NTF Worksheet: illegal45.doc. 1-08.
NEBRASKA TAXPAYERS FOR FREEDOM WORKSHEET:
ILLEGAL ALIEN BILLS IN THE 2008 NEBRASKA LEGISLATURE.
BACKGROUND. We were unable this legislative session to find a state senator(s) to introduce a comprehensive bill similar to HB 1804 in Oklahoma, legislation that would curtail illegal immigration to Nebraska, alleviate its negative fiscal impacts on our state, and encourage illegals to leave Nebraska. However, 3 state senators introduced bills and 1 senator introduced a resolution, all that would ameliorate the deteriorating economic, social, crime, and political situations in our state stemming from the huge influx of illegal aliens.
LB 784, sponsored by Sen. Gwen Howard (District 9), would prohibit NE businesses from obtaining state business tax incentives, if companies knowingly hire illegal aliens unauthorized to work in the U.S. during the 5 yrs. prior to date of employment application. Violating businesses would lose or pay back tax incentives. Employers must make conscientious efforts to verify employee citizenship status. Sanctioning employers will dissuade them from purposefully hiring illegals, a ruse that allows them to undercut competing businesses and, with this alien influx, creates enormous crime, social, and education problems in NE communities. Other states like Colorado and Georgia are considering similar bills. The Revenue Committee will hold a hearing on this bill.
LB 963, sponsored by Sen. Mike Friend (District 10), would prohibit state agencies and local government subdivisions from giving federal, state, or local public benefits to illegal aliens. Each agency and local government must verify the lawful presence, as a citizen or legal alien, of anyone who applies for such benefits administered. Included benefits are the following: grants, contracts, loans, professional licenses, commercial licenses, retirement benefits, welfare benefits, food stamps, health benefits, disability benefits, subsidized housing benefits, post-secondary education benefits, and unemployment benefits. However, there are the following several exceptions: emergency medical care services and products like baby deliveries, vaccinations, testing and treatment of communicable diseases like gonorrhea, disaster relief, soup kitchens, and crisis counseling. This bill would repeal the 2006 law that bestowed in-state tuition rates on illegal aliens. Verification would occur through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE) managed by the Dept. of Homeland Security. Every state agency or local government that administers designated benefits would send an annual report to the Governor and Clerk of the Legislature evidencing compliance with the legislation and including the total number of applicants rejected for cause. The latter requirement would highlight how much illegal immigration is impacting our safety net services and commerce. Because federal law mandates several public benefits, some of which entail matched federal and state funding, it remains unclear how LB 963 would clarify which benefits or what percentage of a benefit illegal aliens could not access. Also, exempting emergency medical care services would encourage illegals to gravitate towards hospital emergency wards, further increasing hospital costs. Illegal aliens do not deserve disaster relief, which sometimes is lengthy in term, costly in benefits, and raises our private insurance premium costs. The Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on this bill.
LB 1170, sponsored by Sen. Tom White (District 8), would allow the state att.-general, a political subdivision, or private citizen to sue an employer who knowingly or recklessly recruits and employs illegal aliens, in order to recover costs paid for public services, including public education, health care, and welfare given illegal aliens, their families, spouses, or other dependents. The Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on this bill.
LR 224, sponsored by Sen. Tony Fulton (District 29), would encourage all Nebraska city, county, and state law enforcement agencies to cooperate and enter into formal agreements under the 287(g) clause of the 1996 federal immigration act with the federal immigration service under Dept. of Homeland Security auspices to conduct immigration law enforcement functions. See enclosed issue paper for full description of the 287(g) program. Several local law enforcement jurisdictions have expressed keen interest in voluntarily joining this program, if the Legislature sanctions it. The Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on this resolution.
TAKE ACTION NOW. First, contact state senators on the above committees and request that they vote these 3 bills and 1 resolution out of their respective committees, so that they and other state senators can debate the legislation on the Legislature floor. Then, contact your state senator immediately to vote FOR this needed legislation. Use our NTF Legislative Watch packet materials to locate and lobby your senator and committee members. Email for materials and details.
Research and analysis for this worksheet done by Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, with express prior permission granted for its use by Citizens for Local Control, Cherry County Taxpayers, Dawes County Taxpayers, Nebraska Minutemen, and Nebraska Advisory Group. 1-08. C