Final
SUMMARY for HJR05-1060

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE, VETERANS, & MILITARY AFFAIRS

Votes:
Action Taken:
Moved a substitute motion to postpone indefinitely
Moved to refer HCR 05-1007 to the Commitee on Appr		PASS
TIE

06:41 PM -- House Concurrent Resolution 05-1007

Representative Weissmann, Chair, indicated that Rep. Schultheis would be introducing and discussing his three measures simultaneously, House Concurrent Resolution 05-1007, HJR 05-1060, and HJR1062. Rep. Weissmann also indicated that witnesses providing testimony on these measures could discuss each of them when they provided testimony.

HJR 05-1060 pertains to the creation of an interim committee to study the impacts of illegal immigration on the State of Colorado. HJR 05-1062 is concerning urging support from the United States Government of enforcement of federal immigration laws. House Concurrent Resolution 05-1007 requires a state or county agency to provide services or public benefits only to citizens of the United States and person legally present in the United States. Before providing services, a state or county agency employee must require a person seeking services to provide documentation issued by the United States government or the State of Colorado. Specifically, the measure request that members of the Sixty-fifth General Assembly request that all members of the Colorado delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate support actions to discourage the influx of illegal aliens into Colorado and other states and to reimburse the state for the current impact of illegal immigration on the state citizens and taxpayers. Rep. Schultheis indicated the strong movements of various groups in support of these measures. He responded to committee questions. Committee members commented on a television program which presented information on immigrants and false documentation use by some immigrants.


06:45 PM

Representative Weissmann recessed the committee for five minutes.


06:50 PM

The meeting reconvened. Representative Schultheis responded to questions from committee members. Committee members discussed relevant federal legislation mentioned in the resolutions and the process of federal legislation.


07:23 PM

Representative Coleman stated that there should be business sanctions to discourage businesses role in cheap labor which is creating a market for illegal immigrants, and the smuggling of those immigrants into the United States. Rep. Schultheis believes the federal government has looked the other way when it comes to hiring illegal immigrants. He explained that federal law can address these issues, but it is not being enforced.

The following people testified:



07:26 PM -- Lisa Duran, representing Rights for All People, testified in opposition of the bill. She expressed some specific concerns about the measures. She believes that there are some troubling and erroneous presumptions on each of these measures and the issues that have been discussed during the meeting. She indicated that she has studies that conflict with what is being proposed in these measures. For instance, she stated that CEOs are making many more times the amount of front line workers, currenty, than they have historically. She provided further examples that contest the intent of HCR 05-1007, HJR 05-1060, and HJR 05-1062.

07:34 PM -- Gabriel Flora, representing American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, testified in opposition to the measures. She discussed the background of related federal legislation. Ms. Flora believes that the United States needs comprehensive immigration reform. She indicated that the North American Free Trade Agreement has displaced many Mexican workers, creating and influx of illegal immigrants. She responded to committee questions.

07:45 PM -- John Brick, representing citizen of Colorado, testified in support of HCR 05-1007. He explained that illegal immigration undermines the Colorado workforce, and the federal government has not been helpful with the illegal immigration issue. He requested that the committee put American workers first.

07:48 PM -- William Herron, representing Defend Colorado Now, testified in support of these measures and spoke in favor of the general trend of what Rep. Schultheis is trying to accomplish. He provided Attachment T, a graph entitled America's Failed Post - 1965 Immigration Policy.

07:59 PM -- Frosty Wooldridge, Citizens of Colorado, testified in support of the bill. He provided background information on his travels and the issue of illegal immigration. He provided background information on the number of illegal immigrants coming to America. He provided Attachment U, Hospital to the World Welcomes Illegals & Contagious Diseases. He asserts that with the influx of third world immigrants, who are unscreened, there has been a rise in various diseases, including tuberculosis, leprosy, and others. He believes that this isn't an issue of race.

08:15 PM -- Robert Copley, Sr., representing himself, testified in support of these measures. He discussed the Minuteman Project, a volunteer organization which patrols the Arizona border as a blocking force against entry into the U.S. by illegal aliens. He recounted his personal experiences at part of the Minuteman Project. He believes that government is irresponsible when it comes to immigration.

08:33 PM -- Leon Odendahl, representing himself, testified in support of all three measures. He explained that the U.S. can only assimilate so many immigrants.


BILL:HCR 05-1007
TIME: 08:42:46 PM
MOVED:Schultheis
MOTION:Moved to refer HCR 05-1007 to the Commitee on Appropriations, unamended.
SECONDED:
VOTE
Cadman
Carroll T.
Coleman
Crane
Gallegos
Liston
Lundberg
Schultheis
Todd
Ragsdale
Weissmann
Not Final YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: TIE


BILL:HCR 05-1007
TIME: 08:43:12 PM
MOVED:Carroll T.
MOTION:Moved a substitute motion to postpone indefinitely HCR 05-1007. The motion passed on a 6 - 4 - 1 vote.
SECONDED:Coleman
VOTE
Cadman
Excused
Carroll T.
Yes
Coleman
Yes
Crane
No
Gallegos
Yes
Liston
No
Lundberg
No
Schultheis
No
Todd
Yes
Ragsdale
Yes
Weissmann
Yes
Final YES: 6 NO: 4 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS