June 23, 2006

State Senate Candidate Vows Immigration Reform if Elected

State Senate candidate Chip Throckmorton is promising to pursue some rather sensible government reforms to battle illegal immigration if he is elected to replace GOP gubernatorial candidate Jim Bryson in the state Senate in November. From a Chip Throckmorton press release:

Franklin, TN - Chip Throckmorton's plan to tackle the illegal immigration crisis would begin with a reform of government itself. In his most recent television ad, Throckmorton identifies a disconnect between government policy and practice. [View Commercial]

"It seems like whenever politicians talk about immigration these days, all you hear is talk about how they want to turn small businesses into a police force. If the government is ready to get serious about illegal immigration, they ought to clean up their own house first."

In the ad, Throckmorton proposes legislation that would require all state, county and municipal contractors to employ only documented, legal workers. "As a conservative, I believe WHAT YOU DO IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN what you say. Every politician has a good sound bite on immigration reform, but I'm prepared to do something about it, requiring that the government lives by the same rules that you and I do."

Throckmorton points out that immigration is no longer simply a federal issue about securing the borders. "Our state judicial system is overwhelmed with civil and criminal cases dealing with illegal aliens and our health care providers are in crisis because of the overwhelming demand by illegals, especially for emergency care. We can't simply call for action by the federal government, we need someone in the legislature prepared to lead on this issue. If I'm elected to the State Senate, practical immigration reform will be my top priority."

State Senate District 23 includes all of Williamson County and parts of southern Davidson County. Election day is August 3, and early voting begins July 14.

Update: Andy Ogles, a genuinely nice guy who would make a good state legislator, has dropped out of the District 23 senate race. Oh, and Tom Neill, the former HCA exec running for the GOP nomination - his website calls the company "Hospital Corporations of America."