Sanford pushes 3 key reforms at North Charleston business

Standing in the middle of a glass fabrication company in North Charleston, Gov. Mark Sanford on Monday called on the Legislature to pass three key reforms by mid-February on immigration, DUI and small-business health insurance.

Sanford used Coastal Glass Distributors as a backdrop for reform for small businesses in need of better opportunities to keep health insurance costs down, and he called DUI reform equally important. But the governor added, "The hottest burning issue is immigration."

The immigration bill passed by the Senate last year is expected to be debated on the House floor this week. It would require South Carolina employers doing business with the state to verify workers' citizenship and deny business expense deductions to employers of illegal workers.

The bill also would make it a felony to harbor or transport illegal aliens, would create additional penalties for identity fraud and would direct the State Law Enforcement Division to negotiate with the federal government so it could serve as an auxiliary immigration enforcement agency.

"The immigration debate is here because the federal government has not acted," Sanford said.

The governor said Georgia recently passed an immigration reform law, and he fears the state will see an influx of illegals if the Legislature fails to act swiftly.

Also attending the press conference was Sen. Chip Campsen, R-Isle of Palms, who said that when the immigration issue first arose several years ago when he was in the House of Representatives, he viewed it as a federal issue that the state couldn't touch. He now says the state has certain powers to penalize businesses who hire illegal workers.

Unless the Legislature acts, "we will be a sanctuary state" for illegal immigrants, Campsen said.

On DUI reform, a bill that has already cleared the House and is being reviewed by a Senate panel calls for stiffer penalties on repeat offenders and removes administrative roadblocks and loopholes that impede police in their efforts to enforce the state's DUI laws.

"It's easier to prosecute a murder case than a DUI case because of ... the fundamental imbalance (in the laws)," Sanford said.

"The problem is the laws are a maze," said 9th Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson, who also joined the governor. "They put the officer on trial more than the offender."

On small-business health care reform, which has passed the Senate and could be taken up by the House this week, the governor said the bill would allow small businesses to band together to buy health insurance for their employees to keep costs down. "(It's) a prudent piece of legislation," Sanford said.

Coastal Glass Distributors President Jack Hoey employs 165 workers at the plant off Ashley Phosphate Road. The company bears 65 percent of their health insurance costs, but employees can still pay several hundred dollars a year for coverage.

Customer Service Supervisor Bill DeMato pays $210 a month for him, his wife and 5-year-old daughter to be insured through the company. "I've seen costs go up and coverage go down," he said. "There are higher deductibles and more in co-payments."

State Rep. Heyward Hutson, also with the governor, called Sanford's message right on target.

"We have to stop the hemorrhaging going on with illegal immigration and health care," the Summerville Republican said.

He also said he intends to file a bill requiring the Department of Public Safety to analyze sites that have had at least three alcohol- related accidents.

The governor also stopped in Aiken, Florence and Greer.

Reach Warren Wise at 745-5850 or wwise@postandcourier.com.