Associated Press: The first possible change to the state's tough immigration law passed the Alabama House Thursday that would allow the use of military identification cards to prove citizenship or legal residency.
The law, being called one of the harshest in the nation, was approved last year and supported by the Legislature's new Republican majority. Lawmakers are working this session to make changes to address concerns of law enforcement officers, farmers, religious leaders and the business community have had concerning the law. Lawmakers have been stern in asserting they would not weaken the law's provisions.
The House voted 92-0 Thursday for a bill that allows the use of military identification cards as proof of citizenship or legal residency to buy a car tag or conduct other official business with local or state government. The law requires proper ID.
The sponsor, Republican Rep. Steve Clouse of Ozark, said allowing the use of military ID is a major issue in his district because of the Fort Rucker Army base.
House Majority Leader Rep. Micky Hammon, House sponsor of immigration legislation, said Clouse's bill would be included in legislation making overall changes. He said it was an oversight that military identification was not included as proof of citizenship in the original bill. He said supporters of the immigration bill did not want to hurt the military.
Some members of the military are not U.S. citizens, but Hammon said all are legal U.S. residents.
"If our military has vetted them, we should accept their IDs," Hammon said.
House Speaker Mike Hubbard said Thursday the bill to make changes to the immigration law is still being written and he hopes it will be ready to introduce by the time lawmakers take their spring break at the end of March.
He said most of the changes will be "tweaks" like including military IDs as a proof of citizenship or legal residency. Hubbard said the proposed bill, that has not been shown to the general public, is being reviewed by Republican legislative leaders, Gov. Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange.
"I feel good about the bill that's been drafted," Hubbard said.
The speaker said the bill will make some changes, but "we are not backing down at all from the intent of the original bill."
The law, being called one of the harshest in the nation, was approved last year and supported by the Legislature's new Republican majority. Lawmakers are working this session to make changes to address concerns of law enforcement officers, farmers, religious leaders and the business community have had concerning the law. Lawmakers have been stern in asserting they would not weaken the law's provisions.
The House voted 92-0 Thursday for a bill that allows the use of military identification cards as proof of citizenship or legal residency to buy a car tag or conduct other official business with local or state government. The law requires proper ID.
The sponsor, Republican Rep. Steve Clouse of Ozark, said allowing the use of military ID is a major issue in his district because of the Fort Rucker Army base.
House Majority Leader Rep. Micky Hammon, House sponsor of immigration legislation, said Clouse's bill would be included in legislation making overall changes. He said it was an oversight that military identification was not included as proof of citizenship in the original bill. He said supporters of the immigration bill did not want to hurt the military.
Some members of the military are not U.S. citizens, but Hammon said all are legal U.S. residents.
"If our military has vetted them, we should accept their IDs," Hammon said.
House Speaker Mike Hubbard said Thursday the bill to make changes to the immigration law is still being written and he hopes it will be ready to introduce by the time lawmakers take their spring break at the end of March.
He said most of the changes will be "tweaks" like including military IDs as a proof of citizenship or legal residency. Hubbard said the proposed bill, that has not been shown to the general public, is being reviewed by Republican legislative leaders, Gov. Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange.
"I feel good about the bill that's been drafted," Hubbard said.
The speaker said the bill will make some changes, but "we are not backing down at all from the intent of the original bill."
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