Clayton O’Kelly goes to the Georgia Capitol – Jobs Americans must do
By D.A. King, Douglas Enterprise, March 8, 2006
On his first ever visit to the Georgia Capitol building last week - after having lived in Gwinnett County since 1938 – Clayton O’Kelly had some stern but respectful words for the Georgia Senate’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee.
The eight-member committee was holding a second of two public hearings on Senate Bill 529 - The Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act sponsored by Senator Chip Rogers [R-Woodstock].
O’Kelly’s message for Georgia’s legislators on his first trip to the Gold Dome? Do something about the illegal immigration crisis here in Georgia – now.
On behalf of fed-up citizens all over the state, thank you Clayton O’Kelly.
The U.S. Navy veteran has demonstrated that demanding action on illegal immigration is a job that more and more Americans will do.
From here in Marietta, we must wonder aloud when the Governor will pitch in.
It seems that O’Kelly, like voters all over the country, has taken the position that absent the promised federal protection of secure borders and enforced immigration and employment laws, his state government must step up and do what it can to protect him and his family here in Georgia.
O’Kelly’s first words to the state senators at the hearing were: “I am getting older, but I am here for my grandchildren…” Sentiment worthy of consideration by all of us we think.
Mr. O’Kelly was not the only American who testified in on the pending legislation aimed at the employment of and taxpayer assistance to illegal aliens. There were scores of people at the Capitol during the senate committee process, many who gave a variety of reasons why illegal immigration, while, well… illegal, is a necessary crime to keep the Georgia economy running smoothly.
At seventy-one, O’Kelly clearly remembers a Georgia in which legal laborers were allowed an opportunity to make a wage on which they could live in Georgia with dignity. Without taxpayers being forced to help finance their care.
Not a popular memory these days in many quarters.
Using the old adage “follow the money”, it was not that difficult to see that most of those supporting the continued violation of the law had a vested financial interest in continued access to what can only be described as the taxpayer subsidized black market labor - and the market they create. Illegal labor supplied by the hundreds of thousands of people who are here simply because they can make more money in Georgia than in their home countries.
Let’s be clear here, nobody we know of, including, he told me, O’Kelly, blames any of these people for wanting a “better life”. That however can be said of most who choose to ignore the law to make a buck. If we are to use that motivation for all outlaws to excuse their crimes, we will soon find ourselves in a position of needing committee meetings to decide if we are going to punish a wide range of crimes.
The issues of income tax and campaign donations leap to mind.
Mr. O’Kelly said he wants a better life for his grandchildren. He told us that he flies an American flag from his front porch and that he does “not believe ignoring the law is going to work”. We agree. Look at California.
Senate Bill 529 was approved in its senate committee process, and is scheduled to be considered by the full Georgia Senate today. It is expected to be approved, if so, it will then begin the committee process in the Georgia House of Representatives.
Most of us understand that making the millions of illegal aliens already here “legal” will only encourage millions more to come - like it did twenty years ago. According to a recent Zogby poll, more than 80% of Georgians want action on illegal immigration by the Georgia government.
Here’s hoping that some of them will follow Mr. O’Kelly’s example and make their voices heard to the House.
Not to mention the Governor.
Thanks again Clayton O’Kelly.
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