“Libertarians believe that if someone is peaceful, they should be welcome to immigrate to the United States.” From the Libertarian Party website page on immigration.
The topic in this space last week was a Gold Dome bill (SB 354) from state Senator Larry Walker (R-Perry) and this writer’s request that readers help us convince Gov. Kemp to veto that measure. There is more to say.
Senator Walker has apparently been influenced by several Libertarian lobbying concerns – which means the same for the Republican-controlled General Assembly. Allowed a vote by Lt. Governor Burt Jones, Walker’s bill passed the Senate with zero “no” votes and only two in the House.
The nutshell explanation of Walker’s “workforce development” legislation is that in a stated effort to make it easier to work in Georgia, some low-skilled jobs in the barbering/cosmetology industry will no longer require an occupational license. On its face, it seems like a reasonable goal – “deregulation” yada, yada. Except for the fact that the current system of issuing an occupational license in Georgia also entails a statute-created process by which applicants for that license are screened for immigration status both by the state and then by the feds.
“Undocumented workers” have a very difficult time getting an occupational license if the 2006 law (OCGA 50-36-1) is enforced. But, if the occupational license process goes away, so does the immigration check.
- Fact: This affidavit is part of the occupational licensing process in Georgia
Heads up: Georgia’s vast, corporate-funded illegal alien lobby works tirelessly to create a future Democrat voter majority here by inviting and settling more illegal aliens while helping them gain employment. Anyone who thinks these fanatics won’t take advantage of Walker’s legislation if Kemp allows it to become law doesn’t know much about the corporate-funded illegal alien lobby. (Homework: Google “GALEO, HB1105”).
It’s true that Georgia also has a separate law (OCGA 36-60-6) that requires some private employers to use the no-cost E-Verify program that is designed to prevent illegal aliens from working here. But it only applies to employers with more than ten employees and is not in force at all in municipalities and counties that do not require a business license/occupational tax certificate.
Also last week, radio host Scott Ryfun was kind enough to have me on his “Straight Talk” show to make the same plea for his listeners to contact Gov Kemp about a veto. After my short segment, I listened to the rest of Scott’s show and was fascinated to hear various opinions from callers on both sides of whether SB 354 should become law. Ryfun does great radio.
- Related reading from the libertarian Party: Forget the Wall Already, It’s Time for the U.S. to Have Open Borders
I think I heard several callers say that U.S. citizens should not be inconvenienced because we have defacto open borders and a raging illegal immigration crisis. And that a requirement that applicants swear they are not illegal aliens in the occupational/professional licensing system is an excessive hardship. And that immigration is a federal responsibility, and we should leave enforcement to the feds.
Having watched the Republicans in Washington institute a “one-time” federal amnesty for illegal aliens in 1986 and the Democrat administration in power today discard the laws in place on immigration, I do not agree.
“A truly free market requires the free movement of people, not just products and ideas” – another policy statement from the Libertarian Party website.
SB 354 is not Senator Walker’s only “workforce development” bill. And with the input of the Libertarian lobbyists in Atlanta there will be more next year. How does allowing other states to decide who can obtain an occupational license in Georgia sound? Get used to it. “Reciprocity where reasonable” on occupational and professional licenses is a stated goal from Walker. I suggest you ask your own state Senator about that one.
Where we are: In a state with 500,000-ish illegal aliens, the Republicans we sent to Atlanta have passed legislation that dismantles existing state law designed to make employment difficult for illegal aliens in the name of “freedom,” “deregulation” and “workforce development.” It’s ever so Libertarian. And the corporate-funded illegal alien lobby is quietly grateful.
Governor Kemp’s Capitol office phone number is 404-656-1776. Please pick a side.
- A version of the above column was originally published in the Coastal Georgia newspaper The Islander on April 15, 2024.
