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 Post subject: Governor, Party Leaders: Immigration unimportant (2/28/08)
PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 11:53 pm 
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Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:30 pm
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It seems that the immigration bill is not nearly as important to Governor Daniels and Senator Long as it is to the working people of Indiana. Read the following from Jim Shella’s blog on WISH TV’s website and tell me. Does it sound like this bill is a priority???:

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/link.asp?L ... enu35_2_11

Leave it for the Feds?

February 28, 2008 – 12:28 pm

What if the immigration bill now before the Indiana House of
Representatives dies?

I asked that question at a news conference this morning and Senate President Pro Tem David Long said, “It will not be the end of the world.”

So, I asked Governor Mitch Daniels what he thought of Long’s remark. He said, “I defer to the Senator.”


Bill author, Sen. Mike Delph meantime, says the future of the bill aimed at employers who hire illegal immigrants is in the hands of legislative leadership.

***
[This previous Shella blog asks the same question I’ve been asking all along—Are the party leaders trying to kill this bill?]
***


Immigration limbo?

February 20, 2008 – 6:49 pm

The immigration bill passed by the Indiana House Public Policy Committee didn’t get recommitted to the House Ways and Means Committee, according to Chairman Bill Crawford, despite the fact that it has a $1.5 million appropriation in it.

Now its too late. Crawford announced this evening that his committee is done with its work for the session. According to House Rules re-committal was not mandatory but it is customary.

Questions:

Will someone object to a vote on the House floor?

What happens then?

Is this a strategy to kill the bill?

********************************************************************************************************************
While there is a show of bi-partisan cooperation between Speaker Bauer-D and Minority Leader Bosma-R, and they are expected to vote SB 345 out of the House today, there are political shenanigans behind the scenes which indicate that the leadership of both parties in both houses will try to derail the bill entirely or water it down so it’s ineffective. Passing SB 345 is not the end of the legislative process, it is only a step in the right direction. The bill can still be weakened or strengthened in conference committee. This is why your continued passionate involvement is so vitally necessary.

We the people have made our cries for fairness and a return to the rule of law well known. But the politicians will ignore us if they can get away with it. Your job is to let them know in no uncertain terms that we are watching. We want an immigration bill this year and we want a fair and effective one. We want the games to stop and we want both sides to work together to deliver a bill that meets our high expectations. We will hold both parties responsible if they do not pass a good immigration bill this year. We are in no mood for their games.


TAKE ACTION:
To start with, please make calls and emails to the following:

Governor Mitch Daniels-R
1-317-232-4567
Fax: 317-232-3443
Email the Governor at this link: http://www.in.gov/gov/2310.htm
Or direct: mdaniels@gov.in.gov
****************************************************************************************************************
Toll free number for all state senators: 1-800-382-9467

Senator David Long-R, s16@in.gov
Senator Sue Landske-R, s6@in.gov

Senator Richard Young-D, s47@in.gov
Senator Vi Simpson-D, s40@in.gov

*****************************************************************************************************************

House Democrats: 1-800-382-9842
Speaker, B. Patrick Bauer, h6@in.gov


House Republicans: 1-800-382-9841
Minority Leader, Brian Bosma, h88@in.gov


Last edited by Cheree on Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:16 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 12:30 am 
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Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:30 pm
Posts: 2037
Since reading the Shella blogs, concerned citizens have been calling Kristen, Gov. Daniels’ immigration specialist to find out where he stands on this critical piece of legislation.

According to Kristen:
1. The Governor does not take positions on pending legislation.
2. When asked what he generally thinks about the problem of illegal immigration in Indiana, she replied, “it’s a federal problem”

Kristen went on to tell me the Governor has told the feds to fix the immigration problem. Oh! Well, I guess we can all go home now! Job done!

Imagine my surprise when I read this in the Star: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a ... 1/80228024

Governor Daniels apparently broke with precedent today when giving his opinions on property tax legislation pending before the General Assembly.

He hinted that he might even call a special session if lawmakers “fail to pass a constitutional amendment permanently capping property tax bills.” He went on to say, "I dont think it will come to that," he said. "This is clearly something that a huge majority of Hoosiers believe is fair and want. I think the legislators know it. I think that in the end, given a free opportunity to do so, a big majority will vote for it."

What am I missing here? Property taxes and illegal immigration are the top two issues in Indiana. They go hand in glove. Why doesn't illegal immigration warrant the same attention? I can only surmise that we are not getting through to Gov. Daniels and party leaders. Constituent surveys from around the state have shown that over 87% of Hoosiers want something done about illegal immigration. All 50 states are considering immigration legislation this year. The laws are working in the states that have passed them AND they are meeting constitutional muster.

The Governor is really out of touch if his assistant can say illegal immigration is "a federal problem." But, what should we expect? After all, this is the same Governor who said in a radio interview, "What do you want me to do? Send in the Guard?" when asked if he could help Frankfort, IN solve their illegal immigration problems. Did you happen to hear him?

Email Governor Mitch Daniels: mdaniels@gov.in.gov


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:33 pm 
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Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:30 pm
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In case you want to read the whole article on how the Governor weighed in on the property tax issue, here it is:



12:33 PM February 28, 2008


Prop tax debate includes threat of special session
By Mary Beth Schneider
mary.beth.schneider@indystar.com
February 28, 2008


Gov. Mitch Daniels might call lawmakers into special session if they reach agreement on a property tax package but fail to pass a constitutional amendment permananently capping property tax bills, Senate leaders said today.
But Daniels, speaking to reporters shortly afterward, said he doesn't expect to have to make that decision.
"I dont think it will come to that," he said. "This is clearly something that a huge majority of Hoosiers believe is fair and want. I think the legislators know it. I think that in the end, given a free opportunity to do so, a big majority will vote for it."

But Daniels also made it clear he considers putting the caps into the constitution crucial.

"There aren't too many things that I think of as absolute musts in this bill, but that's one," he said. "I want to be as flexible as I can be about the specifics of the package. I welcome a lot of changes, but not this one. We need the caps."

Senate President Pro Tempore David Long, R-Fort Wayne, and Sen. Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, agree.

Those caps, initially proposed by Daniels in October, would cap homeowners' bills at 1 percent of their home's assessed valuation; rental and agricultural property at 2 percent and business property at 3 percent.

Democrats who control the House will vote on the proposed constitutional amendment later today, but have altered the caps so that for homeowners, the limits would be based in part on income. The goal, they have said, is to do more to help lower and moderate-income Hoosiers.

Kenley said he spoke to Daniels on Wednesday.

"He was very strong" on the need for the caps to be in the constitution, "and might even call us into a special session if we do everything else and don't have the constitutional cap," Kenley said. "I actually would applaud him if he stood to that level of strength on the issue, because I agree with that."

Long said Daniels told them the caps are "crucial."

Lawmakers have until March 14 to pass a property reform package. Daniels has warned that if they fail, he will call them into special session. Kenley and Long, though, said they are optimistic the legislature can reach an agreement that avoids an overtime session.


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