Posted by carolinadude on May 8, 2008 at 4:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt right now until seeing commentary by Roan Quintana of "Americanshavehadenough.org" and also getting feedback from SC Minutemen. These are two vital and quite effective watchdog groups w/regard to immigration legislation and other important issues facing our taxpayers. I'm not sure of Bobby Harrell's relationship with the "shame ber of commerce" lobby or how strong that lobby is in the sc house. I do believe that we must have "e-verify" and also agree with the Senate that penalties on employers should be stiff. So in my view, if we can get the Senate's stiff penalties and the SC House e-verify, it sounds like we could have landmark legislation.

Posted by moonpie on May 8, 2008 at 6:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"The state Department of Revenue would conduct audits to make sure businesses are complying with verification standards"
I was in business for a number of years and never got audited by these idiots, how does the state assy think they can get them to do this? It's apparent they don't have enough resources to do their jobs now. Just to say they'll do it doesn't work, how many are they going to be required to audit? This legislation is dead on arrival. What ever we get from it at this point is meaning less and has no teeth. Don't waste our time.

Posted by abitskeptical on May 8, 2008 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Explain to me why the SCDOR thugs need more power?

Why should they become involved with "audits" to ensure employers comply with verification standards?

Wouldn't this be a job for LLR? They have investigators & lawyers that "prosecute" violations.

Posted by Thomas1776 on May 8, 2008 at 6:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

They have wasted precious time and should have done what the majority of the public wanted the first go around. But because of SPECIAL INTEREST they refused to severely punish those with heavy fines and suspension/termination of business licenses that have an established practice of hiring or using ILLEGAL mexicans.

Amazing that these people can likely face federal charges for lobbying State ELECTED leaders to not take action.

Cowards. Every one of these elected representatives of ours do not listen nor get it. Use the law against them and punish them with it.

They had their chance. Now the public must show them we have the power; not them!

Posted by Toots2U on May 8, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree with moonpie. All this sounds like is 'feel good' laws. Don't get up the hope of the citizens of SC. These legislative people have nothing to worry about. There jobs aren't in jeopardy. No illegal is going to take away their job. What good are laws if they aren't enforced? If the resources aren't available now, where will they come from if the law is passed?

Posted by theronce on May 8, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This has the looks of only appearing to do something without actually doing anything except getting their rear ends out of the line of fire. It looks like nothing will pass until it is watered down to be almost completely ineffective.

Posted by TOROGSC on May 8, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

HEY SUPID IN COLUMBIA,IT'S WHAT THE VOTERS IS SC WANT,
NOT WHAT YOU WANT,GET OFF YOUR "DUFF" AND DO THE JOB!!!
STOP ACTING LIKE CHILDREN!!!A PERSON IS LEGAL OR NOT,
CAN NOT BE ANY OTHER WAY!!

Posted by CMLMADDOG on May 8, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Gov. Mark Sanford...argued that the Senate's proposed penalties would be unenforceable under federal law."

Apparently, illegal immigration is ALSO unenforceable under federal law! C'mon Columbia! Stop dragging your feet and come up with SOMETHING!!!

Posted by Prada on May 8, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The woes of the state fall squarely on the backs of illegal workers. They're the cause of everything bad economically in this state. Woe is us. They're taking our jobs. Whaaaa. They're the cause of rising healthcare. Whaaaa. It's all their fault. More Whaaaa.

First, I don't see too many of my neighbors' kids lining up to pick onions, cabbage, or tomatoes. Second, big farming operations love these illegal workers. They work for next to nothing, and there's no reason to pay benefits. That means more $$ for the Big Farm, on the backs of poor workers. Third, before you put the blame for the high cost of a doctor's visit on Pedro, you should do a little digging into the insurance companies and their profits, along with why it still costs thousands of dollars for procedures that have been around for 30 years or more.

Lawmakers are in an election year. Of course they want to look tough on illegal workers. But the truth is there are bigger problems facing SC on the foodchain.

Posted by ColdBeer on May 8, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Even the penalties that some of the politicians are considering too tough are not tough enough. A fine after the third offense? Give me a break. Lose your business license for 30 days? Give me a break. As already pointed out, anything discussed so far is just "feel good" legislation that doesn't really accomplish anything.

1) Require businesses to verify that their employees are of a legal working status. I do it every day already.
2) When someone is caught hiring people that are not of a legal working status, remove their business license forever. Confiscate all business property and auction it off, the proceeds going to the state.
3) Require ALL businesses, including all contractors and street vendors, to be licensed.
4) If you find someone operating a business without a license, throw them in jail. If they are operating without a license AND employing illegal aliens, make the jail sentence longer.
5) Assign and fund an agency, any agency, so that they have the authority and resources to enforce these laws.

How could anyone possibly say that these laws would be unfair to anyone? Verifying that your employees are of legal working status is just one “cost of doing business” that employers have. It should not be considered a burden to any of them.

Posted by Jane on May 8, 2008 at 9:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What does he mean "unenforceable under federal law"? We are breaking federal law right now by allowing illegals to get jobs and receive public benefits.
For example, law enforcement officers who have reason to believe that suspects they stop for any reason may be illgal and do not check the legal status of that person, or detain them if they are here illgally have committed a federal felony under the FEDERAL IMMIGRATION & NATIONALITY ACT Section 8 USC by a fine of $10,000 per infraction or imprisonment in a federal penitentary for not more than 5 years or both.
I can remember working out west 15 years ago and the company I worked for was very strict about hiring when it came to someone from another country. We had to get a work visa for that person while they were in their country of origin. The owner told us he could be fined $10,000 for each illegal hire. So, it that was the case 15 years ago, isn't it the case today?

Posted by Jane on May 8, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

No one is saying all the woes are the fault of illegals. They are not supposed to be here period. We issue UNLIMITED visas in agriculture. There is no reason for farmers to whine that they can't get the help they need. They just need to apply for the visas and all their workers can come to this country legaly.
Illegals are contributing to the higher cost of healthcare. Sorry, but you have millions of people giving birth and we are paying all their bills! Millions using our emergency rooms and not paying. It is contributing. Of course, frivolous lawsuits are a huge part of the problem as is too much government intervention.
In California American teenagers can't even get summer jobs at McDonalds unless they are fluent Spanish! Think of that. They need to be fluent in a language of people that are not suppposed to be here!
There is a seperatist movement ...La Raza, Mecha, LULAC, etct. You may not feel it here, but you do out west. Read Mecha's constitution and their goal is to turn this into an Hispanic nation.
Vote on June 10 to dump Graham the pro amnesty candidate. Vote Buddy Witherspoon.

Posted by greyrider on May 8, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Any penalty is better than no penalty. Let's face facts. Special interest groups are going to make this a long, hard fight. Let's get SOMETHING on the books now, even if it involves "light penalties". Let's just start enforcing SOME degree of law right now. We can always strengthen it later. In fact, if we get the ball rolling and it has ANY kind of positive impact, that will further the cause for stricter penalties.

Posted by Prada on May 8, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Millions? Really. Millions of illegals using our healthcare and having children? Millions? Surely then we're no longer in the majority. There are plenty of poor South Carolinians who use emergency rooms and cannot pay. In fact, there are plenty of middle income South Carolinians who can't pay that emergency room bill. I hardly think that's the fault of millions of illegal workers. Sounds like fresh paranoia to me.

As a side note to another poster, most european countries have always taught more than one language and understand the benefit in a global market. Guess what the second language is? That's right. English. Go figure. It's just a guess but I'll bet that if Mexico were located in Europe, spanish could just as easily been the second language there.

And all this talk about throwing those that hire illegal workers in jail. There's not enough room now for all the OTHER criminals that are or need to be there. That's why rapists and thieves make deals or get paroled early for being good boys or girls.

Finally, unlimited visas mean that a worker can complain or bring labor actions against an employer, I believe. Why would Big Farm want to hire those with visas when he can hire Pedro and his family to pick onions for dollars a day, while living in a home that looks like something from a third world country, or a mobile home without running water. Why? Because he knows Pedro will gladly work for those few dollars and never complain because he's here illegally.

Illegal immigration is a problem with many, many thorns, and is not something that can be dealt with by the states. Complain all you want about Congress not doing something about it, but it's clear that there's no clear solution.

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

YVONNE!!!!!!!!!!!

"We moved the ball a little farther down the field," Harrell said.---- THIS IS NO GAME!!! ALL PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT CITIZENS ARE.... "VISITORS"....PERIOD!!!! Yes ..they may work and think they live HERE!! But IN NO WAY do they get "ANY" benefits!!! Businesses ..should be "BOYCOTTED" that hire these people!! AND SEVERELY FINED!!!! WAKE UP COLUMBIA!!!
SENATORO..GLENNO..MCCONNELLARASA: "STOP EATING TACOS!!" I HIGHLY SUGGEST ...SOME GRITS!!!! I DONT CARE HOW MUCH SENIORITY YOU HAVE!! YOU WILL BE TORPEDOED ON THIS ISSUE JUST LIKE THAT SUB ...YOU FOUND!! BUCKO!!

SENATORO BOBBO HARRELLASSA: STOP SWINGING AT PINATAS ..OPEN YOUR EYES and LOOK...YES LOOK AT OUR STATE FLAG!! IT IS NOT RED WHITE AND GREEN!!!

GRRRR!!!!

Posted by lowcountrychica on May 8, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe that it is a waste of time. From experience I can tell you most SC citizens will not do the work the Illegal Immigrants do and especially not for the wages that are earned, therefore, the middle class has nothing to fear. Why can't people understand that illegal immigrants only come to the United States to give their families a better life. Does any know what it is like to be so poor and not know if you are going to have dinner tonight? Well..I do. My family is from Mexico and from first hand experience can tell you what it is like. I have been blessed being able to live the American life and know that I can have a better life than the one that my father lived. Thanks to his struggle I was able to recieve an education and be the person that I am now. I wish people weren't so ignorant about life in other countires and the struggle that immigrants go through.

Posted by ColdBeer on May 8, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

lowcountrychica, I don't think anyone doubts or has a problem with the stuff you wrote except for one issue: Why don't they come here legally when they come? Legally includes, among other things, paying taxes to contribute to the services they use and getting a drivers license and insurance if they are going to drive. These two issues affect legal citizens on a daily basis. Do you really expect us to turn a blind eye to the issue?

Posted by lowcountrychica on May 8, 2008 at 10:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Many people mention if illegals pay taxes to cover for medicaid and food stamps well let me enlighten you. Yes, most illegals have something called an ITIN, therefore they can report. Is money given back? Mostly no. Any ways if they do not pay taxes at the end of the year taxes are still deducted from their paychecks. Did you know immigrants do not recieve benefits from food stamps or medicaid, only their children who are born in the states do. Plus, in middle school aren't our children taught that the United States is known as the Melting Pot? I don't hear people complaining about the ones who walk in to the DSS building to apply for food stamps and have Coach purses and have their nails done. You can afford glamour but not food?

Posted by greyrider on May 8, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Did anybody else here get the idea that zoomru is upset?

Posted by lowcountrychica on May 8, 2008 at 10:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Coldbeer, for you to be able to get a Visa to come to the United States right now, one has to have over three thousand dollars in a bank account in your native country and have so much persoanl property. Basically if you are not rich you get no Visa. I agree, if you are caught driving and have no license or insurance pay the price like others.

Posted by theronce on May 8, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The do-gooders find another way to make us defend the position of closing the border then dealing with the illegals already here. Stop the bleeding first. Clean up the mess. Start again. The illegals have by their actions shown no regard for our sovereignty, law, or culture. Their presence enables unscrupulous employers to exploit them while avoiding paying a decent wage to a citizen for the needed work. Prada drags in other issues to cloud the water, and lcc tugs at your heart. That's all smoke and mirrors just like all of our levels of government on this issue.

Posted by bigwhip on May 8, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Looks like business as usual in Columbia. The House is being pushed around by the lobbyists including the Chamber of Commerce. THe House is gutless and should be ashamed.

Posted by Jane on May 8, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ahhh Prada, you have hit the nail on the head. Employers do NOT want to do it the legal way because as you said, they would have to pay a fair wage. And yes, millions of illegals are getting free healthcare. In the minority? We will be by the year 2050 if we don't stop and reverse this invasion now. The solution is very simple. A president who will enforce the laws. Eisenhower did it in 1953. The program was called Operation Wet***k. (Unbelievable, they won't post that word.) He started deporting about 1000 illegals a day for three months and he shipped them 500 miles south so they couldn't sneak back across the border. Guess what? The majority self deported!
As far as an individual knowing a second language? That is a blessing for sure. We should teach a foreign language from grade school on, but it should not be because we are being flooded with foreigners who can't speak English.
A bilingual nation is a curse. Nothing tears a nation apart faster than people who can't speak to each other. We can't assimilate millions of people. Many do not want to learn English and some of these racist HIspanic groups are fighting assimilation. Europeans are learning English because it is the international language of business and to learn it helps them economically. They aren't being forced to learn it because of an invasion of English speaking people demanding "rights" in the country they snuck into as is happening here.

Posted by forget on May 8, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have a thought, why don't they work hard and make their own countries better places? They can work just as hard there as they can do here, and we won't have to pay for all their medical needs, etc. I just know my business can't handle anymore of their fraudulant purchases, with their fraudulant papers.

Posted by Jane on May 8, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Lowcountrychica, your comment that Americans won't do those jobs is insulting. There is not a job an American won't do for a fair wage. Oklahoma has cracked down on illegals and guess what? Unemployment has gone from 5. 2% to 3.1%. One man in the article said since the illegals left the company he worked for wages have gone up! When a meatpacking plant in Colorado was raided last year and the illegals arrested you know what happened? Over 100 Americans lined up to fill those positions. You say middle class Americans aren't losing jobs? They are, but what really disturbs me about that comment is what you are silently saying and that is, "Hey, don't worry! It is only the poor Americans we are hurting!" Wanting a better life does not give you the right to break the law (bank robbers are improving their lives when they steal that money!).
Immigration short cuts is not a civil rights issue.
There are thousands of illegals that are gang members and drug runners, I guess they are here for a better life?

Posted by crankyyankee on May 8, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's face it we are not getting the cream of the crop from our southern neighbors. What we are getting is the uneducated social malcontents that are to spineless to change their own government or get an education. They come here because we are don't fight back and are willing to bend to their will. Let me ask a question "why is it alright for Mexico to treat their illegles as criminals but it is not alright for the USA to do the same?" I wish you bleeding hearts would answer that! Better yet I wish you would move to Mexico and take a illegle under each arm when you go!

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

SENATORO..GLENNO..MCCONNELLARASA: Stop listening to LA VIDA LOCA!!!! And pull out a SC HISTORY BOOK!!! OR...try finding time to go down to a certain historical CEMETARY!!!
We don't need to be sold CRAP!!!
"McConnell said, "I don't think the lighter penalties are going to sell well over here."----- WHAT!!! If the State House is worried about selling and MARKETING..well..Dorchester County Council needs you because they need to find out a way to make CYPRESS GARDENS .PROFITABLE!! I am a compassionate person but my WALLET is for my FAMILY and fellow Carolinians in need!!

SENATORO BOBBO HARRELLASSA: This is not a "DIVISIVE ISSUE" !!! Who are you listening too?? Not the people I talk to at work, the beach, boat ramp, or anywhere else except LA HACIENDA for LUNCH!!!! AND THEY WERE RAIDED!! So I assume they ARE ALL LEGAL!!!
PEOPLE WHO READ IN THIS STATE ARE NOT FOOLS!!! As for those who stick their head in the sand!!..your votes count too!!

When is TAPS scheduled to play in this STATE!!!!! Have you written that into the LEGISLATION!!!

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

YVONNE!!!!!!!!!!!

WE WANT TO KNOW WERE EVERY ...MAYOR!...stands on this.
MAYOR SUMMEY...TAKE OFF THAT MATADOR Uniform your wearing and use that RED cape to turn the STAMPEDE back the other direction. While your at it ..ask MAYOR RILEY TO TAKE HIS PICADORO Uniform off too. UNLESS YOUR BOTH GUTLESS ..and "THINK" you look SEXY!!!! Mayor SUMMEY ..that voting block in CAMERON TERRACE WON'T STAND FOR THIS!!! YOUR VOICES BETTER BE CRYSTAL CLEAR!!! With IMMEDIATE ACTION!!! *** OR *** ...are you going to sit back and enjoy MARGARITAS and CHIPS while learning SPANISH!!!
COMPRENDE!!! NO MAS!!!

Posted by ColdBeer on May 8, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

lowcountrychica, most illegal alieans are paid in cash, under the table. Their employers do not have them on payroll. That way, the employer avoids having to pay Social Security, Unemployement, insurance on the business and such for those employees. Since the illegals are paid in cash, under the table, they do not pay any taxes. This also allows an employer to abuse them as far as workers rights are concerned. They can still go to an emergency room and get emergent care, but when they leave, they don't pay the bill, most likely because they gave a false name and there is no way to track them down. When they do get in a car accident and are found not to have a drivers license or insurance.. guess what? Nothing can be done to them. They will get a ticket, but again, the name is usually false and when they fail to appear in court, there is no way to track them down. The person that was hit and is at no fault in many cases ends up covering the cost via uninsured motor vehicle accident insurance. The cost of that insurance is mandatory in this state and it keeps going up and illegal aliens are partly to blame. I don't care if it costs $30,000 to come here legally. The law is the law. If we allowed people to break any law just because it would save them over $3000, how many cars would you have? The answer is none as they all would have been stolen by someone because "it would have cost them over $3000 to buy their own".

Posted by Weeeee on May 8, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Taps is played every night via loudspeaker from the CAFB.

Posted by greyrider on May 8, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

zoomru, I agree with you for the most part, but the truth is, this is a divisive issue. It is divisive between those that pay attention to politics and those who don't. The liberals have always been the masters of getting the apathetic vote. They prey on people who vote based on soundbites and rhetoric. The "they work jobs that Americans refuse to work" is a classic example. It's pure nonsense, but Americans who don't pay attention, and/or don't have credible news sources don't know any better. Anybody know which industry employs more illegals than any other? Construction. Hey, I had no idea Americans refused to work Construction jobs! Too many Americans are apathetic on this and many other issues. Defeat the apathetic by converting them to our side. Speak up! It's time to harass Columbia, if that's what it takes. Phone calls, emails, let 'em have it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. It's our country.

Posted by Jane on May 8, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Excellent points Coldbeer not to mention illegals always leave the scene of the accident if their car is still able to go! I have never heard of one story where an illegal stuck around to render aid to the person they hurt. (It is not against the law to leave the scene of an accident in Mexico). I met a young woman last year who was hit by an illegal. Her car was totaled. Luckily she and her 10 year old daughter survived. The illegal had no insurance (thus leaving this young woman and her husband having to foot all the bills). She said the illegal woman tried to drive away, but her car was too damaged to go anywhere. Despicable. She said she's had 15 of her coworkers in bad accidents. All hit by illegals and all had no insurance. (Their business is in North Charleston where there is a large concentration of illegals). I cannot understand for the life of me why something can't be done. If a US citizen drove without insurance and caused an accident they would go to jail. Illegal? Driving? Caught? Take away their car. Deport them and their entire family.

Posted by theronce on May 8, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

While everyone rightly is piling on the state legislators over this. Please do not ignore the spineless county and municipal governments. All levels of government have failed thus far and will avoid having to go throught the trouble of trying to fool the people. Wages will not rise until we lose the those here illegally keeping them down.

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WEEEEE!!!!

I had to grab a tissue!!! Good One ! I STAND CORRECTED!! Something IS taking place without LEGISLATION!!

Greyrider.. I'm dialin'

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YVONNE!!!!!!

Whats more alarming is that this article is getting no press in ORANGEBURG!!!
http://www.thetandd.com/
LOOK what they run on the front PAGE!
*** ZANZIBAR's President?? *** WHAT!!! ANTICIPATION!???
Those editors care nothing about their fellow citizens!!!
What is ZANZIBAR going to do econmically for those people??

I bet all these illegals WILL impact them!!!???? Eventually!!

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

*** ATTENTION TROOPS **

MAJOR KUDOS to YVONNE for at least reporting and getting this article PRINTED!!!
IN LOOKING at other PRESS in this STATE....NOT a PEEP EXCEPT FOR THE GREENVILLE NEWS..the STATE mentions it.
ATTACK MODE...???? Not enough!

BUT WHAT A NEWS ...SUPPRESSION!!!

Posted by singleroni on May 8, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vote out all in office - start over maybe we will have time to get things done before the new batch gets as corrupt as the ones in office now. i thought other countries had corrupt politics -like mexico and russia. but ours is as corrupt as them or more so and we are too blind to see it. every day a different politician is caught drunk, stealing , sex problems or something else.seems if you are dirty you run for office.

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MR. Harrell, I apologize..you are HOUSE SPEAKEROSA..not SENATORO!! I STAND CORRECTED!

GLENN and BOBBY...I know it must be hard getting everyone up there in Columbia to swing at the SAME PINATA! WHEN MEDIA IN THIS STATE DON'T GIVE THE COVERAGE THESE ISSUES DISERVE OR ..."DRUMBEAT"!! I guess people in ORANGEBURG think illegals are from ZANZIBAR!!! AT LEAST YOU TWO BOYS HAD THE GUTS TO GET YOUR..MUG ..in the paper and "VOICE" your views of what is going on!!

Posted by crankyyankee on May 8, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Instead of voting for Booby Harrell or Glum McConnell why not write in Pedro Cruz or some such name. Wouldn't those two do nothings be upset if they lost to one of the subjects they are trying so hard to protect! Why they might have to pass a law or something. I just don't understand how politicans always seem to get weak knees when they have to do something the Chamber doesn't like. Does the Chamber elect these slope headed critins?

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YVONNE!!!!!!!!!

Where does GRAND MASTER "FLASH" CLYBURN and PRETTY BOY GRAHAM stand on this??? Oh.. I ..Forgot this is a STATE issue NOW!!! TELL THEM TO TAKE OFF THEIR SOMBREROS..put down the CORONAS...and TELL them our boys in Cola need help making SALSA and squeezing LIMES!!!
GMF CLYBURN..find your whip..(it may be in a SHED in FLORIDA!!) and provide some "LEADERSHIP"

PB GRAHAM... get that CLINT look and start loading a side arm!! Stop ROASTING ..these retiring FOOLS and light a fire under the REST OF THEM!!!
I'd stop campaigning and get my ..MUG in the NEWS showing me being active in OUR STATES issues!!!! I'd park a PUP TENT in the STATEHOUSE!!! AND HOLD A VIGIL WITH A BIG BAG OF "TOSTITOES". Do YOU HAVE GUTS!!!! POLITICS IS NOT "PRETTY" ..start throwing some TOMATOES!!! CLYBURN CAN THROW THE TOMATILLOES!!!!
DO SOMETHING!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Weeeee on May 8, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The base also plays revelly at 7. :)

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We already have the "BRECK GIRL"..I guess now we have..
LINDSE' SUAVE' !!!!!!! LOOK out!!!! BUDDY WITHERSPOON is going to eat your REFRIED BEANS!!! ARE YOU OUT OF TOUCH!! ARE YOU!!!

What about you GRAND MASTER "FLASH" CLYBURN-OSA!! I can only imagine the T-SHIRTS NOW??! YOU IN A SOMBRERO on a donkey facing backwards!!! ARE YOU STILL BENDING OVER FROM SENATOR ROBERT BYRD!!!!! AND THAT COAL FIRED PLANT IN THE PEE DEE??

Posted by ColdBeer on May 8, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sheesh

Posted by Thomas1776 on May 8, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lindsey Graham lovessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss illegal mexicans. They are his AMIGOS!!!

Lets use the federal laws and punish these crooks in the statehouse AND their lobbyist! It all sounds like organized crime to me. Surely we can pull up a half dozen federal laws and use the old "Writ of Mandamus" to force prosecution of these criminals, eh?

Posted by Thomas1776 on May 8, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ALL OF YOU ABOVE NOW SEE THE TRUTH.

OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES ARE CORRUPT TO THE CORE.

LETS GET RID OF THEM. LETS TAKE THE CRIMINALS OUT "OUR" STATE HOUSE AND PUT THEM WHERE THEY BELONG. WE ARE THE PEOPLE. WE HAVE THE SAY. WE HAVE THE POWER.

THIS GOVERNMENT BELONGS TO US! NOT THEM! BEING MISTER AND MISSSES NICE GUYS AND GALS HAS ENDED. SOME WILL NOT BE RE-ELECTED. SOME ACTUALLY WILL END UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW.

IT'S TIME.

GOD BLESS SOUTH CAROLINA. AND GOD SAVE US FROM THESE TYRANTS WHO LIE, CHEAT, AND STEAL FROM US ALL WHO TOOK AN OATH. AN OATH THAT MEANS NOTHING TO THEM.

Posted by Thomas1776 on May 8, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

singleroni,

Yeah. Agree.

Worst case of State corruption I have ever seen. Even senior citizens at a few retirement centers around the area are shaking there heads at these tyrants in office.

Posted by Thomas1776 on May 8, 2008 at 2:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

theronce,

They have over 3 million citizens of South Carolina really ticked off at them. Everybody is saying now they all need to be tossed out of office.

Posted by stand828 on May 8, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vote against all incumbents!!

Posted by carolinadude on May 8, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks stand828! That's the GRAND CONCLUSION OF THIS WONDERFUL DIALOGUE! VOTE THE INCUMBENT RASCALS OUT OF OFFICE ON JUNE 10TH. We must do more than send emails and write letters although that is somewhat effective. They really get the message when they or some of their "lawmaker buddies" begin to be defeated. I believe we'll take out a significant number this year. We must begin on June 11th to recruit candidates to run against the other professional politicians in 2 years and 4 years. We're beginning to hear an "outcry of the people" as evidenced here, and there must be "an uprising" at the polls before these professional "baby kissers" finally get the message.

Posted by zoomru on May 8, 2008 at 6:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm sorry COLDBEER...Did you want to say something!!

I was Wound TIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by kerwin1959 on May 8, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm a little late in adding to the conversation, but I discovered years ago that the government doesn't want to resolve this. I discovered, while verifying employment and income on a Latino, that there were 3 different names tied to a social security number. The income, names, addresses, etc., had been fabricated.

I contacted SSA, DHS, ICE, INS, confirmed the #'s didn't match, and then spent a DAY working back and forth with all agencies who kept wanting to pass the buck to another agency. The landlord later evicted them for being unable to provide proper "papers".

He also discovered a plethora of social security cards/#s, blank W-2 forms, and evidence that they had produced numerous ID's, etc. All information had been obtained from SS#'s from deceased hispanics from the internet. This information is still available -- all you have to do is know to Google it properly. When he reported his finding, since it was related to mine, NO ONE CARED. They either showed no interest or said they didn't have the staffing to handle complaints by citizens. GO FIGURE!

Posted by Mayor on May 8, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why don't we all go to Mexico? It has to be better than here.

Posted by YankeeLiberal on May 8, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope everyone on this forum knows who the real culprit is:
the business interests (both in this state and at the federal level) who DON'T WANT THE STATUS QUO TO CHANGE!! SC state legislators keep passing the buck because the GOP is representing the interests of the business community who don't want to be burdened with any "onerous" requirements to check citizenship of employees. Don't blame the illegals who come here - if the penalties for hiring them were stiff enough, businesses would not provide any incentive to come here, Period. Another posted hit it on the head: Americans will do anything illegals will do, IF they are paid fairly, given benefits, etc. Surprised to hear this from a staunch, pro life, pro environment liberal from New England?...in this issue, the law is the law.