S.C. Senate aims to spur Congress to act on immigration
COLUMBIA — As part of a multifaceted approach to illegal immigration, the state Senate on Wednesday issued a call for a national constitutional convention in a strategy aimed at forcing Congress to act.
Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell first introduced the concept in October after Washington negotiators failed to agree on a new immigration policy. The goal is not to see a convention convene, McConnell said. Rather, it's to pressure Congress.
"Our hope is that this will be a call that will start to gain steam across America and it will put some heat under Congress and they will do what they've been sent there to do," said McConnell, R-Charleston.
What's next?
Before a constitutional convention could convene:
-- The state House would have to approve the resolution.
-- The state Legislature would then have to send the petition to the offices of U.S. House Speaker and the U.S. Senate President.
-- 33 other states also would have to make the call.
-- 38 states would need to agree to approve an amendment.
The resolution will be sent to the House for consideration where it has the support of Speaker Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston.
If it passes the South Carolina Legislature, 33 other states would have to sign on and agree to meet only as it pertains to giving states the right to deny benefits to illegal immigrants and have them forced out of the country. The resolution would be repealed if Congress addresses the issue.
"We'll be the first state in the union, but I suspect we won't be the last" to call for a convention, McConnell said.
While the resolution received key approval in a voice vote, several Lowcountry legislators noted their support, including Sens. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau; Randy Scott, R-Summerville; and Paul Campbell, R-Goose Creek.
Not all the senators agreed. Some said they were worried the resolution would give states free reign to amend the U.S. Constitution in a number of other ways.
"I submit to you that what this does is set us on the path to do something dangerous," Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said Tuesday in the first of two legislative days the Senate spent primarily debating the resolution.
"I know we want to send Congress a message, but I don't want to send them a hand grenade," he said.
McConnell said the founding fathers designed the format for constitutional conventions in "extraordinary times" while putting safeguards in place. Besides, he said, before enough states would sign on for a convention McConnell thinks Congress will act.
"The one thing that will catch their attention is the concern that they will lose their power," McConnell said. Hutto suggested it would be more effective to find election-time challengers for incumbents in Congress.
Also on Wednesday, the House gave key approval to an immigration reform package. Last week, the Senate sent the House a bill that would require government documents, specifically the state's driving manual, be printed in English only.
Reach Yvonne Wenger at ywenger@postandcourier.com or 803-799-9051.
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Comments
This article has 4 comment(s)
Posted by CHRISJIII on January 31, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is all a bunch of nonsense. S.C. can pass all of the laws it wants pertaining to immigration, but federal law supercedes anything that happens in Columbia. Get over it, there is no way that we can get all of the illegals out of the country. Accept it and go on with life.The last time that other states followed S.C.'s lead it led to the Civil War.
Posted by ChrisRobin on January 31, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck with that proposal because as CHRISJIII pointed out, Federal law trumps State or local law. The point may be mute if a Dem is elected President- you can look forward to general amnesty and an open door policy for illegals. You may as well start learning Spanish now and getting a head start because that's where we're heading from the looks of things. The South WILL rise again, but not the South we think it is.
Posted by outrage on January 31, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dios mio!
Posted by moonpie on January 31, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MORE BS! VOTE THEIR BUTTS OUT OF OFFICE. THE HELL WITH IT I WANT MY WELFARE TOO!