Immigration legislation fails to address real issue
By Charles Jenkins State Representative

On Thursday, the state House of Representatives voted 123-51 to adopt legislation that attempts to stem the tide of undocumented workers into Georgia.

Senate Bill 529, as amended by the House, would: require people to prove their legal status prior to receiving government benefits like Medicaid; bar businesses from employing undocumented immigrants for government-funded projects; and prohibit companies that employ foreign nationals from taking a state tax deduction on the wages afforded to these workers.

The legislation also absorbed another House proposal that would require illegal residents to pay a 5 percent transfer fee on money wired outside the U.S.

Quite frankly, this is a bad piece of legislation. For one, the federal government requires each state to provide Medicaid to those who financially qualify regardless of nationality. Secondly, SB 529 addresses the symptoms of the problem not the actual cause, which is a do-nothing federal system.

Consider the economic implications. Agriculture is our No. 1 export, followed by carpet manufacturing, construction, poultry processing, lodging and food service. This bill will hurt more than it will help.

I supported an amendment that would have moved the effective dates of the new law to the period between 2009 to 2011 rather than 2006 to 2009. This would have given the federal government more time to address the immigration problem as well as delay any negative impact to the state's economy. However, the amendment failed by a vote of 69-97.

SB 529 now goes back to the Senate, which will consider the House's changes to the bill.

Also this week, the House overwhelmingly approved a proposal that would allow Georgia high schools to offer classes on the Bible. SB 79 would permit school systems to form elective high school courses on the cultural and historical literature of the Old and New Testaments.

I supported this bill because the Bible is the basis for much of our history, literature, music and art. It is woven into the very fabric of so many things we teach in Georgia schools. While I am concerned over some of the specific language in this bill - including mandates and timelines - I believe overall it is a good first step toward broadening our students' educational horizons.

House members balked at legislation that would have extended the waiting period for divorcing couples with children. A motion was passed to send the proposal back to Rules Committee, a move that will likely kill the measure. By the time it reached the House floor, SB 25 had been gutted beyond recognition, but the original draft extended waiting periods for nofault divorces from 30 to 120 days for childless couples and to 180 days for parents of children under 18.

There is more good news on the Medicaid estate seizure issue. The Senate Appropriations Committee has passed a substitute bill that would stop the state from taking the homes of existing nursing home patients. Under the Senate committee substitute to HB 1473, the federally mandated estate recovery guidelines would apply to those who go on Medicaid after the law is

passed.

This measure would also require written notice to Medicaid applicants of estate recovery policies. Consumer advocacy groups applauded the measure because many have been admitted to nursing homes without being told their homes were subject to confiscation.

Just last week, the House passed a Medicaid bill with a Democratic amendment that raised the value of homes exempted from less than $25,000 to as much as $100,000.

The House of Representatives has adopted HR 1912, a resolution I introduced, which commends the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring the Blairsville Scottish Festival and Highland Games.? These games celebrate Scottish heritage and provides an introduction to Scottish foods, athletics, music, and dance to those not fortunate to be of Scottish heritage.

The House also passed legislation that authorizes nuclear security personnel to carry firearms while on the job at nuclear power sites. Under SB 532, security officers could also detain and use reasonable force against persons believed to present a danger at a nuclear power site, under the bill. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation would also be required to respond quickly to inquiries from nuclear facilities requesting someone's criminal history.

Legislation that would create a statewide central registry for traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries was also approved by the House. Furthermore, SB 208 changes certain definitions and requires certain information relating to brain or spinal cord injured persons to be reported to the Brian and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission.

Lawmakers were also honored to welcome Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf to the Capitol. Leader of the Desert Storm operation in the Gulf War of the 1990s, he urged House members to continue supporting the soldiers currently fighting in Iraq. It was my honor to shake hands with the General.

Representative Charles Jenkins represents the 8th District (Rabun, Towns, Union and White counties) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him at 411 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, Ga. 30334; byphoneat 404-656-0126; or by e-mail at charles.jenkins@house.ga.gov.
    State Rep.
Charles Jenkins