Virginia:State Senate kills immigration bills

[Jeanfromfillmore]

State Senate kills immigration bills
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
By JOEL TURNER - Staff Writer
Del. Charles Poindexter (R-Franklin County) said that he is disappointed that a Virginia Senate committee has killed 10 of 12 of the House of Delegates' bills on illegal immigration.
The committee's actions "in hindsight would seem to conflict with a three-person homicide that occurred around the same time in Manassas that was apparently perpetrated by an illegal immigrant who had previously been turned over to federal authorities for committing previous crimes," Poindexter said.
"I co-patroned these (illegal immigration) bills and am disappointed the Senate committee chose to kill them," he said.
Poindexter said that he was also frustrated that the Senate has killed the House bill that would provide a 70-percent tax credit to businesses that donate to non-profit groups that provide private school scholarships to students who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches.
The Senate's action denies "better education opportunities to many of these children in underperforming public schools," he said.
The Senate also removed the legislative provision to prevent taxpayer funding of abortion in the policies under the new healthcare exchange that is a requirement of federal healthcare reform, he said.
"Regardless of one's position on abortion, to force taxpayer support of this procedure when a majority of the public is opposed is just not right," Poindexter said. "This issue will come back again for certain next year."
Poindexter said that his bills have passed the Senate.
One bill would allow courts to use electronic files to verify licenses of doctors and nurses instead of having them to to come to court to testify that they have licenses.
The House budget fixes the huge increase in restaurant and other hospitality fees applied last year by returning those fees to prior levels, he said.
Poindexter said that his bill to provide the state attorney general an additional two months to review proposed electricity rates passed the Senate and was sent to the governor for approval.
Poindexter said that his coal mining safety bill has also been approved.
He said that the Senate budget is unbalanced and means that the state would enter the next biennium with a budget that is $316 million in hole.
The Senate budget also includes $300 million for a proposed new General Assembly building.
While the building may be needed, Poindexter said, the proposal "should not be on the table in these distressed economic times when our citizens and businesses are experiencing extraordinary fiscal challenges."
http://www.thefranklinnewspost.com/article.cfm?ID=18452