TailOverTeaKettle.com

The AJC is reporting that State Sen. John Douglas is preparing to introduce a number of bills to the Georgia Legislature regarding enforcement of various aspects of immigration law.

One bill would require Georgians to prove they are U.S. citizens when registering to vote. Several proposals target the document fraud that can give illegal immigrants access to Georgia roads and health clinics. Another measure would make driving without a license a felony on the third offense.

While these all seems like reasonable responses to situations which have arisen due to a lack of enforcement of existing Federal immigration laws, I expect that none of these proposals will have a very road to passage.

• We already know about how attempts to propose stronger Voter ID programs have been delayed again and again by lawsuits. So far, while it certainly seems that the main objections raised in these lawsuits could be corrected by making the state constitution crystal clear on this point, we have heard from new Lt. Governor Casey Cagle that Republicans are unlikely to take up that fight. Can you image when it’s not just proving your identity, but rather your proper citizenship that’s the question. Look out! Can’t just do that with a utility bill and signing a sworn statement!
• Whenever we hear of proposals to strengthen punishments for driving without a license, they are met with strong outcry from groups such as GALEO (Association of Latino Elected Officials), who seem to believe that driving a car is not a priviledge, but rather a right, especially if exercised by those here in the US illegally.

It will be interesting to see if any of these measures make any headway under the Gold Dome, or die at the press release stage.