OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation described as the nation’s most sweeping attempt to deny jobs and public benefits to illegal immigrants was sent to Gov. Brad Henry’s desk Tuesday.
State lawmakers urged Henry to sign the measure into law after it was approved in a bipartisan 84-14 vote by the state House. The bill was approved 41-6 by the Senate last month.
“The people of Oklahoma are very strongly for this bill,” said House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah.
The legislation addresses the root cause of illegal immigration — exploitation of illegal immigrant labor, Mike Hethmon, general counsel of the Immigration Reform Law Institute in Washington, said. Among other things, the bill contains employment, labor law and civil rights provisions to protect citizens and legal immigrants who lose their jobs at companies that employ illegal immigrants to perform the same or similar work.
Terrill said the measure would limit state driver’s licenses and identity cards to citizens and legal immigrants and would require state and local agencies to verify the citizenship and immigration status of applicants for state or local benefits.
“The land of opportunity is becoming the land of entitlement,” Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, said while debating for the bill.
The measure would not affect emergency medical and humanitarian services, such as visits to hospital emergency rooms and enrollment in public schools, that are required by federal law.
Terrill said the Federation of American Immigration Reform estimates that illegal immigrants costs state taxpayers up to $200 million a year in public benefits and other resources.
Sorry to ruin this momentous occassion, but do you seriously see california presenting a bill like the one in Oklahoma? (as much as I agree it should)
And I’m not even American
Oh, that’ll never happen in Fornicalia. But I hold hope, perhaps, for some other RATIONAL states.
BZ
Hell, I just want a fence. All the way around Texas.
I have always been one that is against this virtual wall concept and prefer the real thing across the entire border and then a bit more out to sea. Maybe we can finally start waking up to the fact that Transnationalism is aimed directly at our freedoms and liberty and stop making excuses to give it away… meanwhile, San Fran is pretty close to announcing open secession from the Union. They don’t seem to remember what happened the last time something like that was tried… but the results were very un-PC so they probably just don’t teach it…
AJ: I’m thinking the State of Jefferson is looking better and better every day.
BZ
Farmer’s Branch, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, is attempting to pass that same law there. It’s the first town in Texas to do so. I’m enthusiastic, too CS. Things are beginning to look up a bit. As to what Californicate does, I’m past caring anymore, except when it comes to Hollyweird and all the liberal trash they grind out on a daily basis.
Please forgive me, BZ. I got confused as to whose blog I was on.