LIC Weekly Update

1.

Last week, Politico reported on the on-again off-again relationship between Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) on immigration. Apparently, it’s on again, with both Schumer and Graham telling reporters and contacts that they are back at the negotiating table. Lest we get too excited, we shouldn’t forget that we’ve been down this path before.

2.

This election cycle conservatives are intoxicated with immigrant bashing, particularly pregnant immigrant women and their children. Their tactic: change the U.S. Constitution to deny citizenship to babies born in this country to undocumented women.           

3.

SC Immigration Bill Would Be Tough to Enforce. Read here.

4.

ACTION ALERT: Call Senate Judiciary Members and Tell them to vote NO on SB20!

By: Catherine Han Montoya

Senior Field Program Manager
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

The Leadership Conference Education Fund

1629 K Street NW

, 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20006
202.466.1847 - Phone

Tuesday February 8th SB20 finally was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The coalition has done a great job so far combating the bill and the lobby day was a great success but we need you all to make phone calls to Senate Judiciary Committee Members! All SC Senate Judiciary Members need to hear from us but especially republicans. 

Judiciary Com. (101 Gressette Bldg.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(803)212-6610

McConnell, Glenn F., Chairman	Ford, Robert (D) (803) 212-6124	Martin, Larry A.  (R) (803) 212-6340
Rankin, Luke A. (R) (803)212-6132	Hutto, C. Bradley (D) (803) 212-6140	Knotts, John M. "Jake", Jr.  (R) (803) 212-6350
Malloy, Gerald (D) (803)212-6148	Sheheen, Vincent A.  (D)(803) 212-6124	Campsen, George E. "Chip", III  (R) (803) 212-6016
Cleary, Raymond E., III (R) (803)212-6100	Lourie, Joel  (D) (803) 212-6116	Williams, Kent M.  (D)  (803) 212-6008
Campbell, Paul G., Jr. (R)   (803)212-6016	Massey, A. Shane (R) (803) 212-6000	Bright, Lee (R) (803) 212-6108
Coleman, Creighton B. (D)(803) 212-6180	Davis, Tom (R) (803) 212-6008	Martin, Shane R. (R)(803) 212-6100
Nicholson, Floyd (D)(803) 212-6040	Rose, Michael T. (R) (803) 212-6056	Scott, John L., Jr. (D)(803) 212-6048
Shoopman, Phillip W. (R)(803) 212-6032

Some Talking Points

·         South Carolina’s current FY2011 budget deficit is $1.3Billion and the cost of SB20 could be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.  We can’t afford SB20.  We need to focus on saving our education, healthcare and social service system NOT adding to the defict.

·         Such a law will not address any of the serious challenges that our state faces right now.  It won’t balance our budget, create more jobs, provide quality health care, retain or recruit professionals and workers to our state, educate our children, or protect our environment.  It will make our problems worse by diverting resources and sowing fear and division into communities that need to work together.

·         State and local jurisdictions that have attempted to take over immigration enforcement from the federal government have typically paid large legal bills in a losing effort to defend their laws.  The U.S. Department of Justice  has sued Arizona, resulting in a court ruling that blocked major parts of the law and a cost of $1 million in legal fees to defend the law—and that’s only through July 2010.  South Carolina can scarcely afford to invite costly litigation over a law that is of questionable constitutionality and could take years to settle.

Tips:

1.  Start by telling the legislator or their staff that you’re calling to ask the senator to OPPOSE SB20

2.  Pick a talking point to focus on

3.  If you have time, tell a personal story

4.  End by reiterating your opposition to the SB20 and ask where the senator stands on the issue if they say they will vote no thank them. If they say they will vote yes tell them to reconsider. 

5.  Afterwords, let us know where the senator stands.