Immigration Politics Georgia

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D.A. King

Media request sent to Senator Matt Brass Re: Transfer of CEO, COO & Secretary titles at Peach State Values PAC

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Senator Matt Brass

 

Senator Brass,

I am writing an educational opinion column focused on the Republican Senate District 20 primary race. To insure accuracy and fairness I am in hopes that you will respond with a quote or comment on your taking over the CEO, COO, and Secretary titles  at the Peach State Values PAC from Senator Larry Walker on April 30, 2024.
In addition to my own widely read blog, I also write in various Georgia newspapers as well as the subscription outlet James Magazine Online, Breitbart and The Federalist.
I would be grateful for a response. My deadline is 5:00 PM today, May 15.
Thank you,
D.A. King
Marietta

Media request sent to GA state Senator Larry Walker Re: Transfer of CEO, COO & Secretary titles at Peach State Values PAC

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Sen.Larry Walker

The below media request was sent to Senator Larry Walker on May 14, 2024 at 9:48 AM. Walker replied at 2:49 PM. That reply is pasted below my request.

Senator Walker,

I am writing an educational opinion column focused on the Republican Senate District 20 primary race. To insure accuracy and fairness I am in hopes that you will respond with a quote or comment on the fact that Senator Matt Brass took over  CEO, COO, and Secretary  positions at the Peach State Values PAC from you on April 30, 2024. I welcome any other comment or input on the primary contest and the Peach State Values mailers aimed at your opponent, Tori Branum.
In addition to my own widely read blog, I also write in various Georgia newspapers as well as the subscription outlet James Magazine Online, Breitbart and The Federalist.
I would be grateful for a response. My deadline is 5:00 PM today, May 15.
Thank you,
D.A. King
Marietta
___________

Response:”Mr. King,

Please refer any questions you may have regarding Peach State Values to its Chairman, Senator Matt Brass.

Respectfully,

Larry Walker

State Senator, District 20

421-A State Capitol

Atlanta, GA 30334

(404) 656-0095″

Media request sent to GA state Senator Shawn Still today – updated with reply – #SenateDistrict20

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Update: 9:45 May 13: Senator Still was kind enough to reply about 5:15 PM today. That response is pasted on the bottom. He now says he is not a veteran.

I will have more to say about this matter in the coming days. This installment should be regarded as “Part one.”

_____________

The below media request was sent to Senator Still via email to his official Senate address, his Senate assistant’s address and via text message at 11:43AM today.

____

Senator Still,

I plan to write an educational opinion column focused on the facts surrounding your March 5 request to Tori Branum to call you and the ensuing phone conversation in which you inform Branum of your veteran status. As a recording of part of that conversation indicates, you informed Ms. Branum that you were a veteran and “served proudly.”
 
Excerpt:
 
Tori Branum:

“Right, and they’re gonna know me by the time I get done. They’re gonna know me by the time I get done, and if I lose, that’s fine. Hey, it’s practice. But as an American veteran, I have a right to run for office in my country.”

Shawn Still:

“Tori, don’t, don’t ever say that to me again. I am too. I’ve served proudly, and you don’t need to throw that in my face.”

As you likely know, Branum was an active duty U.S. Marine for eight years who attained the rank of Sergeant with an honorable discharge. According to Branum, she is a disabled veteran (70% disability).

As part of a larger piece on Sen. Larry Walker’s reelection campaign and your involvement with Walker and Branum in that contest, my effort here is to gather information on your military experience. To insure accuracy and fairness in my write up, will you kindly tell me in which branch of the U.S. military you served, your first date of active duty service, last day of active service, pay grade/rank upon separation and MOS (Military Occupational Specialty)?

I am hopeful that I can clear up confusion caused by the statements you apparently made to Branum versus the statements you have posted on the your shawnstill.com website in which you seem to explain that “the end of the Cold War” in 1989 -1990 and Bill Clinton’s election to the presidency in 1992 somehow prevented you from becoming a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

Excerpt:

“STATE SENATOR SHAWN STILL WAS RAISED IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, BY A SINGLE MOM WORKING FOR THE U. S. NAVY. “He attended the University of Alabama as a swimmer and U. S. Air Force ROTC cadet. Diploma in hand and preparing to attend flight school, the end of the Cold War and the election of President Bill Clinton abruptly cancelled Shawn’s plans along with those of most other would-be second lieutenants in the USAF. As a result, he pursued a variety of civilian careers ranging from whitewater raft guide on the Nantahala River to Vice President of Home Healthcare for a national company. The healthcare industry brought him to Atlanta in 1998.”

My deadline is noon, Wednesday, May 15. In addition to my own widely read blog, I write on the statewide, subscription outlet James’s Magazine Online, in various Georgia newspapers, the Washington Times and The Federalist.

I would be grateful for your input and any further information you want to offer that may be relevant to the above.

Thank you in advance for your attention and reply to this request,

D.A. King

Marietta

ImmigrationPoliticsGA.com

The Dustin Inman Society

____

Response from Senator Still:

(in response to a follow up question from here, Still informed me that he graduated from the University of Alabama in May, 1994).

Note: The embedded links are mine.

“DA,

there were things I did out of uniform in which I served our country proudly as a GS employee assigned to NAVSTA Mayport and at sea on several different warships in the 1990s. Not everyone who served our country during the Cold War wore a uniform.

While I didn’t go active duty as an officer after this GS position, I am firm in my belief that I did a great deal of good while there. I will not speak about those details on my website or in an interview.

This is the only statement that I will ever offer about my time in that role.

Considering your background as a Marine, I appreciate that you asked me for clarification and trust that you understand my position on this and cannot speak publicly about anything else I did during that time.”

_

 

HB 1105 – “ The Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024” explained

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HB 1105 sponsored by Rep Jesse Petrea (R- Savannah) passed under the Gold Dome last month and was signed into law by Gov. Kemp on May 1, 2024.

While you read the abbreviated analysis of Rep Petrea’s leigislation below, please try to find the “anti-immigrant” and “anti-Latino” “hate” the corporate-funded illegal alien lobby is howling about. On the bottom, we supply a list of some of the organizations – with contact information – that feverishly lobbied in the state Capitol against this commonsense public safety bill.

This is a general explanation of the bill’s contents.

HB 1105 ensures that Georgia law enforcement officers cooperate with federal immigration authorities when illegal aliens are in custody. Puts penalties into existing laws against “sanctuary” policies. Requires that jails honor ICE detainers.

“The provisions of this Act shall be implemented in a manner consistent with federal laws  governing immigration and civil rights.”

  • Penalizes sheriffs (hello, Gwinnett Sheriff Keybo Taylor) who defy follow current state law on reporting to ICE when illegal aliens are in their jails. (Section 9)
  • Penalizes local government leaders who support sanctuary policies in violation of that prohibition. (Section 6)
  • Requires that jailers honor ICE detainers. (Section 8)
  • Requires jails to apply annually for Memorandums of Agreement with federal immigration authorities such as 287(g). (Section 5)
  • Withholds state funds or state administered federal funds from local governing bodies that violate this code and support sanctuary policies. (Section 5)
  • Requires jailers to post quarterly reports on their local website to include total number of inmates, LESC inquiries, ICE detainers, and number of responses from ICE beginning 12/31/24. (Section 10)
  • Requires the Department of Audits to review immigration compliance reports submitted by local governments and Sheriffs’ Departments. (Section 12)
  • Requires the Department of Corrections to post on its website, a quarterly report of aggregate data on the numbers of ICE detainers in our state prison system. (Section 7)
  • Requires that DNA shall be collected from convicted felons in the Georgia Department of Corrections that are subject to an immigration detainer notice. (Section 13)
  • Requires that law enforcement officers seek to verify immigration status for individuals arrested for certain misdemeanors and who cannot show ID indicating legal presence in the United States. (Section 3)
  • Implores the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to not release any illegal alien from confinement prior to the completion of their sentence unless they are assured that federal immigration authorities will deport such alien upon release. (Section 2)

The below is part of a March 6, 2024 press release from the anti-enforcement, non-profit groups listed. You can see the entire release at our pro-enforcement website, NewDustinInmanSociety.org.

From the far-left:

Diverse Group of Immigrant Rights Organizations Condemn HB 1105 As Dangerous and Discriminatory

STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Atlanta, GA — Immigrant rights organizations and their allies condemn Georgia House Bill 1105, which recently passed the House and endangers Georgia’s immigrant communities, promotes racial profiling, and undermines local law enforcement discretion…”

CONTACT:
James Woo, Advancing Justice-Atlanta, jwoo@advancingjustice-atlanta.org

Daniela Rodriguez, Migrant Equity Southeast, Daniela@migrantequity.org 912-222-8229

Shelley Danzy, Project South, shelley@projectsouth.org 678-508-5293

Preye Cobham, Esq., Women Watch Afrika, womenwatchafrika@gmail.com 404-668-2241

Daniela Racines, Latino Community Fund, daniela@lcfgeorgia.org 470-519-0783

Ashley Coleman, Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies, ashley.coleman@weinspirit.org 678-451-8863

Lauren Frazier, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, lfrazier@gbpi.org 404-434-5541

Sebastian Saavedra, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR), sebastian@glahr.org 770-457-5232

Nekessa Opoti, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, comms@baji.org 612-405-3359

Aimee Zangandoum, Inspiritus, aimee.zangandou@weinspirit.org 678-852-8523

Nazia Khanzada, Council on American-Islamic Relations Georgia, nkhanzada@cair.com 404-239-2086

Darlene Lynch, The Center for Victims of Torture and Business & Immigration for Georgia (BIG) Partnerships,, Dlynch@cvt.org 404-402-1764

Alba Villarreal, GALEO Impact Fund, avillarreal@galeoimpactfund.org 678-791-2305

Original release here.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp full remarks on immigration issues, border security after co-ed murder at UGA HB 1105

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Ga. Gov Brain Kemp in Athens, Feb. 2024

 

The below was transcribed by Rev.com from Gov. Kemp’s presentation to the Athens-Clarke County “Pancakes and Policy” event on  Feb 26, 2024.  Video here.

GA Gov Brian Kemp:

 

“…Michael and appreciate you taking a second tour of duty, um, as chamber president this year, and I certainly want to thank David as the rest of the team for having Marty and I this morning. Uh, I’m glad to be a member of the Athens Clark County Chamber of Commerce, appreciate what you guys are doing every day to plug for small businesses in this community and a lot of other great pieces of the fabric of the Athens, Georgia community.

Uh, like Michael said, our hearts are breaking this morning for the family of Laken Riley. I had the honor of speaking to her parents over the weekend and though they are bearing the pain that no parent should ever endure in having to plan for burying their child, they’re thankful for our prayers and our ongoing justice to see Lee- Laken’s killer brought to justice.

Marty and I will continue to keep their family, their friends and the university community in our thoughts and prayers. This community, all of Georgia, and the entire country have been rocked by this inexcusable and avoidable murder. Laken’s life should not have ended so soon and we need to demand justice for what happened to her. She deserves justice, her family deserves justice, and we need justice on a national level to prevent this type of thing from happening again.

Laken Riley

Laken’s death is a direct result of failed policies on the federal level and an unwillingness by this White House to secure the southern border. We need to demand better from this administration, and that’s something that I’ve been doing since I’ve taken office, along with other governors across the country. And we’ve renewed that call multiple times, including again this weekend when I sent a letter to the president demanding more information on the illegal immigrants in our country, where they are and if they’ve broken any of our laws. Because of the president’s failures, we don’t know all that we should, but we do know this, more than eight and a half million illegal immigrants have crossed the border since President Biden took office.

In November of last year alone, over 1700 pounds of Fentanyl were seized at the southern border. Nearly 16,000 pounds of meth. 169 people on the terror watch list were encountered at the southern border in fiscal year 2023, setting an all-time record. Those drugs, weapons and dangerous criminals that aren’t stopped at the border head to other states, just like ours. In fact, there was a 55% increase in cases involving Fentanyl seizures here in Georgia by the GBI between 2022 and 2023. And that doesn’t even include all the seizures by local law enforcement.

It is an understatement to say that this is a major crisis, and because of the White House’s failures, every state, as I’ve said repeatedly, is now a border state, and Laken Riley’s murder’s just the latest proof of that. Just yesterday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed that her killer was in the country illegally, that he had been arrested in 2022 and was paroled and released back onto our streets. He was then arrested again last year in New York for trying to hurt a child, and other charges. That is a failure of our system on multiple levels and at multiple times, and it has res- resulted in a young woman’s death. That is inexcusable. And in the absence of any real effort by the Biden Administration to step up and address this crisis, as they continue to ignore the calls for meaningful policy change that governors like me have made for well over two years, I have committed further resources to help and secure the southern border and keeping our citizens safe.

Brian Kemp TV campaign ad, 2018.

We already have the longest continuous presence of state guardsmen stationed on the border of any state, going back to when I first took office. Earlier this month, following my fifth trip to the southern border, I announced that we would send more troops to Texas in building, to help in building a command center on the border of, with Mexico. And we’re already putting more and more resources into public safety, including to pay for state law enforcement to retain and attract talented men and women who will keep our streets safe.

I want to thank the General Assembly, I know, uh, a bunch of the local delegation is here this morning, for giving final passage to the Peace Officer Loan Repayment legislation we introduced last year. All of these measures and more are designed with the same goal, to keep Georgians like you safe, to keep Georgians’ neighborhoods safe, to keep our schools safe, and to keep our businesses safe, because everyone should feel secure in their local community. And as we further strengthen the places we call home, we will continue to build on great opportunities here in our state, and I know that’s what you all at the Chamber are doing every single day and we appreciate so much your partnership with us. Those efforts have brought 177 projects, over 20,300 new jobs and $13.4 billion in investment to just this region of Georgia since I first took office.

I blame Republican voters

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Indoor billboard outside Ga. Gov. Kemp’s Gold Dome office. Photo: dak 26Feb2021.

 

“State legislators in Georgia are not accustomed to fielding questions on illegal immigration.”

First-term Republican state Senator Mike Hodges (R – Brunswick) sat for an interview with “the most listened to man in South Georgia” radio host Scott Ryfun last week. I found the senator’s remarks on illegal immigration in Georgia and what he hears from legislative colleagues on the topic quite interesting – but different than my own experience.

The 2024 General Assembly was this writer’s nineteenth year fighting the pro-enforcement immigration battle under the Gold Dome. I can report that except for a very few courageous lawmakers, illegal immigration is not “an issue” for most of them. That goes double in the state Senate. I blame Republican voters.

For readers who missed the Ryfun interview, I paste a partial transcript of the segment in which Sen. Hodges was asked about illegal immigration.

Scott Ryfun to Sen. Hodges:

“…as far as your term in office so far, were you surprised at how big an issue in the last year illegal immigration has become?

Sen.Mike Hodges

Sen Mike Hodges

Yes and no. … I’m, I mean, well, I’ve always, I mean, you know, we’ve only, we’ve got finite resources in the State of Georgia, we got finite resources in the country and, you know, we’ve gotta take care of our folks. Um, what I’ve been surprised at is the vehemence and the, the vehemence of some folks and the, um, the charges, if you will, of, bad behavior by a lotta people in the business community, you know, I’m there every day. Uh, I’m in the legislature every day. I’m part of discussions of bills and I never hear anybody say, “Hey, let’s do this this way and we can get free labor.” I mean, I don’t, I don’t hear that. I hear more people saying, “You know” we need to do something. We need to do something to make illegal aliens less desirable, … to make Georgia less desirable for illegal aliens.”

I hear a lot more of that than I do, the other side of the argument. So, I think there’s, I think that there is, an effort, you know, to try to, um, to try to deal with that. I know that, that it is a single-issue for a number of people.” (End of my outtake).

Thank you, Scott Ryfun.

State legislators in Georgia are not accustomed to fielding questions on illegal immigration. I blame Republican voters.

Here I need to write that illegal employment is the main driver of illegal immigration. And that I have personally watched lobbyists for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce first try to stop and then water down state legislation to create a requirement that private employers use the federal no-cost E-Verify system to deter illegal employment. They were partially successful.

And that I have personally seen an arrogant lobbyist working for and at the direction of the Georgia agriculture industry explain to a House committee that the H2A vias was bad for business. Agriculture is the only industry that has its own visa – the H2A visa. With it growers can legally bring in an unlimited number of temporary foreign farm workers.  But the program does require that the employer provide the visa holder with housing, transportation, meals, and certain designated wages.

Video, Bryan Tolar to the Georgia House Judiciary ((non-civil) committee February 8, 2024.

Use of legal H2A labor is too costly, the Big Ag mouthpiece explained. It’s cheaper to use black market labor.  “The H2A visa is like a Cadillac – and not everyone can afford a Cadillac…” he said. Ask me for a link to the committee video.

With Sen. Hodges description of what he hears in the legislature in mind, here are just two of the anti-enforcement bills passed in the GOP-run Georgia state Senate in the 2023-2024 General Assembly:

SB 112  -(“The Workforce EXCELeration Act”) – Would provide taxpayer-funded Adult Education for Georgia residents aged twenty-one and over to the state technical college system for classes that result in a high school diploma. The bill contained language that allowed the TCSG and the State Board of Education to “waive or provide variances to state laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures…” that may be necessary to meet the measure’s goals. Ditto for federal laws that get in the way.

There was no exclusion for illegal aliens.

Only one state senator (Sen. Colton Moore) voted “no.” The bill was overhauled and repaired in the House.

SB 354 – Removes the requirement for occupational licensing for some low-skilled workers in Georgia – and along with it the verification of lawful presence immigration check.

It passed the state Senate in January with zero “no” GOP votes – and only two in the House In March. Gov. Kemp should veto this legislation.

I blame Republican voters.

  • A version of this column was published in the April 22, 2024 edition of the Glynn Co. (GA) newspaper, The Islander.

Attention pro-borders Georgians: Beware the Libertarians under the Gold Dome

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“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.

Sen.Larry Walker

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.

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.

Gov. Kemp’s Capitol office phone number is 404-656-1776

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.

Veto needed for GA’s SB 354 from Sen Larry Walker Updated

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  • Update: To none’s surprise, Gov. Kemp quietly signed SB 354 into law on May 2, 2024

     Pro-enforcement readers have a chance to take an active role in preventing the Republicans in the state Capitol from dismantling long-standing state law aimed at illegal immigration. I respectfully urge you to take advantage of the opportunity.

Maybe the illegal aliens most members of the General Assembly have invited to Georgia won’t murder another college co-ed. You never know, right? For all but two Republican legislators under the Gold Dome, that possibility is merely the cost of “workforce development,” Georgia being “number one for business!” and obedience of directives from the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.

Sen. Larry Walker (R- Perry) lead sponsor of SB 354. Contact info here.

Senate Bill 354 is an anti-enforcement bill concocted by the Georgia Chamber and sponsored by Senators Larry Walker (R- Perry), Brian Strickland (R-McDonough), Jason Anavitarte (R- Dallas), Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta), Kim Jackson (D-Atlanta), Steve Gooch (R- Dahlonega), John F. Kennedy (R-Macon), and Randy Robertson (R- Cataula). The stated goal is to make it easier to go to work in Georgia.

What does SB 354 do? It dismantles state law put in place in 2006 that requires all applicants for occupational licenses to swear on an affidavit that they are not an illegal alien. False swearing is a felony. The law is OCGA 50-36-1 – “verification of lawful presence.” It’s part of the occupational licensing process – if the licensing process goes away, the immigration check goes too. Which, again, is exactly what SB 354 does for covered jobs.

Gov. Kemp’s Capitol office phone number is 404-656-1776

The legislation applies to low skilled personnel in the barbering/cosmetology industry and removes the requirement for accessing an occupational license for the covered workers. Next year’s edition will be aimed at more occupations because according to a Sen. Larry Walker-sponsored Resolution passed by the GOP-ruled Senate last year, occupational licensing in Georgia is “burdensome and onerous.”

Despite this writer’s frantic effort to stop the bill by explaining all this to key Republican lawmakers, the bill was sent to Gov. Kemp’s desk on March 26. Only two Republicans in the General Assembly voted against the measure – House Reps Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) and Kimberly New (R- Villa Rica). Yes, you read that correctly – zero Republican state senators voted “no” and only two Republicans in the House.

  • Related reading: Email to GA Rep Alan Powell on SB 354 as instructed by his assistant 

It should be noted that the immigration verification law under attack from the “anything-for-a-buck” crowd under the Gold Dome was put in place as part of SB 529, the ‘Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act of 2006.’ It was signed by Republican Governor Sonny Perdue that year. It began the committee process in the Senate Public Safety committee chaired by then state Senator Brian Kemp who told the liberal Atlanta Journal Constitution at the time that many Georgians are “fed up” with illegal immigration. Indeed.

Will Kemp sign a bill that dismantles state illegal immigration laws that he helped put on the books? The smart money says “yes”, unless he knows a lot of GOP voters are watching.

The bottom line is this: Only a veto from Kemp can stop SB 354 from becoming law in Georgia. If that happens, we should all grasp that more bills with the same goals will pass next year and thereafter. Gov. Brian Kemp will not veto this bill without public pressure.

Honest.

Please call the Capitol office of Gov. Brian Kemp (404-656-1776) and leave a message with the staffer asking him to veto SB 354.

I’ll wash your car if you speak up.

 

The above column was published in the Coastal Georgia newspaper The Islander on April 8, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

March 19, 2024 email to Rep. Alan Powell and his Capitol assistant sent as instructed – Re: SB 354

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From: D.A. King

Subject: The problem with SB 354 …(illegal immigration)

Date: March 19, 2024 at 10:08:33 AM EDT

To: “Brown, Jan” <jan.brown@house.ga.gov>

Cc: “Rep. Alan Powell” <Alanpowel***>

Jan/Rep Powell,

Be advised: SB 354 eliminates the requirement for the occupational licensing process for the covered jobs in barbering/hair styling. The verification of lawful (immigration) presence process we put in place in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2013 is baked into the occupational/professional licensing system.

House Regulated Industries Committee Chairman Rep. Alan Powell.

If you eliminate the licensing process you eliminate the verification of lawful presence. Shorter: A vote for SB 354 is a vote saying we will knowingly provide jobs to illegal aliens who beat the E-Verify system IF it is even used by the employer.  Trust me – the corporate-funded illegal alien lobby here in GA tracks things like this and passes on the information to the illegals.

There is no way to fix this. SB 354 cannot be amended as a fix because of the way the verification system is set up.

—> I have a long thread of emails from Sen. Walker on this. He is fully aware of what I am telling you. He seems reticent to mention it in committee.

FYI – I helped draft the 50-36-1 code in 2006 and have partially rewritten it twice since then (see HB 2, 2009). I can recite much of it from memory.

Thanks.

D.A. King

404-