Here is the agenda for the discussion of immigration reform in Arkansas for the Jan 8th meeting.
Background: Since activist gathered together in 2005 to oppose HB1525, we have been very successful in opposing laws that reward illegal aliens. HB1525 would have given in-state tuition to illegal aliens. While tuition rates continue to rise for students legally in the US , illegals would be rewarded. It was supported by democrats and some RINOs such as then Gov Mike Huckabee. After emailing, calling, faxing and running all over the State Capitol, we stopped that bill after it had passed the House and almost the Senate. In the 2007 session, we killed another attempt to give in-state tuition for illegals in committee. We also stopped an Arkansas resolution urging the Fed Gov to support a Guest Worker Program in committee.
While we have been successful at stopping the AR Gov from rewarding illegals, we have less successful in passing laws that force illegals to leave by attrition and enforcement. Oklahoma , Tennessee , and recently Missouri have all passed laws that make it hard for illegal immigration to succeed in their states. While this is great news for the country and those states, it means that illegal aliens are invading Arkansas ! In 2005, SB206 was proposed. The bill would have required proof of citizenship to get taxpayer funded benefits. It was killed in committee. In 2007 we did help Rick Green pass HB1024 that denied state contracts to companies that hired illegal aliens, but we were unable to pass the Arkansas Taxpayer Citizen's Act HB2779. In 2008 the Secure Arkansas petition was sabotaged by Attorney General Dustin McDaniel and did not get enough signatures to be put on the ballot.
Plan for 2009:
The keeparkansaslegal blog will be updated as much as possible on bills being worked on in the state legislature. The conservative blogs, along with the Arkansas legislature website will be the fastest and most accurate way to keep track of legislation.
Bill Sample is working on an immigration reform bill similar to HB1802 The Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007. It should be complete and introduced sometime this month. So far, no other legislation is being worked on.
Jan 20th. The new legislators will be sworn in, including Senate elect Joyce Elliot. Elliot has promised to introduce another in-state tuition for illegals bill. It will most likely be introduced sometime after the 20th.
We are working on having a rally to support the introduction of Bill Sample’s immigration reform bill. It will most likely be in the Capitol Rotunda.
In case the pro-illegal alien crowd has a rally, we would like to be able to counter protest. In April, we successfully counter-protested the Arkansas Friendship Coalition during one of their press conferences.
The pro-illegal crowd has moved Bishop Anthony Taylor from Oklahoma to Arkansas to lobby for Illegal Immigration. He has already held a press conference and written a 32 page letter urging Christians to support illegal immigration. Wether we like it or not, religion will be involved in this debate. I suggest that those who want to be involved in this issue be prepared to deal with questions about religion. On the Secure Arkansas website, you can look at the document Christian Doctrine on Illegal Immigration. It provides facts and Bible verses that show that it is not Christian to support illegal immigration.
We also recommend that people stay informed about the issue of illegal immigration. Websites such as Immigration Counters.com , NumbersUSA.com, and FAIRUS.org provide quick and easy access to information about illegal immigration. Here are some of the latest stats from Immigration Counters as of 01/07/09.
Illegal aliens in the Country-21,934,906
Money sent to Mexico since 2006-$21,800,573,269
Cost of U.S. taxpayer services for illegal aliens since 1996-$397,440,750,582
Cost to educate illegal alien kids in K-12 since 1996- $13,679,667,747
Cost of illegals in our prisons since 2001- $1,371,966,358
Skilled jobs taken by illegals- 10,859,197
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