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 Post subject: Talking points from Numbers USA: Demand a vote on SB580
PostPosted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:13 am 
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Immigration Crackdown Bill Sent to Dead-End Committee in Indiana State House


Call to Speaker Bauer, Select Legislators to Demand Passage of SB 580



This is a special message for NumbersUSA members in Indiana.




After State Sen. Mike Delph’s illegal-immigration crackdown bill (SB 580) passed the Indiana Senate, Speaker B. Patrick Bauer (D-6) had control over whether it would be taken up by a House committee that was favorably disposed to passing it or a dead-end committee. Speaker Bauer chose the latter. The bill is now in Rep. Earl Harris’ (D-2) Interstate and International Cooperation Committee, which is known to kill most legislation. Unless Indiana activists can persuade Speaker Bauer to re-assign the bill to a more favorable committee – like Rep. Trent Van Haaften’s (D-76) Public Policy Committee which heard the bill last year – or convince Rep. Harris and committee members to take up and pass the bill, SB 580 could be dead for the year.



Speaker Bauer’s decision is likely the result of the Indiana business community’s efforts to defeat the bill. They formed a front group called the Green Industry Alliance and hired a powerful lobbyist, Mike Leppert, to convince legislators that the public does not want SB 580.


Confirming our fears, Rep. Harris on March 11 told WISH TV in Indianapolis that he doesn’t plan on taking a vote (see related story and video) on the bill. The ABC affiliate’s story included a quote by lobbyist Leppert who said, “(The bill) doesn't have the support of the people of Indiana with regard to immigration reform at the state level.” WISH TV should know better. A public opinion survey conducted by WISH TV in mid-October of 2008 concluded that 71% of respondents supported tougher penalties on employers who knowingly and willingly hire illegal immigrants.



As passed by the Senate, SB 580 would prohibit employers from knowingly employing illegal aliens and would require state and local governments, and their contractors, to use the federal E-Verify system to check the employment eligibility of new hires. Some private employers also would be required to use E-Verify under the bill, but most would be subject to an administrative complaint process (individuals could file complaints with the state attorney general) that could lead to a business-license suspension or revocation for those found to have knowingly hired illegal aliens. Companies that use E-Verify, or comply in good faith with federal laws and regulations in the hiring of foreign agricultural workers or temporary seasonal workers, are provided safe harbor against such administrative actions. The bill also bans sanctuary policies, requires state correctional facilities to check the immigration status of inmates, and mandates the use of the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to verify eligibility for public benefits.





All Indiana members are asked to call and email Speaker Bauer to demand that SB 580 be re-assigned to a committee (e.g., the House Public Policy Committee) where it will get a fair hearing.



In case Speaker Bauer refuses to re-assign the bill, All Indiana members are also asked to call and email Rep. Harris to demand that SB 580 be given an up-or-down vote now in committee.




Unless the bill is re-assigned, the members of the Interstate and International Cooperation Committee are also critical to the bill’s future. If you are a constituent of one of the following legislators, please call and email to demand that a vote be held on SB 580 and ask for a YES vote:

Rep. Dennis Avery
Rep. Bruce Borders
Rep. Charlie Brown
Rep. Chet Dobis, Vice Chair
Rep. Dale Grubb
Rep. Doug Gutwein
Rep. Timothy Knollman
Rep. Richard McClain
Rep. Paul Robertson
Rep. Dan Stevenson
Rep. Randy Truitt



If you are not a constituent of one of these five legislators, please contact Speaker Bauer and Chairman Harris only.





Rep. Scott Pelath (D-9), the bill’s House sponsor, also plays a critical role because he can either fight to move it forward and keep it intact or allow it to die or be weakened. Pelath has told SB 580 backers that it is still possible to pass the bill. We encourage his constituents to call and email to thank him for his leadership, and to ask that ensure that SB 580 receives a vote and is not watered down.



If you need to look up your Representative’s name, click on "Who are your legislators?" then on the subsequent page select "Indiana House" under the "Elected Office" tab and type in your zip code.




All Indiana NumbersUSA members should contact: Speaker B. Patrick Bauer



1-800-382-9842 h6@in.gov



Talking Points for Speaker Bauer




I am deeply disappointed that you have assigned SB 580 to the Interstate and International Cooperation Committee. Everyone knows that is a dead-end committee. For Indiana’s sake, please re-assign the bill to the Public Policy Committee or another committee where it will be given a fair up-or-down vote.


A public opinion survey conducted by WISH TV in mid-October of 2008 concluded that 71% of Indiana respondents supported tougher penalties on employers who knowingly and willingly hire illegal immigrants. Hoosiers do not want to wait until next year for action.


Our state and our nation are hurting. SB 580 will free-up illegal alien jobs for unemployed Americans, reduce illegal-alien crime, and lessen the burden on taxpayers during this recession. Your constituents are counting on you, so don't let us down.


No state or country can hope to discourage illegal immigration without removing the jobs magnet that draws illegal workers to our communities. That is why it is critical for public and private employers to verify the eligibility of their employees to work in the U.S. By the same token, it is counterproductive to keep recycling illegal-alien criminals through our justice system. Those eligible for deportation should be identified in the correctional system and moved into federal custody for removal. Finally, the state can no longer afford to underwrite business' desire to hire cheap illegal labor. The cost of public benefits for illegal aliens far exceeds the taxes they pay so Indiana needs to start screening for eligibility.


There are no longer any valid excuses for allowing government or businesses to continue to hire illegal workers, not when there are so many citizens and legal residents struggling to find work. These are Americans who can no longer pay their mortgages or afford to put food on the table.


More and more state and local governments are implementing workplace verification systems that will help public and private employers hire a legal workforce, protect American workers from unfair labor competition, discourage future illegal immigration, and end exploitative labor practices.


Most foreign workers in this country are an incredible drain on taxpayers, especially on those who pay property and sales taxes to state and local governments. The Heritage Foundation discovered that the typical household headed by a low-educated foreign worker uses $20,000 more in public services than paid in taxes -- with most of the net cost on state and local governments. Our state and our nation are hurting. Taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for illegal-alien public benefits.


It is dangerous, expensive and counterproductive to keep recycling illegal-alien criminals through our justice system. Those eligible for deportation should be identified in the correctional system and moved into federal custody for removal. We need the additional protection afforded by a prison immigration status check.





All Indiana NumbersUSA members should contact: Committee Chair Earl Harris



1-800-382-9842 h2@in.gov

Talking Points for Rep. Harris:



I am deeply disappointed that you have stated that SB 580 will not get a vote or even a hearing this year in your Interstate and International Cooperation Committee. You are killing our best chance to help free up jobs for less-educated, lower income Hoosiers. You must re-consider your position. We cannot wait until another year to fix the illegal immigration problem. Too many unemployed citizens and legal residents need help now. Please give SB 580 a fair up-or-down vote.


A public opinion survey conducted by WISH TV in mid-October of 2008 concluded that 71% of Indiana respondents supported tougher penalties on employers who knowingly and willingly hire illegal immigrants. Hoosiers do not want to wait until next year for action.


Our state and our nation are hurting. Now is the time to stand up for policies that will free-up illegal alien jobs for unemployed Americans, reduce illegal-alien crime, and lessen the burden on taxpayers during this recession. Your constituents are counting on you, so don't let us down.


No state or country can hope to discourage illegal immigration without removing the jobs magnet that draws illegal workers to our communities. That is why it is critical for public and private employers to verify the eligibility of their employees to work in the U.S. By the same token, it is counterproductive to keep recycling illegal-alien criminals through our justice system. Those eligible for deportation should be identified in the correctional system and moved into federal custody for removal. Finally, the state can no longer afford to underwrite business' desire to hire cheap illegal labor. The cost of public benefits for illegal aliens far exceeds the taxes they pay so Indiana needs to start screening for eligibility.


There are no longer any valid excuses for allowing government or businesses to continue to hire illegal workers, not when there are so many citizens and legal residents struggling to find work. These are Americans who can no longer pay their mortgages or afford to put food on the table.


More and more state and local governments are implementing workplace verification systems that will help public and private employers hire a legal workforce, protect American workers from unfair labor competition, discourage future illegal immigration, and end exploitative labor practices.


Most foreign workers in this country are an incredible drain on taxpayers, especially on those who pay property and sales taxes to state and local governments. The Heritage Foundation discovered that the typical household headed by a low-educated foreign worker uses $20,000 more in public services than paid in taxes -- with most of the net cost on state and local governments. Our state and our nation are hurting. Taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for illegal-alien public benefits.


It is dangerous, expensive and counterproductive to keep recycling illegal-alien criminals through our justice system. Those eligible for deportation should be identified in the correctional system and moved into federal custody for removal. We need the additional protection afforded by a prison immigration status check.


Contact by constituents only: House Interstate and International Cooperation Committee Members:


Rep. Dennis Avery (D-75) 1-800-382-9842 h75@in.gov


Rep. Bruce Borders (R-45) 1-800-382-9841 h45@in.gov


Rep. Charlie Brown (D-3) 1-800-382-9842 h3@in.gov


Rep. Chet Dobis (D-13) 1-800.382.9842 h13@in.gov (Vice Chair)


Rep. F. Dale Grubb (D-42) 1-800-382-9842 h42@in.gov


Rep. Doug Gutwein (R-16) 1-800-382-9841 h16@in.gov


Rep. Thomas Knollman (R-55) 1-800-382-9841 h55@in.gov


Rep. Richard McClain (R-24) 1-800-382-9841 h24@in.gov


Rep. Paul Robertson (D-70) 1-800-382-9842 h70@in.gov


Rep. Dan Stevenson (D-11) 1-800-382-9842 h11@in.gov


Rep. Randy Truitt (R-26) 1-800-382-9841 h26@in.gov





Talking Points for Committee Members




I am deeply disappointed that Chairman Harris has stated that SB 580 will not get a vote or even a hearing this year in the Interstate and International Cooperation Committee. This will kill our best chance to help free up jobs for less-educated, lower income Hoosiers. Harris must re-consider that position. We cannot wait until another year to fix the illegal immigration problem. Too many unemployed citizens and legal residents need help now. Please work to get SB 580 a fair up-or-down vote and vote YES on the measure.


A public opinion survey conducted by WISH TV in mid-October of 2008 concluded that 71% of Indiana respondents supported tougher penalties on employers who knowingly and willingly hire illegal immigrants. Hoosiers do not want to wait until next year for action.


Our state and our nation are hurting. Now is the time to stand up for policies that will free-up illegal alien jobs for unemployed Americans, reduce illegal-alien crime, and lessen the burden on taxpayers during this recession. Your constituents are counting on you, so don't let us down.


No state or country can hope to discourage illegal immigration without removing the jobs magnet that draws illegal workers to our communities. That is why it is critical for public and private employers to verify the eligibility of their employees to work in the U.S. By the same token, it is counterproductive to keep recycling illegal-alien criminals through our justice system. Those eligible for deportation should be identified in the correctional system and moved into federal custody for removal. Finally, the state can no longer afford to underwrite business' desire to hire cheap illegal labor. The cost of public benefits for illegal aliens far exceeds the taxes they pay so Indiana needs to start screening for eligibility.


There are no longer any valid excuses for allowing government or businesses to continue to hire illegal workers, not when there are so many citizens and legal residents struggling to find work. These are Americans who can no longer pay their mortgages or afford to put food on the table.


More and more state and local governments are implementing workplace verification systems that will help public and private employers hire a legal workforce, protect American workers from unfair labor competition, discourage future illegal immigration, and end exploitative labor practices.


Most foreign workers in this country are an incredible drain on taxpayers, especially on those who pay property and sales taxes to state and local governments. The Heritage Foundation discovered that the typical household headed by a low-educated foreign worker uses $20,000 more in public services than paid in taxes -- with most of the net cost on state and local governments. Our state and our nation are hurting. Taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for illegal-alien public benefits.


It is dangerous, expensive and counterproductive to keep recycling illegal-alien criminals through our justice system. Those eligible for deportation should be identified in the correctional system and moved into federal custody for removal. We need the additional protection afforded by a prison immigration status check.





Contact by constituents only:



Rep. Scott Pelath 1-800-382-9842 h9@in.gov



Talking Points for Rep. Pelath




I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for sponsoring SB 580, a bill that will free-up illegal alien jobs for unemployed Americans, reduce illegal-alien crime, and lessen the burden on taxpayers during this recession. Your constituents are counting on you push hard to get a vote on the bill and keep the Senate-passed bill intact. It holds the right mix of policies for Indiana.


A public opinion survey conducted by WISH TV in mid-October of 2008 concluded that 71% of Indiana respondents supported tougher penalties on employers who knowingly and willingly hire illegal immigrants. Thank you for understanding that Hoosiers do not want to wait until next year for action.


No state or country can hope to discourage illegal immigration without removing the jobs magnet that draws illegal workers to our communities. That is why it is critical for public and private employers to verify the eligibility of their employees to work in the U.S. By the same token, it is counterproductive to keep recycling illegal-alien criminals through our justice system. Those eligible for deportation should be identified in the correctional system and moved into federal custody for removal. Finally, the state can no longer afford to underwrite business' desire to hire cheap illegal labor. The cost of public benefits for illegal aliens far exceeds the taxes they pay so Indiana needs to start screening for eligibility.


It took over 20 years to create today's illegal immigration crisis, and it may take another ten to substantially reduce our current illegal population, but we will take the first step down that road with your bill. This will steadily make more jobs available for unemployed legal residents; improve the quality of life; lessen the cost of government for taxpayers; and discourage future illegal immigration. And that will make Indiana a more attractive place to live and work - the kind of place that makes it worthwhile to play by the rules.


There are no longer any valid excuses for allowing government or businesses to continue to hire illegal workers, not when there are so many citizens and legal residents struggling to find work. These are Americans who can no longer pay their mortgages or afford to put food on the table. Please carry this forward in your mind as you engage in the difficult fight for House passage of SB 580.




Numbers USA
1601 N. Kent Street
Suite 1100
Arlington, VA 22209


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