Above: Georgia's House passes the SB 160 crackdown on
illegal aliens in the furious last half-hour of the 2013 session.
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by John Hill
Stand With Arizona
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Way to go, Peach State!
Georgia’s Legislature has approved a tough expansion of the state’s 2011 Arizona-style crackdown on illegal aliens, and it now awaits the Governor's signature (please contact him to do so - contact info below after the article).
Passed in the final hours of the General Assembly’s 40-day session - and despite fierce lobbying against it by La Raza groups, the Chamber of Commerce, ACLU and pro-amnesty activists - Senate Bill 160 would block illegal aliens from getting state driver’s licenses, grants, public housing and retirement benefits.
It would also prevent people from using foreign passports to obtain public benefits, unless those passports include records indicating they are in the country legally.
Additionally, SB 160 would require all city, county and state government agencies to require their contractors to use a free online work-authorization program called E-Verify. Government agencies with fewer than two employees are now exempt from this requirement.
State lawmakers say the legislation would tighten and clarify the HB87 comprehensive immigration bill Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law in 2011, which was patterned after Arizona's landmark SB1070 law, passed in April 2010. Republican Rep. Dustin Hightower of Carrollton, who sponsored similar House legislation, spoke in favor of SB 160 before the House approved it by a vote of 113-54.
“It also goes a long way in protecting the taxpayers of Georgia by filling a lot of loopholes that were there where illegal immigrants were taking advantage of different public benefits,” he said. The Senate approved the measure by a 43-9 vote.
"Civil and immigrant rights groups" fought the measure, arguing it is "divisive" and would hurt the state’s reputation. They also have predicted parts of it could become moot if Congress approves a comprehensive immigration overhaul as expected this year.
Asked whether the governor would sign SB 160 into law, his spokesman said Deal would "review the approved legislation and comment afterwards". “Gov. Deal is a strong supporter of efforts to prevent illegal immigration and to uphold the rule of law,” said Brian Robinson, a spokesman for Deal. Deal is expected to act on the bill this week.
Kudos to SWA's good friend and immigration warrior D.A. King of the Dustin Inman Society and our Stand With Georgia activists, who were instrumental in helping pass this critical bill.
HB87 was one of the best Arizona-style crackdowns against illegal immigration to date. Now with SB 160 Georgia can do even better - IF Governor Deal signs the bill. The costs of 450,000 illegal aliens to Georgia taxpayers are staggering, totaling $2.4 billion a year:
- $1.7 billion a year to educate the children of illegal aliens
- $318 million a year on unreimbursed health care for illegal aliens
- $195 million a year on criminal justice activities for illegal aliens
- $77 million a year on welfare for illegal aliens
- $138 million a year for additional state/local operating costs
- $743 annual cost to each of Georgia’s native born headed households
CONTACT GOVERNOR DEAL NOW...ASK HIM TO SIGN SB 160 to protect Georgia's workers and unemployed from the Third World wages, and to protect Georgia's taxpayers from the staggering annual $2.4 billion cost of the 450,000 illegal aliens in the state.
La Raza groups, the Chamber of Commerce and others are fiercely lobbying the Governor to veto the bill - please contact him now!
CONTACT GOV. NATHAN DEAL: Office Phone: (404) 656-1776
E-Mail Form: HERE
Gov. Deal on Facebook
Gov. Deal on Twitter