Fla. illegal immigration bill defeated

Carolyn Hileman* | April 19, 2007

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Immigration problems are better handled by the federal government, said members of a state House committee Wednesday that voted down a proposal to punish businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. The idea of increasing penalties for those companies never had much of a chance in the House Environment and Natural Resources Council, where a number of members are in the agriculture business — one of the main industries targeted by the bill. It was defeated 12-1. Rep. Juan Zapata, the bill’s sponsor but not a member of the committee, said he pushed the idea to raise a point he says has been overlooked in the immigration debate: Illegal immigrants get all the blame for being here, while businesses and farms that create the jobs that bring them here rarely face consequences.

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