Greenville News: Lawmakers Seek National Action on Illegal Immigration
Senators began debate Tuesday on a proposal to call for a national constitutional convention on the issue of illegal immigration, with one senator calling it “dangerous.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell of Charleston said he doesn’t believe his proposal will ever be realized because if enough states call for a convention, Congress will act.
However, Sen. Brad Hutto, an Orangeburg Democrat, called it an “extreme measure.”
“A constitutional convention is a very drastic, drastic step,” Hutto told the Senate. “It doesn’t seem to me this is the way to solve the problem and if we’re not going to solve the problem, it seems to me we’re just wasting time.”
Hutto said the convention, while called for one purpose, could look at many other issues despite an amendment on McConnell’s legislation proposed Tuesday that would remove the state’s call for one if other states ask for a convention for other reasons.
McConnell said his proposal is designed to send a “clarion call” to Washington that states can no longer afford Congress’ inaction on the issue.
“I am very hopeful we will never have a constitutional convention,” he told the Senate. “But what is it going to take to get the United States Congress’ attention?”
The Senate last year passed a reform proposal on illegal immigration that now rests in the House, which is debating its own plan.
Senators recently passed a bill that would require that English be the only language used by state agencies in government publications and tests.
January 30, 2008
By Tim Smith
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