March 28, 2008
Highlights of the 11th week (March 16-22) and 12th week (March 23-29) of the session include legislative action and activities on immigration reform, smoking at work, Election Day liquor sales, fire sprinklers, as well as the 2008 election.
Immigration Reform
A panel of three House and three Senate members is continuing to resolve differences between the two bills and finalize the law. Illegal immigration opponents and academics agree: To drive illegal immigrants away, they must be deprived of their ability to work. However, the S.C. bill that has been crafted on both sides has been labeled as weak.
The legislature’s 17-point package of proposals contains only five that focus on businesses, and none mirror laws passed in states that have experienced an exodus of illegal immigrants. How employers should verify the citizenship of their employees is the most meaningful difference in the bills and the object of the most criticism.
Under the House’s version, only those businesses seeking contracts to work for the state would be required to use a federal database to verify citizenship, matching people to the Social Security numbers provided. However, the E-verify system has been unreliable. During pilot testing, numerous illegal employees were deemed legal for hire. Using this database, businesses still could unknowingly hire illegal aliens despite following the law.
The Senate wants to require all businesses to verify citizenship of all employees through the use of the I-9 form, currently in use but considered ineffective. The employee simply fills out the short form, which the employer files away.
Of all the states experimenting with immigration reform, Arizona has been the first to see a measurable departure of illegal immigrants by targeting employers. Under the new law, employers must use the federal E-verify system. Employers who use it are immune from prosecution for any employee deemed legal but who later turn out to be illegal. Employers caught knowingly hiring illegal immigrants have their business license suspended 10 days. Licenses are permanently revoked for second offenses. County-level prosecutors investigate any claim of illegal employment.
Smoking at Work
The Senate has approved legislation for employers to inform prospective employees in advertisements that they have nonsmoking workplaces. The legislation clarifies part of the state law that says employers can’t use a worker’s tobacco use in hiring or firing decisions. The bill is headed to the House.
Election Day Liquor Sales
The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that allows liquor sales on Election Day. The law was on the books because polling places were once in the same places that sold liquor. The bill is moving to the Senate floor.
Fire Sprinklers
The Senate’s Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee couldn’t agree on a bill designed to give state income tax credits to help pay for installing or improving fire sprinkler systems. The committee sent the bill back to subcommittee for more work after senators raised concerns about potential costs.
2008 Election
This year will be an exciting one for elections. In addition to a heated race for the presidency, elections will be held for one U.S. Senate seat, six U.S. House seats and all 170 state seats. At the state level, a number of lawmakers will be retiring, and a number are not seeking re-election, which will give the General Assembly a very different look after November.
Filing for the June 10 S.C. party primary elections opened March 16 and closes March 30. Here is a list of federal and state candidates who have filed by 9 a.m. on March 28:
U.S. Senate
Lindsey Graham, R(I)
Buddy Witherspoon, R
Michael Cone, D
U.S. House of Representatives, District 1
Henry Brown, R(I)
Paul Norris, R
Linda Ketner, D
Katherine Jenerette, R
U.S. House of Representatives, District 2
Joe Wilson, R(I)
Phil Black, R
Rob Miller, D
Blaine Lotz, D
U.S. House of Representatives, District 3
Gresham Barrett, R(I)
Jane Dyer, D
U.S. House of Representatives, District 4
Bob Inglis, R(I)
Charles Jeter, R
Ted Christian, D
Paul Corden, D
U.S. House of Representatives, District 5
John Spratt, D
U.S. House of Representatives, District 6
Jim Clyburn, D(I)
Nancy Harrelson, R
General Assembly
Senate 28: William McKown, R; Dick Elliott, D(I)
Senate 32: Yancey McGill, D(I); Laurie Alston, D
Senate 33: Luke Rankin, R(I); Liz Gilland, R
Senate 34: Ray Cleary, R(I)
House 58: Liston Barfield, R(I); Fonzie Lewis, D
House 68: Thad Viers, R(I); Steven Neeves, R; Helen Smith, R
House 104: Tracy Edge, R(I)
House 105: Kevin Hardee, R; Randy Alford, R; George Hearn, R; Mark Bennett, R
House 106: Nelson Hardwick, R(I)
House 107: Alan Clemmons, R(I)
House 108: Jill Kelso, R
On the Net
MyrtleBeachAreaChamber.com
SCStateHouse.net
House.gov
Senate.gov
USA.gov
SCChamber.net
USChamber.com
I-73.com
