butterbean
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 2271
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 Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 9:13 am Post subject: Legislator wants SC to challenge federal immigration laws |
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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Declaring that illegal immigrants cost the state too much money, a South Carolina lawmaker on Thursday proposed denying them access to some hospital care and shutting them out of public schools.
State Rep. Mike Pitts said his proposal, quickly criticized by immigrant advocates and the state's hospitals, should be passed even if it violates federal laws. Washington, Pitts said, isn't doing "anything to attempt to solve this problem."
"We have a big problem in this country," he said. "Illegals are taxing the local tax base and eating up the resources."
The proposal is the latest state effort at tackling illegal immigration as reform efforts idle in Congress. Last year, lawmakers introduced roughly 650 bills targeting immigrants, with 32 states enacting 84 immigration laws involving everything from college tuition to driver's licenses, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
About 1,200 immigration bills have been introduced across the nation this year, said Dirk Hegen, a policy associate with the group. A Texas proposal would bar the babies of illegal immigrants from receiving state benefits such as food stamps, health care or public housing.
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http://www.islandpacket.com/news/state/regional/story/6350219p-5533612c.html |
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