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Richard Piatt Reporting Utah lawmakers took on the emotional immigration issue again today. Two controversial bills went up for a vote. One is moving forward. The other is dead.
The tuition bill is the one that died. It would have taken away in-state tuition benefits for children of illegal immigrants. There are strong feelings about passing the bill here in the House of Representatives. But yesterday, the bill died in a tie vote. The sponsor had 24 hours to bring it back. This morning, that motion to reconsider failed.
It was a different story with another immigration bill in this House committee today. Here, the vote was along party lines: The majority of Republicans saying yes to allowing state and local police to arrest illegal immigrants. That's normally a federal function.
Again, emotion tinged every moment of the debate.
Matt Lyon, Opposes Bill: "I agree there may be racist tendencies and there may not be. But the fact is, there is a concern over racial profiling that does happen or it can happen."
Barbera Jean Whiteley, Supports Bill: "I think most of us love the Mexican people and are proud that they're here. But the main issue is the illegality of the issue."
Both the law enforcement bill and the tuition bill were sponsored by representative Glenn Donnelson, who has strong feelings about the issue. Another legislator, Democrat David Litvack has strong feelings on the other side.
Both sides will continue to fight until the federal government decides to take up the issue once and for all.
