Colorado & Denver News

DENVER (AP) ― A House committee on Saturday killed a bill that would have asked voters in November whether the state should deny state services to adult illegal immigrants, leaving Republicans angry over the loss of the only bill that would give voters a say in the issue.

Democrats in the House approved a measure that would bar state services to all illegal immigrants over the strong objections of Republicans, who said voters deserve a chance to vote on it.

The remaining plan is based on a Georgia law intended to crack down on employers who hire illegal workers as well as illegal immigrants trying to get public assistance. That measure would not go on the ballot. It's a law that would go into effect Aug. 1 if the Senate approves and GOP Gov. Bill Owens signs it. That measure passed 35-28 and now goes to the Senate.

Republicans stood firm, demanding that a measure go to voters to replace an initiative stripped off the ballot by the state Supreme Court.

"I will not be a party in depriving the citizens of Colorado of their right to vote," said House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker.

House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver, said the plan mirrors a compromise between supporters and opponents of Initiative 55, the proposed constitutional amendment that was barred from the November ballot by the Colorado Supreme Court in a decision that led to the special session.

Democrats said voters could still get to vote on two other issues, a proposal that would eliminate business expense deductions if businesses knowingly hired illegal immigrants and a bill that would ask voters if they want the state to sue the federal government to demand that it enforce federal immigration laws.

Senators also were scheduled to debate a bill (House Bill 1018) that would require employers to check the identification of new employees to verify their eligibility to work. Employers could be fined $5,000 for initial violations and up to $25,000 for each subsequent violation. It also would give the state Revenue Department a year to develop a tamperproof form of identification to verify work eligibility.

To meet other components of the governor's order bringing lawmakers to the Capitol for the special session, the House gave final approval to a measure (Senate Bill 6) to limit common-law marriage to people 18 and older; and tentatively approved a bill (Senate Bill 2) that would require the state Supreme Court to rule within 30 days of when briefs are filed to challenge state Title Board decisions on ballot initiatives.

The House Democrats' plan to deny illegal immigrants some services differs from the initiative struck from the ballot because it included exceptions for state supported services that do not require proof of citizenship, such as garbage collection and soup kitchens.

Republicans said the House plan also includes loopholes that include immunizations and soup kitchens. It would only apply to adults 18 and older.

Rep. Jack Pommer, D-Boulder, said the initiative struck from the ballot never specified what state services would still be allowed.

He said Democrats have been trying for months to get state officials to tell them what services illegal immigrants are receiving for which they are not entitled and the state has not been able to tell them.

Pommer said there is no need to wait to put a measure on the ballot that could face years of legal challenges.

"They don't care if it goes to the ballot or we do it. They just want something done," Pommer said.

(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)