes Baker Bisbee Bookout Broadway Capps Critcher Faris Glover Hendren Holt Horn G. Jeffress B. Johnson Laverty Miller T. Smith Taylor Wilkinson Womack
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Not Voting: 2 Malone Trusty
Arkansas Ping
I don't see why. Every applicant has to produce a birth certificate and social security cards for every member of the family, and a valid photo ID for adults. But then, maybe rules are only for Americans.
Ummm.... and the problem with adequate documentation? Oh - wait, that would require a government "employee" to actually lift a finger and do a little work for that check they get....
Better yet, how about, "no documentation; a call to the INS(?)"....or whatever banner it is operating under these days....if it's operating at all, which seems debatable.
No kidding - when a handful of volunteers can shut down a major illegal border crossing, what could/should those paid to do the same thing have been able to do?
It's far past the time for us to get serious about our illegal immigration situation. Unfortunately, as we have just discovered here in Arkansas with the demise of SB 206, our legislators would prefer to be PC than be right. You would think in a time where the state government is in search of funds just to make "ends meet", they would want to trim away wasteful and ILLEGAL expenses.
Why? They know they can just find a way to digger deeper into OUR pockets for the funds to support illegals. Next thing you know, you and I will be replaced by illegals in OUR jobs, to fill some kind of new "affirmative" action quota. Can't discriminate against the thieves usurpers, you know.
On the other side of the coin, yesterday, Friday 4/8/05 a co-worker of mine took two hours off and went to the courthouse and took the oath as a citizen. I am proud of him.
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