House approves; now differences must be worked out with Senate
By Dan McFeely
Despite pressure from big business, Hispanic leaders and passionate lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, the Indiana House passed a bill Thursday night to http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=3644 on illegal immigration.
The 66-33 vote came after two hours of heated debate on the House floor.
The legislation — which can revoke an employer’s business license for repeatedly hiring illegal immigrants — is likely headed to a House-Senate conference committee, where differences between the bills would be worked out.
Earlier Thursday, Gov. Mitch Daniels declined to commit his support until he saw the final bill.
Supporters said the bill was necessary because illegal immigrants are taking jobs away from legal residents and costing state taxpayers money for education, law enforcement and incarceration.”Keep in mind, this is not a vote against immigration,” said House Minority Leader Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis. “This is a vote against illegal immigration.
“Immigrants are welcome here. But they need to do it the right way.”
Opponents say this bill will not solve a national problem and will lead to racial profiling and discrimination against anyone who looks Hispanic.
Rep. Mike Murphy, R-Indianapolis, voted against the bill, saying its potential for racial discrimination “rocks my soul to its core.”
Calling to mind a past racial profiling case in Carmel — where a black driver once sued the city, alleging an unwritten “driving while black” policy — Murphy fears the same is in store for Hispanics, and he coined a new phrase: “driving while Mexican.”
Sen. Mike Delph, the author of the legislation, took offense at that notion.
“I think that is insulting to our law enforcement officials across the state,” he said.
“I was happy for the state of Indiana,” Delph, R-Carmel, said of the vote.
In addition to the crackdown on employers, the legislation requires the Indiana State Police to enter into an agreement with federal officials to seek training and begin enforcing federal immigration laws. The attorney general would also be asked to investigate written complaints made against employers.
“This takes us along the right path to trying to do something,” said Rep. Vern Tincher, D-Riley, who sponsored the bill in the House. “The federal government is not doing it, so it is up to the states.”
Some critics say the bill does not go far enough.
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