June 2009
UFIRE NEWS LETTERUtahns For Immigration Reform and EnforcementMidyear UpdateJune 22, 2009 3st Edition Editor: Gaylan Stewart ufire2@gmail.com Not much has changed since June of 2008. The Utah elections have passed with little change. The major change would be the 3rd Congressional District elected Jason Chaffetz to replace Chris Cannon. To this date Rep. Chaffetz seems to be doing well enough. Illegal Immigration was an important issue in the 2009 Legislative Session, but not a major issue. All attempts to weaken or get rid of SB-81 were defeated. Several new laws were passed that should be helpful. 1. HB-87 Committing ID fraud, even for the purpose of employment, is a felony, whether the ID thief knew that the information belonged to a real person, living or dead, or not. 2. SB-40 Creates a situation where only illegal aliens would have need for a Drivers’ Privilege Card. Other licenses are now available for foreigners living in Utah. 3. HB64 Is perhaps the only significant new law this year. It creates a “Strike Force” to deal with illegal aliens committing “major crime” in Utah. It was also funded so that other policing units can join and be reimbursed. UFIRE now has a new website, and you may want to bookmark it. http://sites.google.com/site/ufirenow/Home Along with the website, we would like to invite you to join our discussion group on BlogTalkRadio http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ufiretalk Thursday evenings from 8:30 to 9:30 PM. We have participants from Utah and around the country. On this Website you will find: The 2009 Utah Legislator ratings, the ratings explained, a detailed analysis of SB-81, helpful links in the sidebar, and news links both local and national. This newsletter will also be posted. Going forward from July 1st 2009, it will be up to the citizens to insure that local governments comply with SB-81. This would include county, city, school districts, college/universities and any other organization that receives state taxpayer funding. The reason that I say that it is up to the citizens is because there is no enforcement mechanism in the SB-81 legislation. Salt Lake City has already thumbed their noses(the same as displaying a certain finger) at the state on this issue, while others are moving forward in a positive way. The Provo mayor election this year will be between John Curtis and Rep. Stephen Clark. Representative Clark was the strongest and most outspoken republican opponent of SB-81 in the Utah House this year. You may wish to check his UFIRE Rating. We at UFIRE would suggest that you study all of the aspects of SB-81 and then follow up with your local government units, or better yet organize and go to their council, committee, or board meetings and ask what they are doing to comply. Send us an email of what you are doing and the response. Ufire2@gmail.com and we will share it on our website. Please contact us if we can be of help. For an extensive report on how illegal immigration, which causes most of the ID theft and fraud in the United States, we suggest that you study our own Ron Mortensen’s paper: Illegal, but Not Undocumented: Identity Theft, Document Fraud, and Illegal Employment Gaylan Stewart: Editor February 2009 UFIRE NEWSLETTER Utahns For Immigration Reform and Enforcement 2009 Legislative SessionFebruary 27, 2009 3rd Edition Editor: Gaylan Stewart ufire2@gmail.com UFIRE is an organization made up of citizens from all walks of life who are concerned about Utah's laws rewarding illegal immigration. We Support the rule of law – Note: If you wish to print this or have trouble with the links, it is attached in Word format. If you would like to discuss these issues, it is suggested that you join UFIRE on BlogTalkRadio. We are in the Conservative Politics category at 8:30 Friday evenings. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ufiretalk You can just listen or call in on the telephone number on the website. For more background see http://utahalien.blogspot.com You are also cordially invited to join an illegal alien discussion group, send an email to ufiretalk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Utah LegislatureFor those of you that have an interest, the Utah Legislature has passed the halfway mark of the session. There has been progress as well as some losses. Final votes on bills are included below. It is important for you to contact your own senator and house representative on the issues. The legislature website: is where you start. You can find the emails and phone numbers on the rosters: Utah Senate, Utah House For information on the bills select “2009 General Session Page.” From there choose “Numbered Bills,” and select the number. To read the bill go to Bill Text and choose HTML or PDF. To see the progress Choose Bill Status/Votes. Most legislators are good to respond, especially if you live in their district. Be polite, but remember they don’t have to vote the way you want, but it is their job to listen to you. Pending Bills HB-64 (Rep Brad Dee) This bill authorizes the Department of Public Safety to administer and coordinate the operation of a multi-agency strike force to combat violent and other major crimes associated with illegal immigration and human trafficking. It was amended to be put into the attorney generals office, which probably isn’t a good thing, considering the record of the Utah AG on this issue. It has a large fiscal note. HB0107S02 (Rep Stephen Clark) Passed Committee today after it was changed in order not to prevent SB-81 from going into effect. This bill: provides for a study, under the direction and approval of the Executive Appropriations Committee, on the economic impact of illegal aliens residing within the state; The study would be interesting, but a waste of money, or worse if it were manipulated with false or unreliable information. Passed the House and could be on the senate calendar very soon. The House vote. How did your legislator do? Most did very poorly. Call your senator on this UFIRE Urges a NO vote HB126 (Rep Daw) This bill: requires photo identification and eliminates certain forms of identification as valid voter identification; requires valid voter identification be presented before a voter may vote; HB-137 (Rep Sandstrom) This bill: repeals the use of a temporary identification number (ITIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service for purposes of obtaining a driving privilege card issued by the Driver License Division; expires all driving privilege cards on December 31, 2009; prohibits the Driver License Division from issuing a driving privilege card; beginning on January 1, 2010, repeals certain prohibitions on using a driving (has a fiscal note for "lost revenue" which may make it harder to pass) UFIRE Urges a YES vote HB-262 (Substitute) This bill: requires an applicant for a business license issued by a municipality or a county to provide the municipality's or county's business licensing agency with documentation of the applicant's lawful presence in the United States; and requires an applicant for a license issued by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing to provide the division with an affidavit stating that the applicant is a citizen or lawfully present in the United States. UFIRE Urges a YES vote HJR025 (Rep Herrod) "Joint Resolution Urging Employers to Hire Only Individuals Who Are Authorized to Work in the United States" seems to be the exact opposite of SCR-1 It is only a resolution, but it counters SCR-1 to some degree. It moved out of committee this week with a unanimous vote of recommendation. Opposition to this would only come from the very hardcore illegal alien enablers. UFIRE Urges a YES vote SB0039 Immigration Amendments Has Passed the Senate and House and signed by the governor Makes changes to SB81 in defining contractors. SB-69 (Sen Madsen) PASSED Out Of COMMITTEE: This bill modifies definitions requires persons that are registering to vote in the state for the first time or that are changing their registration from another state to provide evidence, either at the time of registration or at the time or voting, that they are citizens of the United States; provides that persons who are already registered to vote in Utah need not provide proof of citizenship; Doesn’t seem to be progressing. UFIRE Urges a YES vote SB-113 (Sen Jones) This bill: delays the effective date of 2008 General Session S.B. 81, Illegal Immigration, from July 1, 2009, to July 1, 2010. (has a fiscal note of 1.7 million, it is going nowhere) UFIRE Urges a NO vote Failed Bills HB-208 (Rep Greenwood) passed committee with only one opposition vote This bill: limits an exemption from the nonresident portion of total tuition at a state institution of higher education to students who are not employed or do not earn income in the United States during the calendar year without federal authorization; and makes technical corrections. Failed in the House this week, 34-40 House Vote: How did your legislator do? This is another indicator of their position on illegal immigration. Passed Bills and Resolution SCR-1 (Rep Dee/ Sen Jenkins) Passed both Houses ready for Gov. to sign. This resolution: urges the United States Congress to grant the state of Utah waivers to implement an employer-sponsored work program and to withhold federal FICA and Medicare revenue and apply it toward the costs of the program. This resolution is meaningless, but it does provide a good indication of the House and Senate members willingness to vote for or against enabling illegal immigration in Utah. How did your legislator do? House vote, Senate Vote HB-87 (Rep Julie Fisher) PASSED This bill: clarifies that the offense of identity fraud may include use of the fraud to obtain employment. SB-40 (Sen Jenkins) Applies to a CDL.(commercial drivers’ licenses) Illegals can’t get one. Allows for three types of licenses 1) citizen 2) legal resident with visa 3) It doesn’t affect the Drivers’ Privilege Card which will still be available to illegal aliens. It does however, require that those requesting a Utah Identification Card show proof of being in the United States legally with a visa or birth certificate. This bill easily PASSED both houses. It may be helpful in preventing those that don’t drive from getting a Utah ID Card. Now is the time; To contact your senate and house legislator. If you are able, go to the Capitol and visit with them. If they are in a committee go there and talk to them afterwards about your concerns. It helps to put a face (yours) on the issue. If you are unable to go to the capitol call them on the phone. It is likely that they won’t be available when you call and so leave a short message and ask them to call you. This has worked well for me. If you hesitate calling send an email, but give them your phone number as well. Mine usually call me, but then I have met them. They generally like to talk to those in their district. If you are going to contact them, try to be informed on the issue. No ranting or making an issue personal. Be polite, but still firm if need be. You will be surprised to find how uninformed some of these legislators are on the illegal immigration issue. Most of them, in their opinion, have bigger fish to fry, like their own pet issue or the budget. So, you need to be their “unbiased” expert on the issue. In other words an unpaid lobbyist. Make an effort to know who they are and their pet projects. Go to their meetings in your district if they have them. If they don’t meet with constituents in your community, volunteer to set up a meeting for them at the local library, and then get folks to attend. If you don’t get involved during the session, don’t complain about the SL Chamber of Commerce, the Sutherland Institute, Tony Yapias, and others are taking your place and feeding them the open border lines and issues that enable illegal immigration. On the other hand we appreciate all of the effort that many of you are making. Thanks Again!!
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