Democratic legislative leaders announced Tuesday a plan to tackle immigration in a special session by strengthening enforcement of current laws and urging the verification of employment-eligibility status.
Senate President Joan Fitz- Gerald and House Speaker Andrew Romanoff said they will ask Republican Gov. Bill Owens to use their blueprint if he calls lawmakers back.
Also Tuesday, a group of Republican lawmakers called on Owens to include in the special session consideration of constitutional amendments to make English Colorado’s official language and to require proof of U.S. and Colorado citizenship to vote.
Last week, Owens threatened a special session unless the Colorado Supreme Court reverses a ruling that bans a citizen-sponsored November ballot measure to eliminate state services to illegal immigrants.
Two days later, the Democrats, who initially called a special session unnecessary, said they were considering calling a session of their own.
Romanoff said Tuesday it is already against the law to provide most state services to illegal immigrants.
He and Fitz-Gerald challenged Owens to show where his departments are spending money on illegal immigrants and offered to help him beef up enforcement.
“If the administration believes that illegal immigrants are getting benefits for which they are ineligible, the administration is not doing its job,” Romanoff said. “We’re here to help.”
Owens is threatening a special session, spokesman Dan Hopkins said, to defend “the right of this group, Defend Colorado Now, to put this issue on the ballot.” The court ruled the initiative violated the requirement that such amendments deal with only one subject.
Illegal immigrants come to this country for jobs, Romanoff said.
“If we’re serious about tackling this problem on a state and national level, we ought to target the source,” he said. “That means asking employers, a little more forcibly here, to make sure that they hire folks with proper documentation.”
Legislative leaders are scheduled to meet with Owens this morning.
If Owens does not include their ideas in his call for a special session, Fitz-Gerald said Democrats could put out their own call.
But Democrats need two- thirds of lawmakers to sign on to that idea, and Republican leaders have said they plan to stick with the governor.
Staff writer Chris Frates can be reached at 303-820-1633 or cfrates@denverpost.com.
