S.C. panel works on immigration reform
By T&D Staff Tuesday, March 11, 2008 COLUMBIA -- The Joint Legislative Conference Committee working on the Illegal Immigration Reform Bill (S.392) met for the second time Tuesday to continue working toward a comprehensive and effective plan to combat illegal immigration.
The committee’s lead action today was to adopt portions of both the House and Senate versions of the bill that will establish a Memorandum of Understanding with federal officials to create effective relationships with state and local law enforcement officials under the 287-G program. The funding for the program would come from Federal, State or other sources.
“Today’s action empowers all levels of our law enforcement officials to effectively deal with the illegal alien issue. This bold plan will help all of our communities to better handle criminal issues involving illegal aliens,” says Conference Committee Chairman, Senator Jim Ritchie (R-13). “There are several additional issues to be settled and I am hopeful that the positive exchange of today’s meeting continues.”
The committee moved forward on other issues as well. The first action of the committee was to adopt a change to the overall withholding, from six-percent to seven-percent, businesses are charged when they engage in the hiring of people who are unlawfully in the United States.
The committee also discussed the Senate’s proposed “hotline”, to be maintained by the Commission on Minority Affairs, which would gather information on possible illegal immigration violations and abuse. House members requested additional time to review the specifics of the “hotline” before moving to adopt final language.
The next meeting of the committee will be scheduled based on the availability of House members who are engaged in budget debates this week and are on furlough the following week.
In addition to Senator Ritchie the conference committee consists of Senators Chip Campsen (R-Charleston), and Vincent Sheheen (D-Kershaw), as well as Representatives Jim Harrison (R-Richland), Greg Delleney (R-Chester), and Thad Viers (R-Horry).
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