Sanford’s welcome concern on immigration bill’s ‘pitfall’

Filed Under Top News, Campsen, McConnell

Gov. Mark Sanford expressed his concern this week about a serious “pitfall” in the immigration bill now in a House-Senate conference committee. His position is indicative of a welcome and growing recognition that the legislation isn’t as strong as it easily could and should be.

The flaw in the House bill was the lack of a private employer verification system. The House version only required those businesses with government contracts to verify a worker’s legal status. The Senate version compounded the flaw with a private employer verification requirement that is virtually worthless.

That point has been convincingly made by two Lowcountry senators, Chip Campsen and Glenn McConnell, who sounded the “sham” alarm. The problem is a verification option known as the I-9 which is part of the discredited federal system.

Sens. Campsen and McConnell contend that their colleagues caved in to pressure from lobbyists for business interests who want to retain the relatively worthless federal I-9.