Georgia Immigration-Themed Legislative Rundown (post Cross Over Day)

Now, a Summary:
Three alive bills
- The Senate and House versions of the Show Me Your Papers/ Arizona copycat bills, SB 40 and HB 87 cross to the opposite chamber for committee hearings.(SB 40 now in House Judiciary Non-Civil and HB 87 in Senate Judiciary)
- The SB 162 bill that makes a DUI a felony on first occurrence ONLY for an undocumented person, is in House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee (we believe this passed the Senate in a fluke and can be stalled out on the House side, but watch for alerts)

Bills that were stopped and cannot proceed as written*:
SB 7 - Hurt and Run - denial of workers comp to an undocumented worker
SB 27 - Mandatory E-VERIFY
SB 104 - Arizona copycat bill on steroids
SB 172 - Mandatory 287g for counties over 100k population
HB 59 - Destroy the Dream ban on college access even at out of state tuition rate
HB 72 - English Only for drivers license written test
*we do watch for attempts to amend other bills with language from these failed proposals

This Week:
The week began with the Senate vote on SB 40, the Senate Arizona copycat version that many considered less comprehensive than the House "Show Me Your Papers" HB 87. This bill is still considered by progressives to be totally unacceptable and unworkable & very bad for Georgia. Many followed the extended debate that saw bipartisan opposition, There were Senators who spoke against the bill and then voted for it, and other nuanced maneuvers.

The 34-21 passage included three Republicans voting No. Two of those three thought the bill unworkable but the other thought the bill not tough enough. One excused absence, non-voting Senator (Democrat) would have voted No. And two Democrats voted for. Since there were a couple of Republican Senators that expressed problems with the bill prior to the vote (mostly from districts that are heavily influenced by agricultural interests) progressives were disappointed that they didn't have the political courage to vote accordingly. In addition to the pressure on Republicans to support a Party priority, there was also a feeling that the Senate version had to be kept alive to be "competition" for the more onerous HB 87. Everyone expects that whatever emerges as a final version of a "Show Me Your Papers Bill" will be the result of a conference committee re-write once the two bills work their way through the opposite chamber processes. 

Due to the knowledge that some of the Republican Yes votes were weak, there was a motion to reconsider the vote. This motion would give Senators the opportunity to change their minds. It would have taken a switch of at least 6 Senators to have been successful. If this number could not be achieved, there would be no reason for a reconsideration vote to be taken. And that is what happened. So in sum, there WERE Senators willing to reconsider but not unless they were covered by at least 6 others. SB 40 moves to the House as passed Monday 3-14 by the original vote of 34-21. It was not "passed again" on 3-16, there simply was no vote on reconsideration, the 3-14 vote stands.

The infamous Crossover Day came with the intense drama of not only working to turn Senators on SB 40, but also working, waiting and preparing for potential House action on HB 59 "Destroy the Dream" and the tabled HB 72 English Only bill-which HB 72 English fell under a different procedure because it was a Tabled bill. It was not subject to the Supplemental Calendar process, it actually could have been called at any time in between other bills. The Speaker could entertain a Motion for Remove from the Table. He never recognized a member to make that motion, so this bill technically expired just as the other bills failing to pass by Crossover Day. 

Next Week:
The House and Senate are in session Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (start time is 1:00 pm Monday and 10:00 am Tuesday and Wednesday)
No Committee meetings have yet been scheduled for any immigration-related bills in either the House or Senate, but they could come up quick. Only a few committees have posted their hearings for next week. 

Alive Bills:
SB 162 Felony DUI for first violation ONLY if undocumented, has already been assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil
SB 40 Show Me Your Papers (Senate version), we are sure will also go to Judiciary Non-Civil, but the assignment is official Monday
HB 87 Show Me Your Papers (House version) is already in Senate Judiciary, but not yet scheduled for hearing

The bills all go through the same procedure in the opposite chamber as they went through already.

Both Chambers:
1- Committee hearing or hearings. (Possible sub-committee assignment before full committee hearing, but not really likely for 40 or 87 but SB 162 may be buried in a sub-committee)
2- If passed by Committee, it will go to Rules
3- Rules decides if or when bill gets a floor vote

from Chamber to Chamber:
4- (a) If House votes yes to SB 40 in committee and the floor, it will go back to the Senate for a vote to approve the House passed version of that Senate bill.
(b) If the Senate votes yes to HB 87 in committee and the floor, it will go back to the House for a vote to approve the Senate version of that House bill.

5. If either chamber approves immediately the bills sent back to them from the opposite chamber, then the bill passes and goes to the Governor. Whichever bill is acted upon first becomes it.

6. if the rival chambers will NOT wholesale agree to the versions of the bill sent back to them from the other side.

7. This "disagree" posture will trigger what they call Conference Committee. Three members of the Senate are chosen to meet with three chosen members from the House.

8. The Conference Committee meets to take both bills and try to agree on a re-write that potentially includes portions of both bills. They have total latitude in this re-write process, 

9. Once the Conference Committee comes to agreement, their re-write goes to both the House and Senate for a vote to agree or disagree.

there are only 10 working days to do this. The 10 days will stretch into at least the second week of April. Although we do know they plan to be in recess April 4-8, the other days past the 28th are not yet announced.

TOMORROW: SAY NO TO HB 87! Yes to IMMIGRANT RIGHTS!

SPREAD THE WORD...FORWARD THIS EMAIL....TOMORROW: SAY NO TO HB 87! 
Yes to IMMIGRANT RIGHTS!

The House will  be voting on the anti-immigrant Arizona Copycat bill, HB 87 TOMORROW, March 3rd in the morning.  We are calling for a RALLY at 2:00pm (the time changed due to the schedule of the vote).  We do not know yet the outcome (but predictions are looking bad), so we must be prepared.  So if it loses, then we celebrate but if it passes, then we MUST be out there to SHAME the legislators who voted on it, and to immediately begin to pressure the Senate to oppose its version and the Governor to commit to VETO it.  Democratic legislators, including Leader Stacey Abrams, will be joining us. 

FORWARD THIS EMAIL.  COMMIT TO COME.  BRING FRIENDS. FAMILY.  NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOW OPPOSITION TO THIS RACIST "SHOW ME YOUR PAPERS" BILL!.

WHAT:  Rally for Immigrant Rights and Against HB 87!  Urge the Governor to Commit to Veto the Bill, Urge the Senate to Vote DOWN its version.

WHERE:  Front steps of the capitol, Washington side.

WHEN: 2pm!!! 

WHY:   To show the media and the public that we will not be silent as immigrants are attacked and scapegoated.  To urge the Governor to Commit to Veto the Bill, and Urge the Senate to Vote DOWN its version.  If is approved tomorrow, the fight still goes on.  This is not a done deal BUT we must be out there to show them we are serious and will not be silent!

For questions call Lisa at 404.567.9451 or email Lisaadler@gmail.com

LA LUCHA SIGUE!

Action Needed NOW on HB 87! Up For Floor Vote TOMORROW!!!

HB 87, “show me your papers” bill will be up for a vote on the House floor tomorrow! please refer to the ACLU of Georgia fact sheet, http://www.acluga.org/HB_87legislativesummarysheet.pdf, to learn more about how this bill would hurt our state and our communities and why we need to oppose it forcefully!

 

Please take a minute TODAY and tomorrow morning to call your house rep. to ask them to vote NO on this racial profiling, anti-immigrant bill (you can refer to the talking points in the fact sheet). 
Find out who represents you in the GA House here: http://www.votesmart.org/

Please also take a moment to call the Speaker of the House and a few key Republicans:
Speaker of the House David Ralston: (404) 656-5020
Rep. Amy Carter 404.651.7737 amy.carter@house.ga.gov
Rep. Doug Collins 404.651.7737 doug.collins@house.ga.gov
Rep. Christian Coomer 404.656.0109 christian.coomer@house.ga.gov
Rep. Sharon Cooper 404.656.5069 sharon.cooper@house.ga.gov
Rep. Penny Houston 404.463.2247 penny.houston@house.ga.gov
Rep. Mike Jacobs 404.656.0152 repjacobs@comcast.net
Rep. Doug McKillip 404.656.0177 doug@dougmckillip.com
Rep. Rusty Kidd 404.656.0202
Rep. B.J. Pak 404.656.0254 bj.pak@house.ga.gov

Please circulate this alert far and wide!

An Open Letter to Georgia House Speaker David Ralston on HB 87 by Atty Charles Kuck

Leading Immigration Attorney, Charles Kuck gives his analysis of Georgia’s Arizona’s SB 1070 copycat bill, HB 87:  http://boribella.edublogs.org/files/2011/03/An-Open-Letter-to-Georgia-House-Speaker-David-Ralston-on-HB-87-24npsl2.pdf

ACTION Needed on Key Republicans....No on HB 87! Yes to Immigrant Rights!

Thank you to all who responded to the previous action to call the Governor, Lt Governor and House Speaker.  Please continue to pass that action along.  We now need to add calls and emails  to key Republicans who are potentially on the fence.
Remember, the vote on HB 87 and HB 59 is ANY DAY NOW.

Please take 5 minutes to make calls, send emails and spread this action!

What Happens in Arizona, Must Stop in Arizona!

Please take 5 minutes TODAY for immigrant justice and human dignity...and forward this email!
Background:  The GA legislature has introduced several pieces of anti-immigrant legislation, including Arizona copy cat bills, HB 87 and SB 40.  Just this morning, the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee passed HB 87 out of committee, which means a vote on the House Floor is imminent.  HB 59—which would deny public higher education to undocumented students—is also going to the House floor soon for a vote.  We need as many people to make calls, calls, and more calls, as well as emails, emails, and more emails, to ask our elected leaders to put an end to this scapegoating and immigrant bashing.

Call/Email Republicans who might be on the fence.  We cannot assume how they will vote.  Let’s put some pressure on!

“I urge you to vote “No” Vote on the Arizona Copycat, HB 87, and all other anti-immigrant legislation, including HB 59.  These bills are making Georgia look bad in the eyes of the country and the world.  Any legislation that pushes immigrant workers out of Georgia, or denies educational opportunity, will harm our state economically and morally.  As a Georgia resident, I urge you to oppose these bills.”

Rep. Amos Anderson 404.657.8534 amos.amerson@house.ga.gov
Rep. Paul Battles p.battles@yahoo.com
Rep. Tommy Benton 404.656.0177 tommy.benton@house.ga.gov
Rep. Buzz Brockway 404.656.0188 buzz.brockway@house.ga.gov
Rep. Amy Carter 404.651.7737 amy.carter@house.ga.gov
Rep. David Casas 404.656.0254 david.casas@house.ga.gov
Rep. Doug Collins 404.651.7737 doug.collins@house.ga.gov
Rep. Christian Coomer 404.656.0109 christian.coomer@house.ga.gov
Rep. Sharon Cooper 404.656.5069 sharon.cooper@house.ga.gov
Rep. Harry Geisinger 404.656.0254 harry.geisinger@house.ga.gov
Rep. Gerald Greene 404.656.0202 gerald.greene@house.ga.gov
Rep. Rob Hanner 404.656.7859 bob.hanner@house.ga.gov
Rep. Doug Holt 404.656.0152 doug.holt@house.ga.gov
Rep. Penny Houston 404.463.2247 penny.houston@house.ga.gov
Rep. Mike Jacobs 404.656.0152 repjacobs@comcast.net
Rep. Rusty Kidd 404.656.0202
Majority Whip Edward Lindsey 404.656.5024 edward.lindsey@house.ga.gov
Rep. Judy Manning 404.656.7868 judy.manning@house.ga.gov
Rep. Howard Maxwell 404.656.5143 howard.maxwell@house.ga.gov
Rep. Doug McKillip 404.656.0177 doug@dougmckillip.com
Rep. B.J. Pak 404.656.0254 bj.pak@house.ga.gov
Rep. Ann Purcell 404.656.5139  ann.purcell@house.ga.gov
Rep. Lynne Riley 404.656.0188 lynne.riley@house.ga.gov
Rep. Ron Stephens 404.656.5115 quickrxdrugs@yahoo.com
Rep. Wendell Willard 404.656.5125 wendell.willard@house.ga.gov

And don’t forget to call your Representative if you haven’t yet….

You can find your Representative at:  http://votesmart.org/

Action Alert on HB 87!!!! What Happens in AZ, Must Stop in AZ!

What Happens in Arizona, Must Stop in Arizona!
Please take 5 minutes TODAY for immigrant justice and human dignity.

Background:  The GA legislature has introduced several pieces of anti-immigrant legislation, including Arizona copy cat bills, HB 87 and SB 40.  Just this morning, the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee passed HB 87 out of committee, which means a vote on the House Floor is imminent.  HB 59—which would deny public higher education to undocumented students—is also going to the House floor soon for a vote.  We need as many people to make calls, calls, and more calls, as well as emails, emails, and more emails, to ask our elected leaders to put an end to this scapegoating and immigrant bashing.

Please take 5 minutes to call and email the people below and urge them to do the right thing.  Our goal today and tomorrow is to get 1,000 calls and emails in.  Can you help us reach this goal?

Thank you for taking action…and stay tuned for more actions to come!

Contact the Governor, Lt Governor and House Speaker.  They all hold a lot of influence in stopping these bills.

Governor Nathan Deal
(404) 656-1776
Email:  http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,165937316_166563415,00.html

 “I urge you to use your leadership as Governor of Georgia to secure a “No” Vote on the Arizona Copycat bills, HB 87, SB 40 and all other anti-immigrant legislation, including HB 59. These bills are making Georgia look bad in the eyes of the country and the world.  Any legislation that leads to racial profiling or pushes immigrant workers out of Georgia, will harm our state economically and morally.  What happens in Arizona must stop in Arizona.  As a Georgia resident, I urge you to stop these anti-immigrant bills and to commit to veto any such legislation that reaches your desk.  Can we count on your commitment to do so?”

House Speaker David Ralston
(404) 656-5020
Email his Chief of Staff, Spiro Amburn: spiro.amburn@house.ga.gov

“I urge you to use your leadership as House Speaker to secure a “No” Vote on the Arizona Copycat, HB 87, and all other anti-immigrant legislation.  These bills are making Georgia look bad in the eyes of the country and the world.  Any legislation that leads to racial profiling or pushes immigrant workers out of Georgia, will harm our state economically and morally.  What starts in Arizona must stop in Arizona.  As a Georgia resident, I urge you to stop these anti-immigrant bills.

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle
(404) 656-5030
Email:  http://ltgov.georgia.gov/00/agency/contact_us/0,2688,2199618_87997337,00.html

 “I urge you to use your leadership as Lieutenant Governor of Georgia to secure a “No” Vote on the Arizona Copycat bill, SB 40 and all other anti-immigrant legislation. These bills are making Georgia look bad in the eyes of the country and the world.  Any legislation that leads to racial profiling or pushes immigrant workers out of Georgia, will harm our state economically and morally.  What starts in Arizona must stop in Arizona.  As a Georgia resident, I urge you to stop these anti-immigrant bills. ”

Planning Meeting Called! We Are Taking It To The Streets!!! Come Find Out How You Can Help in the Rally for Truth!!!

Folks,

Given what happened at the legislature today, we know that NOW IS THE TIME to turn up the heat on the legislators.  We need to show our elected officials that the people of Georgia OPPOSE bigotry and racism.  I mean thousands of us, in front of the legislature, in the streets, demanding an END to these bills!

Below are more detailed notes from last week's meeting to plan the
RALLY FOR TRUTH; Marching for dignity -- a mass gathering to stop the Arizona Copycat legislation

The next meeting to plan for the event is this:
Wednesday, March 2nd at 7:00 at the offices of Amnesty International, 730 Peachtree St NE
Please attend! Pass the word!  This is an open meeting & we need all hands on deck! 

Across the country, people are remembering that our power is in our numbers and that taking to the streets (or taking over the capitol) is sometimes necessary to demonstrate to our electeds that they have taken it too far.  We wont tolerate scapegoating, and demand that they stop wasting their time on fear and hate-mongering and instead do their job and propose some real solutions to the problems (jobs!  schools!  transportation!) that everyday Georgians are facing.  Come and join with us to make it happen.

Transcript of Final Hearing of HB 87

9:44 am @boribella: There are a goodly number of HB 87 folks here and very few pro HB 87 supporters. #hb87hearing #sb1070cpyct #GAlegislation

9:45 am @boribella: Ramsey opening hearing w discussion of E-verify #hb87hearing #sb1070cpyct #GAlegislation

9:48 am @boribella: Discussion is on what bill authors have done to avoid court challenges #hb87hearing #sb1070cpyct #GAlegislation

9:55 am @boribella: bill authors removed "reasonable suspition" piece and replaced it w a list of documents they want ppl to carry #hb87hearing #sb1070cpyct...

9:59 am @boribella: Ramsey just finished his explanation of changes.   And glosses right over the new acriminal provisions designed (cont) http://tl.gd/91v53c

10:00 am @boribella: Now Abrahams is now asking about section 11.  #HB87hearing #sb1070cpyct #GAlegislature

10:01 am @boribella: Ramsey is claiming now profiling not needed as the new section 11 requires that you have specific papers &  if u don't  u will be invstgtd.

10:02 am @boribella: Ramsey now saying that everify is the protection for employers. #hb87hearing #sb1070cpyct #GAlegislature

10:03 am @boribella: Abdulsalam is asking about unintentional consequences. Eg the nil on human traffickers.  #hb87hearing #sb1070cpyct #GAlegislature

10:04 am @boribella: Ramsey now claiming that harboring shall not b provisig srvcs to cictims of crime but not specific enuff 2 protect shelters who is a victim?

10:07 am @boribella: Oak is now asking about the transporting profound.  Behold committin another ofence.  Churches aren't protected (cont) http://tl.gd/91v9mc

10:09 am @boribella: No other questions?  Abrams gets 1 more question. The furthering illegal preend includes everything!  #hb87hearing #sb1070cypct...

10:11 am @boribella: Now the vote! Therefore also a leg council memo we do not have on this bill written last night! #hb87hearing #GAlegislature

10:12 am @boribella: The bill passes by voice vote all repubs voting for it. #hb87hearing #sb1070cpyct #GAlegislature

10:18 am @boribella: Another sad SAD day in #GAlegislature history #hb87hearing #sb1070cpyct estoy pasmaaa. en shock PROFUNDO

10:28 am @boribella: (recap) Rep. Abrams put forth a motion to table, which did not have enough votes to pass. The bill moves on to the House floor. #HB87hearing

10:32 am @boribella: (recap)The House committee just voted YES on #HB 87.  It will now go to the Rules Committee and to the floor for a full vote. #HB87hearing

Couldnt make the hearing but want to help DEFEAT Georgia's Arizona copycat law? Make 5 phone calls RIGHT NOW

Couldnt make the hearing but want to help DEFEAT Georgia's Arizona copycat law?   
Make 5 phone calls RIGHT NOW and let legislators know that WHAT HAPPENS IN ARIZONA MUST STOP IN ARIZONA!

These folks are our FRIENDS, so this call is about supporting them and bolstering them to NOT let the vote go down today without a fight!  Our champions need as much attention as our opponents.  Your call can be short and sweet:

Hi, my name is _____ and I am aware that HB 87 is up for a vote today in you committee.  I am calling to thank you for your opposition to this bill thus far and I am asking that you please continue your vocal opposition to this unconstitutional and discriminatory bill at today's hearing.  We worry that the Chair will aim to push for a quick vote, and hope that, instead, you can ask the necessary tough questions and raise concerns so that other Representatives, the public, and the media can see that this bill will not breeze through uncontested and that Georgia legislators do stand with the many people across the state who oppose this type of legislation.  Please, this issue is worth fighting about.  We thank you!


Yasmin Neal, D 404.656.0265
Roberta Abdul-Salaam D 404.656.0325
Stacey Abrams D 404.656.5058
Stephanie Stuckey Benfield D 404.656.7859
Nikki Randall D 404.656.0109


These 2 representatives are not committed to opposing the bill, so the call would be more of a general "we urge you to oppose this bill that will hurt Georgia's economy and embarrass us in the eyes of the world" message.  See Azadeh's previous msg if you need precise talking points.

B.J. Pak, R 404.656.0254
Sharon Cooper, R 404.656.5069

CALL NOW!!!  Let's get them going into the committee saying "wow, I just got 20 calls - I think we really need to fight this!"
~x.


Xochitl Bervera
Organizer, Trainer, and Media Strategist
404-861-0756
xochitl@mayfirst.org
Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic.  Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice.  

Differences in new & old versions of HB 87 as delineated by ACLU of GA

line-by-line comparison between the old and the new versions and they are substantially similar; the only discernible changes are:

 

1.      Creation of the state crime of aggravated identify fraud when a person “willfully and fraudulently uses any counterfeit or fictitious identifying information concerning a real, fictitious, or deceased person with intent to use such counterfeit or fictitious identifying information for the purpose of obtaining employment.”
2.      In the section re authority of the police to investigate immigration status, the bill no longer talks about reasonable suspicion that a person is undocumented; rather says that if the person does not produce any of a select set of documents, then the officer can go ahead and investigate.
3.      In re. lawsuits against officials or agencies, allows for a 30 day grace period after the filing of a claim with the official, agency during which the officer or agency at issue can take corrective action and avoid a lawsuit. 
4.      Also authorizes the Attorney General to bring actions against political subdivisions of the state to ensure enforcement of this bill.

So, agree with Chuck that this is even a worse bill than what we were presented with originally.  Let’s gear up for the fight to KILL this bill!

 

Leading Atlanta Immigration Attorney, Charles Kuck on HB 87

Reprinted with the express written permission of Atty Kuck:

My first review of the revised HB 87 reveals, shockingly , that nothing really changed, and it fact, in some respects, it is worse than before.  Frankly, HB 87 still stinks like yesterday’s trash.  It still causes amazing hardship to private employers through it’s unrealistic E-Verify requirements, still violates several provisions of the US Constitution, including the Equal Protection Clause, still creates a problem for folks offering assistance to domestic violence victims, actually does not exempt lawyers from giving advise to undocumented immigrants on their immigration status, punishes U.S. citizen spouses who know their spouse is undocumented, subverts voter intent, still creates a lawsuit bonanza for lawyers against city and county governments, and, frankly, does not do anything to curb undocumented immigration or enforce the laws on illegal immigration to the United States.

Charles H. Kuck Managing Partner Kuck Immigration Partners LLC--The Immigration Law Firm

HB 87 full text

http://boribella.edublogs.org/files/2011/02/HB-87-Committee-Substitute-2-26-21fc9gm.pdf

Live Tweet Transcript from HB 87( AZ Copycat bill) Hearing

9:33 am Overflow room is totally full with our folks. Some of us are in white, all of us have stickers that say (cont) http://tl.gd/8olg25

9:37 am  It's a much more diverse crowd than last week - it's beautiful to see Black, Latino, Asian and white folks all (cont) http://tl.gd/8oljbh

9:39 am  Rep Golick starting us up, introducing the 3rd and final hearing for #HB87

9:39 am  Empezamos, Golick habla junta hasta las 12, 5 minutes for witness.

9:40 am  1st witness Mrs. Jean Barton We steal her commonn language!

9:41 am Jan Barton testifying, from Marietta saying she is sick of illegals stealing 'our common language.' ugh

9:44 am  She claims she represents the majority of Georgians.

9:45 am  2nd WW testifying that "illegals" are why she doesn't have a job

9:52 am  WM testifying that all schools should ask every parent to provide papers and info of country of origins (cont) http://tl.gd/8olvha  

9:54 am Eve Howe of ABLE testifying, teaches ESL classes:  "HB87 brings us back to the 50's and 60's."

9:54 am Another guy from ABLE:  the bill makes him think back on the 30's.  the bill is wrong

9:55 am Retired army col is going thru the bill showing the lack of sense AND love in the bill.

9:56  am He asks, "Why are we doing this?"

9:59 am  Robert Ross is the next speaker

10:00 am  Same hate speech

10:02 am  Farm Bureu and Chambers of Commerce support amnesty

10:03 am  John McKenzy, public school teacher testifying how this bill will hurt his students

10:06 am  Talking about students whose fathers are being detained & deported & how it is destroying families

10:07 am  says original participants of tea party, Rosa Parks, MLK broke the law

10:08 am  This legislation is not America.  Current immigration law is broken.  This is not AZ.  We are in the South.  We welcome everyone 

10:09 am He is quoting Bible, country music to show that the whole rule of law argument is a farce!

10:09 am "Bill is 'unsouthern' and 'unChristian'"

10:11 am Gwinnett county sheriff testifying now about how 287g works

10:12 am  Sherrif's officer also supports bill

10:17 am Former cop is testifying about states' rights, arguing that the federal gov't is usurping AZ state (cont) 

http://tl.gd/8omiap

10:18 am  Family Refugee services priest speaking

10:20 am  Irish priest testifying to the discrimination his forefathers experienced in this country, arguing against hb87 (cont) http://tl.gd/8omkdl

10:20 am  Referring to Lincoln that all men are created equal

10:21 am  He's quoting Lincoln in saying you can't have exceptions to "all men are created equal"

10:25 am  New girl talking when will they understand that with the current system there is no way to become legal

10:27 am Tricia sung of OCA Georgia is testifying.

10:29 am  Remembering race-based esclusionary policies.  Arguing we don't want to repeat that.

11:12 am  Adelina Nichols from GHLAR is talking in favor of immigrants.

11:19 am  Making the point that we are not taking their jobs

11:19 am  She invites Mr. Chairman to go with her out to Atl see how human rights are violated by police officers and ask for a vote of "no"

11:20 am  she is supporting solutions that respect people's civil and human rights.

11:21 am  And urging GA not to go backward.

11:21 am  Alexis from Culture Connect testifying to her own family's history as Jews pushed put of countries, forcing their migration

11:21 am  Speaking directly to the challenges of e-verify

11:22 am  And reminding legislators to not just look at what immigrants "cost" but what we contribute!

11:26 am  Charles Kuck testifying that addressing immigration piecemeal will not solve the problem.

11:27 am  The chairman just pulled out an old quote of Kuck's from a statement to the press and demanded he explain himself

11:28 am  HB 87 won't solve the broken immigration system-Kuck

11:29 am Kuck demanding to see the fiscal note on this bill, pointing out how ridiculous the cost of this kind of enforcement would be

11:31 am  Also pointing out that everyone talks about the cost of immigrants but fails to metion the nine+ billion dollars we contribute just in GA!

11:33 am Kuck arguing that it's not fair to saddle police with this kind of mandate.

11:34 am We in GA salute our brethern in Egypt on their victory as we wage our own battle w immigration.  We ride your wave of perserverance.

11:42 am  A republican attorney of Latino and irish heritage is talking

11:43 am  He's giving a very balanced presentation about the number of undocumented workers who pay federal taxes & http://tl.gd/8ooktk

11:44 am Chairman defending the fact that the bill has been thru 17 drafts...Basically dismissing testimony because it's (cont) http://tl.gd/8oojtc

11:47 am  Lawyer asks "What parent wouuldn't break the law to provide for their children?"

11:47 am  Amy Todd who works with domestic violence is testifying.

11:47 am  Saying women are terrified to get help even when the are being abused.

11:48 am  Speaking directly about women whose status is based on their abusive spouses.

11:49 am  Telling real stories about women suffering, giving the issue full humanity.

11:52 am  Lisa Adler of Amnesty International speaking.

11:55 am  Helen Kim Ho of Asian American Legal Advocacy Coalition testifying about the need for a path to legalization

12:10 pm  She will be final testimony.  Discussing how e-verify is expensive, burdensome, and inaccurate.

12:10 pm  Unitl now we have 12 witnesses in favor of HB 87 and 16 against

12:11 pm  Giving numbers in favor or immigrant community, E-Verify affects citizens and LPR because it is not accurate

12:11 pm  Chairman opens for another witness. A WW talking about how she believes in family and HB 87 will separate families

12:12 pm WW from Habersham Cty reminding the committee that while humans can commit illegal acts, no single human being can be "illegal"

12:18 pm Hearing concluded!