Provisions impacting business implementation of HB 1804 take hold in less than three months. Opponents of the law are hoping state or federal courts will intervene and stop enforcement of the law. Efforts to stop it with other legislation has stalled.
Two lawsuits -- one filed in an Oklahoma City federal court and one in state court in Tulsa -- are pending. The Oklahoma City lawsuit was filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups. Their argument is one we've supported all along: Immigration is a federal issue and should be dealt with by the national government, not all 50 states.
Attorney General Drew Edmondson has asked U.S. District Court Judge Robin Cauthron to dismiss the lawsuit. The Associated Press reports Chamber of Commerce officials expect a hearing on the lawsuit to be held soon.
A state court judge in Tulsa heard oral arguments on a lawsuit that challenged the state's right to establish a bureau of immigration. The lawsuit, filed by a law professor, argues the state constitution forbids such an agency.
If either court fails to stop the state law from moving forward, provisions will go into effect July 1. Employers will be required to verify the status of all employees through a federal online program. It also opens the door to legal action against employers who hire illegal workers ahead of U.S. workers.
Opinion
Opponents pin hopes on federal, state courts
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Another Library Vote? Good grief!
Editor, The Transcript A new library on the west side? With hardly any books? With a dumb name above the entry as shown in your rendering? Infoplace? The library bureaucracy must think Norman voters just fell off the turnip truck....
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Show them some love
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Eliminating state taxes places burden on poor
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Not time to experiment with state taxes
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Cuts in mental health short-sighted at best
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Local investment is better for Norman
Editor, The Transcript Americans from all walks of life and political ideologies are asserting their voice to tell Wall Street “Enough is enough!” Occupy Norman members spoke at the Dec. 13 Norman City Council meeting, urging the city to ...
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Decline in unions harmful to economy
Editor, The Transcript Remember sometimes you get what your ask for? Let’s see, what could that be? I know, destroy those evil unions which are compromised of the middle class....
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Tobacco ban comes as shock
Gov. Mary Fallin’s State of the State contained few surprises. The tobacco ban, however, came as a total shock to many legislators and state agency heads. “It was a surprise,” the governor told state press association members this week at ...
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‘Flavor of the month’
State Republicans have invited all of the GOP presidential candidates to Oklahoma. Former candidate Herman Cain came to Oklahoma City in early December, just days after he suspended his campaign. Rick Santorum brought his charged-up ...
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Gov. Fallin says tax cuts bring national attention
Rating agencies are often courted by state, county and local officials seeking better ratings and thus lower interest costs on long-term debt financed through bonds. Oklahoma’s governor and other officials called on various agencies this ...
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Another Library Vote? Good grief!
