House Panel to Hold Final Hearing on Immigration Bill Friday

Atlanta Journal Constitution: A legislative panel will hold its third and final public hearing Friday morning on an Arizona-style bill targeting illegal immigration. A revised version of House Bill 87 could be presented at that hearing. The bill’s sponsor -- Republican Rep. Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City -- said he has been considering some changes. He recently confirmed he was already on the 16th draft of the bill. “We are working on some revisions and will hopefully have it done in the next day or so,” Ramsey wrote in an e-mail Thursday. The House Judicial Non-Civil Committee is expected to start the hearing at 9:30 at the state Capitol. Committee Chairman Rich Golick, R-Smyrna, said a committee vote has not yet been scheduled. More than a dozen people spoke during Tuesday’s hearing on the 17-page bill, including religious leaders, immigrant rights activists, business groups and immigration watchdogs. Critics of the bill have blasted it as an unconstitutional measure that could damage the state’s economy, which partly depends on migrant labor. Supporters say it should be approved to stop illegal immigrants from taking jobs from state residents and sapping taxpayer-funded resources.