OH-16: State Senator John Boccieri(D): "Fix the illegal immigration problem in Ohio"

I just received a press release from Ian Walton, Sen. John "Bo" Boccieri's Campaign Manager. It was odd timing, because I was just getting ready to e-mail Ian. He had asked me to commit to being their "resident blogger" last night, so, here we are!

Ian Walton reports:

Today, State Senator John Boccieri(D), Candidate in Ohio’s 16th Congressional district offered an amendment on the Senate floor addressing the illegal immigration problem in Ohio. The amendment was adopted unanimously and has become a part of SB 260 – Immigrations Violations Bill. Here is his statement:

Finally, a man that will implement a bold solution. "Bo's" Statement:

"The immigration issue is deeply personal to my family and me. My grandparents are first generation Americans who came to this great Nation with little more than the clothes on their backs. They came to America to pursue the great promise of the American Dream and to try to make a better life for their children and future generations. My grandparents, like millions of others, immigrated to this country and do so safely and legally.

"Illegal immigrants come to this country for the same reasons my grandparents did so many years ago. They come looking for jobs, to be reunited with family, and a better way of life. Many put their own lives at risk just to pursue opportunities.

"Today, the current immigration system in the United States is broken. By all best estimates there are about 12 million undocumented immigrants living and working in the US today. Illegal immigrants represent about 5% of the nation's workforce.

"Ohioans are also impacted by the illegal immigration problem. The US Census reports that nearly 72 percent of the population increase in Ohio over the last ten years is directly attributable to immigrants.

"The Pew Hispanic Center estimates that in 2005 there were an estimated 75,000 to 150,000 illegal aliens living in Ohio and we rank 20th in the nation among illegal alien populations in the United States.

"Illegal immigration is a serious problem facing our nation, our state and our families. We are in need of leadership and few, if any, solutions have been offered.

"That's why I proposed an amendment on the Senate floor today that would hold businesses that break the law and engage in hiring illegal immigrants accountable.

"More and more states across the country are adopting similar pieces of legislation. Just as we hold individuals who break the law accountable, we can no longer afford to ignore punishment for those businesses who also engage in illegal activities. It is not fair to law abiding businesses. It is not fair to our workers. And is it not fair to the taxpayers in this state to allow this practice to go unchecked any longer.

"Ohio jobs and our economy are under duress. More and more businesses here are shipping jobs overseas. Now businesses are breaking the law to hire illegal workers who take jobs from suffering Ohio working families.

"The immigration system is broken and we must do more to bring this problem under control. My legislation provides this leadership and I look forward to engaging in this conversation in the weeks and months ahead."

John made it very clear, on Sturday, that undocumented illegal immigrants are making it even harder for those immigrants taking the legal pathway to obtain their citizenship. We have to have some very "tough" debate on this topic. Fences won't fix this problem and straight-out amnesty, with the exception of political dissidents, will not solve the problems. Let's put some ideas down and fix this mess once and for all.

Keep an eye on John Boccieri(D) as he brings bold Progressive Change to an Ohio District that has been under Republican control for...count them, 60 long years!

I hope that the 16th District will "Stand up!" Sen. Maj. John Boccieri as he moves us forward in our fight against Rep. Ralph Regula's(R) "heir apparent", Kirk Schuring(R).