First Step: In Oklahoma?

A step has been taken.

This step, quite momentous in nature, was taken by a state I had least expected.

Oklahoma.

To wit:

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Legislation described as the nation’s most sweeping attempt to deny jobs and public benefits to illegal immigrants was sent to Gov. Brad Henry’s desk Tuesday.

State lawmakers urged Henry to sign the measure into law after it was approved in a bipartisan 84-14 vote by the state House. The bill was approved 41-6 by the Senate last month.

“The people of Oklahoma are very strongly for this bill,” said House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah.

I find it amazing that there were a sufficient number of clear-thinking individuals in any government entity to even write a proposal such as this.

The legislation addresses the root cause of illegal immigration — exploitation of illegal immigrant labor, Mike Hethmon, general counsel of the Immigration Reform Law Institute in Washington, said. Among other things, the bill contains employment, labor law and civil rights provisions to protect citizens and legal immigrants who lose their jobs at companies that employ illegal immigrants to perform the same or similar work.

This could be categorized as something on the order of a "nice start." But wait, there's more:

Terrill said the measure would limit state driver’s licenses and identity cards to citizens and legal immigrants and would require state and local agencies to verify the citizenship and immigration status of applicants for state or local benefits.

“The land of opportunity is becoming the land of entitlement,” Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, said while debating for the bill.

The measure would not affect emergency medical and humanitarian services, such as visits to hospital emergency rooms and enrollment in public schools, that are required by federal law.

Terrill said the Federation of American Immigration Reform estimates that illegal immigrants costs state taxpayers up to $200 million a year in public benefits and other resources.

Anyone within the reach of my blog: I might heartily suggest you Dogpile various Oklahoma politicians and lend them your immediate and clear support on this issue.

Is the tide -- dare I posit? -- about to be reconsidered?

We need to make this a swell, a wave, a tsunami of movement.

BZ