An attempt Tuesday by Rep. Steve Brunk, R-Wichita, to create a one-year pilot project of the federal electronic employment verification program was derailed by the usual immigration politics, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. Brunk wanted to test the E-Verify system, which checks citizenship status, on applicants for state government jobs before requiring the private sector or local units of government to use it. He warned his Federal and State Affairs Committee that if lawmakers loaded up the bill with other requirements – such as that law enforcement officers check the immigration status of people they encounter – he would stop debate. But other lawmakers couldn’t resist trying to broaden the bill, and the measure quickly stalled.
Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, was taken to task by the Wall Street Journal editorial board for being one of two Republicans to join Democrats in voting in the House Budget Committee last week against the budget blueprint of Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., which would reach balance in 2040. “The budget passed 19-18, but if the rebellion spreads it will play into the hands of Nancy Pelosi, who wants to show that Republicans can’t govern,” wrote the editorial board, which lauded Ryan’s vision of how to promote growth, reform entitlements and protect defense spending. It continued: “Conservatives who really want to limit government should focus on major reform, not on hitting some unlikely balanced-budget target in some future year.” In a statement after the committee vote, Huelskamp praised Ryan but said “a real path to tax reform is missing from this budget. On April 1 the U.S. will have the highest corporate tax rate in the world; and on January 1, America will be hit with an onslaught of tax increases. The American people know we cannot afford to ignore these critical realities, and they are looking for Republican leadership to protect hardworking taxpayers.”
An attempt Tuesday by Rep. Steve Brunk, R-Wichita, to create a one-year pilot project of the federal electronic employment verification program was derailed by the usual immigration politics, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. Brunk wanted to test the E-Verify system, which checks citizenship status, on applicants for state government jobs before requiring the private sector or local units of government to use it. He warned his Federal and State Affairs Committee that if lawmakers loaded up the bill with other requirements – such as that law enforcement officers check the immigration status of people they encounter – he would stop debate. But other lawmakers couldn’t resist trying to broaden the bill, and the measure quickly stalled.
