[vision-master]

State Sen. Mark Christensen
Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The Legislature finished the 55th day of the 90-day session last Friday, and passed 12 bills on Final Reading. One of the bills passed was Legislative Bill 403, which prohibits public benefits for illegal aliens, and requires their verification for benefits, public employment, and state tax incentives. I voted for the bill and it passed with a strong 44-0-5 vote.
The bill prohibits state agencies and political subdivisions of the state from providing public benefits to a person not lawfully present in the United States. This also includes no involvement in any public retirement system.

The way the public benefits prohibition will be implemented is by requiring state agencies and political subdivisions to verify the legal presence of each applicant through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program -- S.A.V.E. -- operated by Homeland Security. This should help make sure that U.S. citizens and those who are legally in the country are the only ones eligible for public benefits.

In addition to public benefits, LB 403 would require every public employer and public contractor to register with and use E-Verify, which is the work eligibility program with Homeland Security, to verify the eligibility of all new employees. The Nebraska Department of Labor will also provide private employers information about E-Verify and encourage its use among the private sector.

http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1528458.html

[coyote]

If you want to effectively address the illegal immigration problem in the United States, then... leave the immigrants alone. Instead, go after the people who hire them. That's all it would take. We could get rid of our Berlin Wall, the checkpoints, the bad laws passed by pissed off citizens, and all the rest of it. Just crack down on the businesses doing the hiring - and wait.

Tough to do, of course, because it's too honest. It admits that our business sector prefers a strong immigrant "class," despite all the rhetoric. Hire 'em on the cheap, then make a fuss about 'em when we need a scapegoat for something or another. But as long as the jobs are there, people will understandably continue to cross the border to provide a better life for their families.

After all - we're supplying the demand.

[mos6507]

If you want to effectively address the illegal immigration problem in the United States, then... leave the immigrants alone..

I don't see why it has to be mutually exclusive. Cut off benefits AND go after the employers.

[35Kas]

I agree.
By going after the benefits, the safety net of the illegals is removed.
By going after the employers, it takes away the financial incentive and it forces them to relocate on their own from fear of starvation.
This will save on the active prosecution of these people because the vast majority will leave on its own. The only ones who wont will be the ones who have an illegal source of income or are for some reason unable to leave.

[TreeFarmer]

I agree with the "both" idea.

However, it has to start with the government doing its part first. For to long the government has not done its part. Stop the benefits, control the border more, then you can start enforcement on our own citizens.

TF

[Plantagenet]

Its silly to pretend that the government is going to enforce its laws and employers are going to penalized and illegal aliens are going to be sent back to Mexico. It ain't gonna happen.

President Obama, who will run the government for at least the next four years, ran on a program of legalizing illegal aliens, giving them residence and work permits and eventually making them U.S. citizens. Its on his website.

So far it appears the Obama administration has quietly suspended enforcement of immigration rules against illegal alien ......Obama's own aunt is in the coutnry illegally, and she just received permission to stay longer. Pelosi rants against ICE as being "unAmerican."

Pelosi says ICE enforment is un-American

Face facts----the program of our current govenment is LEGALIZE all the illegal aliens, not to force them to leave.

[basil_hayden]

It's hard to believe this law did not already exist.

I'm dumbfounded at the incompetence of the people who decide to spend taxpayer money.

[Plantagenet]

It's hard to believe this law did not already exist.

I'm dumbfounded at the incompetence of the people who decide to spend taxpayer money.

Similar laws have previously existed....and they have been found unconstitutional.

California Prop 187 law denying illegal immigrants access to public benefits found unconstitutional

[Windmills]

It's hard to believe this law did not already exist.

I'm dumbfounded at the incompetence of the people who decide to spend taxpayer money.

It varies from state to state. In Arizona, you have to show proof of citizenship for everything except emergency room and grade school education. They get nothing else here, so the idea of immigrants sucking out all our resources is a myth in this state at least.

I do agree with the "both" idea. However, we live in a world with finite resources and budgets. We have to triage. In prioritizing things, I think number one on the list should be to go after the employers.

[eastbay]

If you want to effectively address the illegal immigration problem in the United States, then... leave the immigrants alone..

I don't see why it has to be mutually exclusive. Cut off benefits AND go after the employers.

Very well put. We already have strong laws prohibiting illegals from using public funds (INA sec. 212(a)(4)) and, of course, it's illegal to hire illegals, but they haven't ever been properly enforced. And they won't ever be enforced either because to do so is considered racist.

[Plantagenet]

This whole idea of the government going after the employers of illegal aliens is a fantasy. It isn't going to happen. The opposite is going to happen. The Obama government is going to support the illegals. The Obama administration is planning legislation to be presented to Congress this year so that illegals will quickly be made legal residents, given legal work permits so they can stay in their jobs, and the illegals will eventually be given citizenship.

Far from driving out illegals, Obama is going to legalize all the illegal aliens in the US so they can stay in the US.

NY Times reports on Obama's legislative proposal to legalize the illegal aliens in the US

[holmes]

PONZI

[Ludi]

[quote="Plantagenet"
Far from driving out illegals, Obama is going to legalize all the illegal aliens in the US so they can stay in the US.[/quote]


I just sent a letter to the White House reprimanding Obama for wanting to reward illegal behavior and requesting he work toward enforcing existing immigration laws.

So, those who have strong views about this issue, I encourage you to let the Prez and your reps know what you prefer they do, as your employees.