Angie Paccione Lauds Colorado Immigration Reform

For Immediate Release: July 11, 2006
Contact: James Thompson
(970) 222-6397

Angie Paccione Lauds Colorado Immigration Reform

Paccione helps pass toughest immigraton legislation in the U.S.

DENVER—State Rep. Angie Paccione today congratulated her fellow lawmakers for putting aside partisan differences to pass landmark immigration legislation in Colorado's special session.

Key bills cosponsored by Paccione include House Bill 1023, which limits state services to illegal immigrants, effective August 1, as well as ballot questions that ask voters to crack down on unlawful employers and to hold the federal government accountable for enforcing immigration law. Along with Rep. Judy Selano, Paccione was an original sponsor of House Bill 1017, a cornerstone of the session's legislation.

"We're going beyond what other states have done, and we're doing what Washington hasn't done," Paccione said. "Congress would do well to follow our lead on immigration reform."

House Bill 1017 curtails illegal hiring by requiring employers to keep and submit records that prove their employees' legal status. The bill includes hefty fines for noncompliance ($5,000 for first offense and $25,000 for subsequent offenses) and a provision for state auditing of businesses suspected of hiring illegal immigrants. It passed 45-18.

"We've created a new level of accountability for employers, we've saved the taxpayers money, and we'll see these go into effect almost immediately," Paccione said. "Our legislation will strengthen enforcement and help eliminate incentives for people to cross our borders illegally."

Paccione was pleased to see that Governor Owens was willing to sign on to the Democrats' legislation.

"He's acknowledged that we have provided effective, sensible solutions to the problem of illegal immigration," Paccione said.

http://www.angie2006.com/newsroom_details.asp?id=876