Business
Senate Dilutes E-Verify Immigration Bill for the Killing
Watered-down version could be set up to fail in House as business-migrant alliance flexes muscle
Around the State
Kenric WardSenate Bill 2040 survived a floor vote Tuesday after it was heavily amended and greatly diluted. Instead of requiring all employers to use the federal database to screen new hires, the latest version applies only to state employment centers and recipients of public benefits.
One insider called the measure "wimpy," and E-Verify supporters seethed over what they called "half-truths" and "flat-out lies" about the program during Tuesday's floor debate.
"There was sabotage going on here," charged David Caulkett of Floridians for Immigration Enforcement. Caulkett said some of the bill's new language, including the provisions on welfare screening, appeared deliberately designed to kill it.
If so, it wouldn't be the first time. Republican leaders have quashed 29 previous immigration bills in recent legislative sessions.
E-Verify advocates were incensed at Sen. J.D. Alexander, who took control of the bill in recent days. Noting that the Lake Wales Republican is also CEO of an agricultural company, immigration-control advocate George Fuller said Alexander's involvement was "worse than the fox watching the henhouse."
Others blamed Senate President Mike Haridopolos, who had pledged to a tea party rally on the opening day of the Legislature that his chamber would pass an E-Verify bill.
"He appoints two people [Alexander and Judiciary Chairwoman Anitere Flores] to head the E-Verify parade and they both openly opposed it. What the hell does that tell you?" Fuller asked.
Senate vote minders said the neutered version of SB 2040 was the best they could get passed.
Proponents of a "strict E-Verify" bill favor House Bill 7089, a more comprehensive measure that also includes an enforcement provision.
But the Senate's repeated delays and eventual dilution of its E-Verify bill bodes ill for the House version authored by Rep. Will Snyder, R-Stuart. The House has not moved its bill, waiting instead to see what the Senate produced.
Reports circulating late Tuesday suggested that the House would not take a vote on the adulterated Senate version -- and would not pursue its own bill since it would almost certainly fail in the Senate.
Snyder said the odds are long either way.
“For the past four months, I have steadfastly maintained my commitment to addressing the problem of illegal immigration in Florida. My proposed comprehensive immigration reform legislation included a reasonable law enforcement component, as well as employment verification.
"At this time, it does not appear that the Senate is able to pass immigration legislation containing these components and procedural rules make it increasingly unlikely that the House will be able to take up a Senate version,” Snyder said.
With the clock ticking down to a Friday adjournment, the House would have to waive its rules by a two-thirds vote in order to read the Senate bill three times in the same day to beat the deadline.
Migrant-rights groups strategically aimed their lobbying efforts at the Senate, dropping in to senators' offices and even praying with Alexander last week.
The fix was in early Tuesday when the Senate began its morning session with an invocation by a Tallahassee pastor who urged lawmakers to remember "the least of our children [who] pick our crops and provide food for our tables."
Opposition to immigration legislation came from more than migrants chanting and praying, "God is With Us" at the Capitol.
A document obtained by Sunshine State News listed 189 national and Florida-based organizations and individuals that have "stated their concern for the ramifications of the recently proposed anti-immigration laws in Florida."
Comments (7)
That's because the other 799 have to work more hours in order to afford the increased cost of living, and higher taxes that help support the 80 who have the leisure to take off to lobby against us.
I hope more businesses follow the lead of the two previous posters and end their membership with the Chamber of Commerce- and I hope people on the other end look at a business's membership as a reason not to do business with them.
And I for one, will join those who think we should turn feeding, clothing, housing, and providing medical care for the poor over to the Church instead of the government.
After all, I believe that growth should pay for itself. If they want to grow their congregations- they can pay for it.
As far as the Chamber is concerned I am pulling my membership from this group today. Their advocating for the breaking of Federal law to provide "slave labor" to their chosen members is criminal as well. Make no mistake about it this is "slave labor" and all those who vote against illegal alien laws are damning individuals to a lifetime of living in the shadows and working for their "masters" in the field.
I want to know the names of those who vote against this bill and in favor of slavery and I challenge this publication to print them for all to see! Especially the Republicans who hang their hats on Lincoln one time per year in and effort to raise money through their Lincoln Day Dinners!
All Democrats voted against along with 12 Republicans... Mike Haridopolos voted Yea but don't be fooled, the was behind this entire set-up. First he had Flores then Alexander. All RINO's that voted Nay should be voted out. Anybody but Mike Haridopolos for U.S. Senate!