It’s no Harry Potter
Today was a fun day for me because my daughter spent the afternoon at the Capitol with me. Actually, she came first to participate in the “Clean Air” rally at the Capitol at noon. She was there with about 300 other folks from our area, including my Dad and nieces and nephews, who have protested the proposed petcoke burning power plant in West Bountiful. That plant has been pulled by Consolidated Energy, in response I believe to the tremendous outpouring from many of you! Congratulations. Now, time to move forward pushing towards a better, cleaner future. Thanks to those of you who came to the rally this afternoon and worked so hard to collect petition signatures etc. The Davis County Community Coalition, Utah Moms for Clean Air, and the Utah Physicians for Healthy Environment were all major contributors and critical to the success of the movement. I really appreciate your efforts and look forward to working with you in the future.
After the rally my daughter and I saw Rand Kerr, CEO of Lakeview Hospital. He asked her if she ever read my blog (apparently he does, thanks Rand!). She said she had a few times, but “it’s no Harry Potter.” I decided right then and there I would try to add a dementor or two to the blog. I have some ideas who they would represent. Maybe you do too.
Anyway, on to the important issue of the day…immigration. We had two big bills on the floor today dealing with immigration. First, HB 208, Rep. Greenwood, would prohibit an undocumented student who is receiving in-state tuition at a university from working during the calendar year for which they are receiving the in-state tuition. Otherwise, they permanently lose their in-state tuition rate. Background for discussion: there are around 200 undocumented students who are currently receiving this in-state tuition. I am a supporter of the in-state tuition program for undocumented students, and I am a supporter of the law. However, I voted against this bill and it was defeated on the floor. 34-40. Here’s why. I don’t think it actually enforces the law, as it only requires a student to sign an affidavit that they are not working. And it actually acknowledges the “illegality” of the student at the outset. It is based on the premise that these students already here are “breaking the law,” so it seems disingenuous to then further punish these same “law breakers” for a further infraction, i.e. working. The argument was presented that they must be using false ID because they couldn’t work without a social security card, and that may not be correct depending on the employer. It also is an attempt to chip away at illegal immigration in a fairly arbitrary way. We’ve got to be more judicious with our actions and policies when it comes to immigration. I am also not inclined to undermine the validity or intent of the original bill granting in-state tuition for a purpose that seems at least partially political in origin. It is a bill which deters students from bettering themselves and providing in a more helpful way for their families by trying to get out of manual labor jobs and into more skilled professions. As Utahns we should be encouraging all residents of Utah to seek higher education to better our workforce and in turn better our communities and state. There are numerous businesses who have invested and will continue to invest in helping these highly qualified undocumented students, who become employees, to correct their legal situation and pursue the pathway to citizenship.
Another bill dealing with immigration that we heard on the floor today was 2SHB 107, Rep. Steve Clark, “Economic Impact of Illegal Aliens.” It provides for an interim study on the economic ramifications, pro and con, of illegal immigration in our state. Originally the bill required holding off on the enactment of SB81 (supposed to go into affect this July) until after the interim impact study had been completed. That provision has been removed and this bill addresses the study only. This bill passed 56-13 and I voted for it. I think analysis of this issue could only benefit from more scientific evidence about the statewide impact. A constituent, Garth Mangum, has provided me with a tremendous research paper he has prepared on this subject. I am convinced more thorough study will benefit all involved in trying to craft productive policies related to this complex issue.
There were obviously many (60 or so) other bills heard on the floor today, but theses were the two biggies. If there is a bill in particular you are wanting to hear about please let me know and I’ll discuss it. Thanks!
February 26th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Thank you for your compassionate and reasoned approach to a difficult subject. I appreciate your vote, and your explaination.
February 26th, 2009 at 8:20 am
One only needs to look at California to see what’s coming. That state is almost bankrupt, largely from entitlements and illegal immigration. Los Angeles is gang central, and the prisons, well let’s just say they are going to have to release prisoners because they cannot hold any more.
I only hope the true costs are really reported.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
With all of the new Amendments to HB187(12 so far), has your position changed? I still feel like there is so much confusion and misundertanding about this bill, that I have a hard time believing it will make through the House without some serious clarification needed. Hopefully you will oppose this legislation until it can be understood.
February 26th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
In order for an illegal worker (be it an illegal immigrant or fugitive) to obtain work with a reputable employer, they must engage in identity theft in order to provide the necessary documents and information for employment forms such as the I-9.
Where is the compassion for the victims of identity theft committed by these students? Failure to recognize the victims is cruel. It is also cruel to ignore the US workers who are being laid off and having trouble finding work while illegal aliens continue to work. It seems that you find it more compassionate to not only provide a taxpayer-subsidized higher education for illegal aliens but also to make sure they can find work even if it means committing document fraud, committing perjury on an I-9 form, stealing another’ persons identity and, possibly, displacing a legal worker.
Here are a few of the victims of identity theft:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=286951
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=160060
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=3524269
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=729158
The Utah Attorney General has also found that work-related identity theft is a huge problem (see: http://dts.utah.gov/security/awareness/media/2008october/index.html and scroll down and select “Identity Theft Problems and Solutions”
from the “choose a presentation” box. In one case, it resulted in a prospective University student, who is legally in the United States, being denied financial aid. Where is the compassion for them?
If you really are so concerned about the illegal alien students in the in-state tuition program, will you establish and contribute (without taxpayer help) to a fund for those students so they do not have to work and commit felonies during college rather than cruelly and callously telling them to commit felonies to pay for their education? At least, then, no new identity theft victims will be created and the students who are unlawfully in the U.S. won’t be committing multiple felonies (document fraud, perjury on an I-9 form and possibly identity theft) that can ruin the rest of their lives.
February 26th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Wow. I think you touched a nerve.
This may be a poorly written or poorly conceived bill, but by voting against it you’re telling the world: 1) ILLEGALS have more rights than green-card carrying LEGAL immigrants, and the state’s citizens, and 2)ILLEGALS are welcome (and even embraced)in our state’s high schools and our colleges.
Finally, your comment “I am a supporter of the in-state tuition program for undocumented students, and I am a supporter of the law”, is rather chilling. Do you want do-overs to re-word that, or is that REALLY how you feel?
February 28th, 2009 at 10:29 am
What Representative Edwards fails to note is that in order to get a job with a “reputable” employer to pay for their education, children of illegal aliens who are unlawfully in the United states have to commit document fraud to get a social security card, commit perjury on an I-9 form and possibly commit identity theft – all serious FELONIES.
HB208 was designed to help young people avoid committing felonies and to give proponents of in-state tuition time to find a way to help these students legally pay for their education.
Individuals who voted against this bill are saying in effect: “We are offering you in-state tuition but in order to pay for it you have to commit felonies. If you are arrested, we are sorry but you will be tried, convicted, incarcerated, deported and barred from returning to the U.S.”
True compassion would be for the proponents of in-state tuition for illegal aliens to step up and voluntarily fund these students’ education rather than enticing them to commit felonies.
For more information on HB208 go to: http://citizensfortaxfairness.org/x_doc_download.asp and open up the HB208 documents (Fact Sheet, FAQ and Arguments).