While States Burn, Congress Fiddles
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Illegal immigration: While states burn, Congress fiddles
By Larry K. Grooms
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Our great national debate about illegal immigration is hardly new to the American experience. Today the controversy has reached a fever pitch, but over 200 years ago Alexander Hamilton offered his take. He wrote that the safety of a nation depends “on the energy of a common national sentiment, on a uniformity of principles and habits, on the exemption of the citizens from foreign bias and prejudice, and on that love of country which will almost invariably be found to be closely connected with birth, education and family.”
I support legal immigrants and believe, as most Americans do, that they bring with them new talents, a strong work ethic, and a genuine desire to achieve the American dream. But now, by some reports, there are as many as 38 million illegal immigrants here.
The notion of a great “melting pot” is tossed out the window when we have a half-million new, undocumented men, women and children pouring across our borders every year. There’s no way a nation, even a nation as large as ours, can assimilate them quickly enough. By the very act of stepping across our border, illegals are at once tramping on the principles that have traditionally kept America strong — our abiding sense of fair play and the rule of law. The sheer number of them, by necessity, means that our national principles and habits are weakened. Hamilton’s notion of “a common national sentiment” is diluted with each passing day.
We experience the problem even in small, non-border states like South Carolina. Our schools are overwhelmed. The S.C. Department of Education can’t even tell me the number of undocumented children we have; a court decision requires that we provide for their education and prevents asking students about their immigration status. Our health care system is strained, too. An estimated 20 percent or more of the uninsured are illegal immigrants. Hospitals are required to provide care in many cases, and Medicaid reimburses providers. In schools and emergency rooms, it’s the taxpayer who foots the bill. Meanwhile, recent news reports point out that the wages of hardworking South Carolinians are falling because of illegal immigrants in our workforce.
The issue, however, has now transcended the old debates about government entitlements, cheap labor and even a common language. These great, unchecked waves are fostering a festering resentment in Americans. In this event Hamilton warned the very fabric of society becomes endangered, since ‘the harmony of the ingredients is all important.’ We are facing what he feared would come to pass. The problem is now so acute it should become a national security priority.
Since the most fundamental and important function of government is to ensure the safety of its citizens, what then can we do? South Carolina’s ability to effectively deal with the problem is hamstrung by provisions in the U.S. Constitution that leave immigration law solely within the jurisdiction of the federal government. The states have very few mechanisms available for meaningful reform. What limited legislation the South Carolina Legislature may be able to pass risks being shot down by federal judges. Yet Congress has not acted. While the states burn, Congress fiddles. A new and more basic, some would say radical, approach is needed.
S.C. Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell has introduced an ingenious plan that addresses the issue head on. Under Article V of the Constitution, the S.C. General Assembly can petition Congress to call a convention for the sole purpose of giving states the ability to address illegal immigration. This exceptional and unprecedented resolution, if approved by two-thirds of the states, would require Congress to call this convention, where the issue could be dealt with once and for all. The purpose would be straightforward: states would be given the ability to permit or deny benefits to illegal immigrants, as well as the ability to enforce federal immigration laws within their borders. States would also be given the ability to apprehend and expel violators and the provision would mandate that the federal government provide timely assistance with deportation.
The fact that apparently no one has thought of this move before reflects not only Sen. McConnell’s creative thinking, but also shows how far we have moved away from the notion of republicanism and states’ rights. The beauty of the proposal lies in its reliance on the most basic principles of our founding. It also has the practical effect of forcing action and could very well mean the states will get relief.
I am a co-sponsor of this resolution and will do everything I can to help ensure its passage. The call for a constitutional convention is a plea for help. If Congress can’t see the handwriting on the wall and do its duty, the states are obligated to do theirs.
State Senators Inform Public About Illegal Immigration.
Filed Under Campsen, Caucus, Scott, Top News | 2 Comments
North Charleston, SC - Some Lowcountry lawmakers are taking up the illegal immigration battle and trying to make some changes at the state level.
State senators are holding a public hearing to inform citizens about the bill they are trying to push.
The bill would attempt to prevent employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Lawmakers say they hope this bill will give the jobs back to the citizens.
The Illegal Immigration Reform Act would penalize people who hire illegal immigrants.
One of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Randy Scott of Summerville, is pushing the bill which he says is a step in the right direction.
“This bill actually came about because people of South Carolina are just fed up with illegal immigrants and it’s time to do something about it,” Scott said.
This “something” would not allow state and local governments to contract with businesses that employ illegal immigrants and would allow local governments to detain illegal immigrants and hit the federal government with the bill.
From ABC News 4 in Charleston:
“If you hire somebody, go ahead and be sure that he is legal. [Make sure he/she's] not an illegal alien standing out on the corner, or 15 or 20 of them, who jump in the back of a truck, work and you pay them cash. That’s over with,” Scott explained.
Senator Chip Campsen of Isle of Palms is also sponsoring the bill and attended the public hearing where he and Sen. Scott hope to get the word out about trying to do something about the problem. A problem some say the federal government has swept under the rug.
The bill, which was introduced in April, and passed in the State Senate and is now sitting in the House Judiciary Committee.
SCGOP: Bill Clyburn must not let Clinton and Obama interfere in South Carolina election
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South Carolina Republican Party
Press Release
State Rep. Bill Clyburn must not let Clinton and Obama interfere in South Carolina election
SCGOP Chairman says Clyburn running scared; Clinton, Obama pandering to Jim Clyburn
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson today released the following statement on State Rep. Bill Clyburn’s intention to use Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to campaign against Republican State Senate candidate Shane Massey:“Shane Massey is a reform-minded conservative with broad appeal, and his conservative message has resonated with voters in Aiken, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties,” said South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson. “Now, his opponent State Rep. Bill Clyburn is running scared enough to turn his campaign over to radical liberals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in a last-ditch effort to get elected.”
“It’s easy to see why Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are willing to take over Bill Clyburn’s campaign – they think helping Bill Clyburn will secure them a political endorsement from Bill Clyburn’s cousin U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn.”
Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, third most-powerful Democrat in Congress, told the Associated Press that Democrat presidential candidates “ought to be involved” in getting his cousin Bill Clyburn elected to the State Senate (Associated Press, 10/8/2007). While U.S. Rep. Clyburn claimed not to have pressured any candidate to campaign for his cousin, he said he “hopes the battalions of volunteers formed by presidential candidates swinging through South Carolina will help his cousin (Associated Press, 10/8/2007).
“State Rep. Bill Clyburn will face a backlash on election day because, here in South Carolina, voters don’t like to see out-of-state liberal politicians who support abortion-on-demand, gay marriage and higher taxes meddle in our state elections,” said Dawson.
“We are proud Shane Massey is standing up for our conservative South Carolina values on the campaign trail, and we will work hard to ensure he joins our conservative team in the General Assembly. Today, I call on State Rep. Bill Clyburn to decline support from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Otherwise, a vote for Bill Clyburn will be a vote for radical liberal values.”
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Meet Shane Massey. Get Involved!
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Meet Shane Massey.
Shane Massey is the Republican nominee in the special election for State Senate District 25.Shane is energetic and passionate about public service. And he’s already proven that he’s ready to do the hard work it takes to hold state government accountable.
Shane will be a great addition to our twenty-six Republican State Senators fighting for your conservative values. Like us:
- Shane understands the importance of low taxes and less government in job creation.
- Shane recognizes that we must reform government for South Carolina’s working families.
- Shane knows that we can bring change to government while protecting the values on which our state and nation were built.So, it’s time for us to join with statewide conservatives and do our part and elect Shane Massey. Get involved today by visiting www.shaneforsenate.com.
