Democrats moved Tuesday to repeal Georgia's get-tough legislation on immigration, saying it has been devastating to Georgia's rural economy.
It was part of a package of legislation Democratic state representatives plan to introduce this session.
Other proposed bills would reduce sales taxes on American-made products, reform foreclosures in Georgia, create a panel to review cost-benefit analysis of tax exemptions and provide mandatory notice of park closures. Other bills would require fingerprinting for sellers of scrap metal because theft has been a major problem in the recession, drop the grade-point average for technical college students to keep the HOPE scholarship to 2.5 and require the state to pay Georgians promptly for state contracts.
"We have developed a package of legislation that will create good jobs and a strong economy, promote rural recovery and help small businesses grow starting today," said House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta.
Rep. Pedro Marin, D-Duluth, introduced the legislation to repeal the immigration law that the General Assembly approved last year as House Bill 87. He said the law, which makes it easier to deport illegal residents, scared off migrant workers to the point that farmers left at least $75 million in crops in the field last season. That loss trickles down through farm suppliers and sellers of Georgia vegetables, Marin said.
"We should make the state grow," he said. "We should not be taking a loss."
Another bill would do away with the E-Verify requirement for businesses that hire less than 50 workers. E-Verify lets employers check whether workers are in the country legally.
Marin said he realizes the bill has little chance of passing, but Democrats want to make a statement about their priorities of helping rural Georgia.
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