October 4, 2006

While Bredesen Talks Tough, Bryson Proposes "Strictest Immigration Laws in the Nation"

While Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen talks tough on illegal immigration but takes little action beyond photo-ops and press conferences, his Republican rival in the governor's race has unveiled a tough but doable 10-point plan that would give Tennessee the toughest policies in the nation designed to deter illegal immigration.

GOP gubernatorial nominee Jim Bryson, who as a state senator found his proposals for fighting illegal immigration opposed by Bredesen, unveiled his proposals Tuesday that would make Tennessee the nation's leader in dealing with illegal immigration.

"Tennessee must have the strictest immigration laws in the nation," Sen. Bryson said in a news release. "We need a governor who is not content to pass the buck to federal government and who realizes that something can be done at the state level."

During Gov. Bredesen's four years in office Tennessee has seen a surge in illegal immigration, as the administration offered illegal immigrants driver's licenses, did nothing to crack down on companies which break the law by employing illegals, and did done nothing to work with law enforcement to identify criminal illegals and get them off the streets. The issue boiled to a head this summer when illegal immigrants were arrested in two high-profile homicide cases in the Nashville area, including the deaths of a Mount Juliet couple when their vehicle was struck by an SUV driven by an illegal immigrant who had been arrested - and released - by local and state law enforcement 17 times, and another illegal immigrant arrested for the brutal murder of an elderly Bellevue woman.

Before those crimes raised illegal immigration to the number one policy issue in the current election, Bredesen's biggest action on illegal immigration was to actively opposed sensible reforms pushed by Republican legislators, including Sen. Bryson, that would have required state law enforcement to work with federal authorities when illegal immigrants commit crime, made it a class E felony for employers to knowingly employ illegal immigrants, and required driver's license tests to be administered in English.

Now, Bredesen is posing as tough on illegal immigration with a new campaign ad filled with weasel words, while Bryson is proposing ten simple, sensible policy reforms. They are:

1. Require state law enforcement to work with federal law enforcement to enforce immigration laws.

2. Require that all illegal aliens arrested and jailed for any felony or DUI be reported to Department of Homeland Security.

3. Require all State and local agencies to verify the immigration status of all adults applying for public benefits.

4. Prohibit employers from claiming wages paid to illegal aliens as a deductible business expense for state income tax purposes.

5. Require all companies seeking to conduct business with the State (or any local government) to utilize the DHS Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement("SAVE") system to verify the immigration status of all new hires.

6. Increase penalties on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants: Minimum $10,000 fine, class E felony.

7. Increase the penalty for falsifying, forging or altering a Tennessee driver's license or using such an altered license to prove immigration status.

8. Make illegal status an aggravating factor for any arrest: illegal immigrants should not be eligible for bond, parole, probation, time off for good behavior, etc.

9. Require a photo ID to vote and register to vote - illegal immigrants should not affect our election process.

10. Eliminate - not suspend - the Certificate for Driving Program and require English only drivers license testing. A person cannot drive safely on our roads if you cannot read the signs.

Bredesen also has long opposed getting local and state law enforcement involved with enforcing immigration laws. Only recently, after two illegals were arrested in three high-profile homicide cases in the Nashville area, did Bredesen endorse a plan by Nashville's sheriff to work with the feds to identify illegal immigrants in the city jail.

As for requiring voters to show a photo ID to vote, Bredesen's Democratic Party has long opposed that sensible step to root out voter fraud.