Posted on 03/28/2006 7:54:57 PM PST by NapkinUser
ATLANTA - The Georgia House gave final approval Tuesday to a sweeping bill that would deny some state services to adults living in the U.S. illegally, sending what would be some of the nation's toughest immigration rules to the governor.
The move, which passed by a 119-49 vote, came after the state's labor chief warned that the compromise brokered between House and Senate lawmakers may create a sort of amnesty for some undocumented workers.
The bill would verify that adults seeking many state-administered benefits _ like non-emergency medical care and unemployment checks _ are in the country legally. It would also sanction employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, punishing them through the tax code.
In the compromise, lawmakers dropped a section that would have tacked on a 5 percent fee to wire transfers by people who could not prove they were in the country legally. Instead, they added a requirement that 6 percent of wages should be withheld from workers who can't provide a taxpayer identification number.
The proposal, which was approved by the Senate Monday, will now be sent to Gov. Sonny Perdue. If it is signed into law, Georgia will be the among the first U.S. states with legislation tackling such a broad range of immigration issues, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Critics warned Tuesday that late changes to the bill could have grave unintended consequences.
When lawmakers stripped the bill of its requirement to verify the immigration status of current workers at companies with taxpayer contracts, they effectively granted state amnesty to undocumented workers who might now be employed, said Michael Thurmond, the state's labor commissioner.
Under the bill that passed Tuesday, only new hires would be checked using the federal verification system _ not current employees.
That portion of the law would not take effect until July 2007, leaving time for many new immigrants to get on the payroll before the tough new checks take effect, Thurmond said.
"We should work to protect employers who play by the rules," he said. "That's my concern _ to create a level playing field."
State Sen. Chip Rogers, R-Woodstock, said that the federal program being used to check immigration status could only be used on new hires.
"If he (Thurmond) believes this is allowing amnesty I would encourage him to begin auditing employers and enforce the law," Rogers said.
It's the latest tiff over the immigration proposal that Republican lawmakers put at the top of their agenda before the start of the session.
During the committee process, lobbyists from the farm and business lobbies fought to push back the bill's start dates. As a result, some provisions don't take effect until July 2007 while others have been delayed as late as 2009.
Some see that as an attempt to give federal lawmakers a chance to pass comprehensive legislation.
When throngs of immigrants rallied against the proposal during a "day of dignity" last week at the Capitol, state Sen. Sam Zamarripa told the crowd that the later start date could give the federal government the chance to take action.
"We want the people to come out of the shadows," said Zamarripa, D-Atlanta. "We want you to have rights."
The U.S. Senate this week is grappling with new federal immigration policies that have prompted thousands of people in cities around the U.S. to protest the bill.
In the state House, some critics urged lawmakers to hold off the vote until federal lawmakers act. State Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, said if Congress does act, much of the state's proposal could become moot.
Rogers, though, said it is too soon to say how the federal bill under consideration by the U.S. Senate will affect Georgia's proposed law.
He added that was "illogical" to expect that immigration legislation passed on the federal level would stem the tide of illegal immigrants.
"It is proper for the state of Georgia to take steps to deal with the issue here, regardless of what is happening (in Washington)," he said.
Excellent good for Georgia.
Wish Texas would pass a bill like this.
It was a little ray of sunshine for me until I read it wouldn't take effect until next year.
Useless law.
So contractor's working on the intestate can still use their illegals as sub contractors. Some law!
"The Georgia House gave final approval Tuesday to a sweeping bill that would deny some state services to adults living in the U.S. illegally"
"some"--At least it's a start.
Any fellow GA freepers have info or a link on the status of the new no retreat bill passed (?) to Purdue?
If you want to solve the problem you have to go after the employers. Leave no stone unturned to find them and make the penalties hurt.
You mean they actually fly the Mexican flag OVER the American flag and the American flag is upside down?
Can't the mayor or anyone do anything about this?
Good for Georgia!
"The move, which passed by a 119-49 vote"
Not even CLOSE...
That's the same margin HR 4437 should be getting in our Senate.
I'm curious as to whether the students/school in question are aware of what an inverted flag represents.
An inverted flag is a signal of distress.
To fly your nation's flag inverted BELOW the flag of another nation signifies, at the very least; invasion, strife and WAR!
My guess is that these students have a LOT to learn about life, strife and the real world.
There should be no services to illegal at taxpayer expense.
Looks like a terrorist to me...
So the employer pays the gov't a 6% tax on wages of every illegal they hire...
Sounds like total 'shamnesty' to me...
Read about how a pro-communist, ultra radical "MEChista" named Tony Villar cut his hair, changed his name, put on a tie, and became the mayor of America's second largest city.
Future Aztlan jihadist.
Support our Minutemen Patriots!
Be Ever Vigilant!
I don't even know if they teach civics in high school anymore.
That situation should not have been allowed and the Mayor should be ashamed of himself.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.