GOP senator wants parts of law repealed

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Republican state senator called Tuesday for repeal of sections of House Bill 1804, a sweeping immigration reform effort.

Provisions of the new law “essentially throw farmers and business owners under the bus,” Sen. Harry Coates said in a prepared statement.

He called for repealing provisions dealing with harboring and transporting illegal immigrants.

“I think people in the Legislature, the business community, private citizens and churches of many denominations are beginning to realize that this legislation is having an extremely negative impact on our state in many areas,” said Coates, R-Seminole.

Since the bill became law last month, Coates said he has received numerous phone calls from farmers, business owners and contractors.

“They want to know where the replacement workers will come from to fill the jobs resulting from the recent exodus of the immigrant worker, and they are angry with the Legislature for putting good politics ahead of good policy,” Coates said.

Rep. Randy Terrill, chief author of the bill, said that Coates’ proposal is “absurd.”

Terrill said his legislation “continues to enjoy the strong, overwhelming, bipartisan support of the people of Oklahoma.”

“You can count on me to do everything to make sure that Coates’ proposals are not successful,” he said.

Terrill said the harboring provisions mirror what is already federal law. The state law extends to Oklahoma law officers the ability to enforce that law, at a time when federal immigration officers are scarce, he added.

Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, who sponsored HB 1804 in the Senate, said Coates made the same floor arguments before the bill was passed by the Legislature.

Williamson said the law does not force employers to check the legal status of new workers through a national verification system. However, hiring an illegal immigrant could subject the employer to a lawsuit if the employer has fired an American citizen to open up the job. This provision is effective July 1.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Drew Edmondson told the governor’s Hispanic advisory council on Monday that his office was compelled to represent the state in a case challenging the law’s constitutionality.

“In some cases, we enter into those defenses because we are required. In this case, we are defending the law because we are obligated,” said Edmondson, a Democrat.

Edmondson said he did not think the law would be overturned.

Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, criticized Edmondson for reportedly saying a proposal to expand HB 1804 was “cruel.”

“I find the attorney general’s comments a slap in the face to all the people who work hard and play by the rules in this state,” Duncan said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com