Perdue: Hypocritical to use illegals' labor, call them
burden
Associated Press
ATLANTA
- Addressing an issue that has been called a
priority by the Republican majority in the Legislature, Gov.
Sonny Perdue called it hypocritical to consider illegal
immigrants a burden on the state while using them as a labor
force.
Perdue echoed many immigrant advocacy groups who point out
the contributions of illegal immigrants to Georgia industries
like agriculture, poultry and construction.
"Any illegal action is troublesome," Perdue told reporters
and a panel of immigration experts at the Capitol Tuesday. But
he said the state has limits on what it can do to address a
problem that the federal government should solve.
Various bills focusing on immigrants have been introduced
this session, including one seeking proof of legal Georgia
residency in order to receive state benefits and several
placing sanctions on businesses that employ undocumented
workers.
Declining to comment on those bills specifically, Perdue
said the state does have eligibility rules on taxpayer-funded
benefits. He also said there should be a registration process
for a guest worker program, an initiative promoted by the Bush
administration but not mentioned in the immigration bill
passed by the U.S. House in December.
Source:
http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/politics/13646319.htm |
