Agreeing To Disagree On Immigration Reform ? Peach Pundit

Today?s Courier Herald Column:

Perhaps the most controversial bill passed by the Georgia General Assembly this past session was HB 87, the so called Arizona style immigration reform bill. The concept of such a bill was endorsed by virtually all major candidates for Governor, and cross party lines with the blessing of former Democratic Governor Roy Barnes. With near universal demand on the campaign trail for such a bill, passage seemed to depend on who could write the strongest bill, not whether or not a bill could pass.

That was before the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Farm Bureau weighed in. The two organizations that represent major economic interests throughout the state elevated to public discussion what has long been understood but undiscussed. Undocumented/illegal immigrants have been incorporated as an integral part of Georgia?s manufacturing, service, construction, and farming industries. It was an unpleasant reality that politicians were asked by these organizations to admit and address, and when newly elected Governor Deal suggested caution on progressing on the bill that he had adamantly campaigned for as a candidate, it appeared the bill may stall.

A knee-jerkish reaction from several House members to potentially losing signature campaign legislation was to fast track a bill requiring tests for drivers licenses to be given only in English. Freshmen representatives from Gwinnett, Georgia?s county with the largest Hispanic population, quickly organized and defeated the measure, pointing out a cognoscente fact lost on the bill?s proponents: The bill designed as a potential substitute to Arizona style immigration reform targeted not illegal immigrants, but legal immigrants, including Georgia citizens.

The debate over how to handle the country?s immigration issues has long been frustrating. Borne out of that frustration, the debate over how to properly address these problems has sometimes failed to distinguish between those who are here legally and properly, and those who are not.

The political will to pass the bill seemed to coalesce when those vocally objecting to the bill shifted from the business and farming groups who largely support the Republican majority to a coalition of groups representing day laborers and Georgia?s gay community. In these groups, the majority party found opposition they were much more generally accustomed to, and had little difficulty voting against their position.

Many of those who staged protests before and since the bill?s passage openly discussed their undocumented status. They lectured Georgians on their selfishness with little regard for the fact that Georgia citizens are facing record unemployment and financial stress not known in this region since the depression. The protests drew much more scorn than sympathy for those who participated.

With the bill?s passage and now Governor?s signature, these same groups are attempting to organize and implement a boycott of Georgia. Notably absent from these efforts, however, is the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. GALEO?s Executive Director, Jerry Gonzalez, issued a statement saying ?we would like to say that we do not support the call for a boycott of our state nor do we support the calls for a boycott of certain Georgia businesses.? After all, GALEO?s members are Georgians. Gonzalez further noted ?Georgia is our home and we do want our state to progress and develop.?

This is in no way to say that Gonzalez or GALEO supports HB 87. The same statement called the bill ?deeply flawed? with its passage ?irresponsible and shameful?. He further advocates for a challenge within the federal court system, and is hopeful that the bill will be overturned.

But in rejecting the boycott, GALEO has reasserted the crucial difference between legal and illegal immigrants. Legal immigrants are part of our community, many of whom are citizens. They have an equal vested interest in the future of our state and country. They are also part of our political process.

GALEO will continue to fight HB 87, and work toward other potential solutions. But they will not condone an attempt to harm fellow Georgians in the process. It?s what agreeing to disagree is all about. After all, they are us.

Source: http://www.peachpundit.com/2011/05/24/agreeing-to-disagree-on-immigration-reform/

legionnaires disease the last supper brooke mueller us postal service uno united states postal service nikki reed