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Key legislation that passed

Gary Reese
Editor

April 15 2011

Illegal immigration

The Senate finally checked off on House Bill 87, and Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to sign it into law. This illegal immigration reform legislation will force private employers in Georgia with 10 or more employees to participate in the federal E-Verity system. That’s a data base that allows prospective new hires to be checked for the legal status of their residency in America. Some provisions were added that give businesses a grace period in which to comply.

The bill also will allow police to check the residency status of certain persons who have violated other, often lesser laws. Expect court challenges to the legislation.

Few noticed the 100 or so protestors outside the Washington Street entrance to the Capitol on Thursday night. And that’s an important point. While Georgia’s apparent new law on illegal immigration has been labeled “Arizona-style,” for the internationally controversial immigration law in Arizona (which is now in the courts), the uproar in Georgia has been nothing like it has been out west.

That’s because Georgia, although it’s estimated to have more illegals than Arizona, is not a border state. Nor does it have a Latino political culture such as Arizona’s – at least not yet. (Another likely reason for the light turnout on Washington Street: Many illegal immigrants are understandably afraid to gather anywhere they can identified – although they doubtless would have been allowed to protest Thursday without being harassed in any way.)

As HB 87 made its way through the lawmaking process, InsiderAdvantage Georgia published a number of op-eds and “educational” pieces by nationally known pro-enforcement activist D.A. King. Although IAG took no editorial position on illegal immigration, we called upon King to do so because he writes a lively and fact-filled piece. We’ll soon have King write a detailed analysis of what to expect now that HB 87 will soon become law.

Said King on Thursday night, “Thanks to the tenacious work of [bill sponsor] Matt Ramsey this year and Chip Rogers five years ago, the state of Georgia is poised to prove the obvious. On illegal immigration, enforcement works. It was a huge victory today for common sense and the rule of law.”

Governor’s praise and diplomacy

In a late-afternoon address to the House, Gov. Nathan Deal said the special legislative session on redistricting will be called sometime in mid-August. He also congratulated the General Assembly for cobbling together the state’s $18.3 billion budget for 2012 without undue friction among lawmakers, and without excessive delay. The budget passed April 12 – instead of on sine die, with only hours or minutes to spare in the 40-day legislative session.

Deal later spoke to the Senate, where he made light of that chamber’s festering leadership fight by bringing to the rostrum a wrestler’s belt, to symbolize the rough-and-ready goings-on this year in the Senate.

Ethics bandages

The House overwhelmingly approved a bill that would prohibit lobbyists from spending money to schmooze state employees. The Senate had already voted to pass it. Gov. Deal is expected to sign the bill, which also allows employees of utility companies to make campaign contributions.

2012 session

Looking ahead to the 2012 session: The Legislature then is expected to tackle the issue of lighter or no prison sentences for non-violent drug offenders and others. Lawmakers this year established a special panel to look into the matter over the coming months.

Governor of Atlanta

After considerable haggling and lobbying – and considerable media and community attention – the General Assembly passed a bill that will allow Gov. Deal to remove members of the beleaguered Atlanta Public Schools board. The bill will undoubtedly be signed by Gov. Deal, and reviewed by the U.S. Justice Department.

Tax breaks
No tax reform overhaul passed this year, put tax breaks for a select few businesses and industries are headed to the governor’s office. After a dose of brinksmanship between the House and Senate over Senate changes to the bill, Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines got a $20 million exemption on the fiscal year that begins July 1 and $10 million the following fiscal year. The tax break would sunset in 2013.

Legislators also approved a bill that would continue a sales tax break for customers of companies like Gulfstream, which services private jets. And in late move than annoyed some, an amendment was added that would provide pricey tax breaks for businesses that design and construct certain tourist attractions, such as conference centers, golf courses and the like.

The estimated revenue loss to the state for these tax breaks could reach roughly $90 million.

Obama not

The Senate approved 35-18 a bill that would enter Georgia into an interstate healthcare compact with other states. The measure, now headed to the governor, is a nose-thumbing at the federal “ObamaCare” healthcare plan. The multi-state compact would set up so-called health insurance alliances independent of Washington. .