Date Published: May 7, 2006   

Graham visits Lee

County's development, immigration discussed

Chris Moore / The Item U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham talks with the leaders and several citizens of Lee County on Friday afternoon while visiting the Lee County Chamber of Commerce in Bishopville.

By LESLIE CANTU
Item Staff Writer
lesliec@theitem.com

One of the keys to immigration reform will be establishing national employment cards that include fingerprint and retinal scan information, and requiring employers to verify that their workers, whether Americans or non-American legal workers, possess the cards, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on Friday.

Graham stopped by the Lee County Chamber of Commerce on his way to a commencement speech for Central Carolina Technical College.

CIA Director Porter Goss abruptly resigned earlier in the day, and Graham said he was surprised to hear the news.

"I think he brought reform to an agency that was out of control. ... I think he did a good job while he was there," Graham said.

For most of his visit, though, Graham chatted with local officials and businessmen about Lee's needs, then spoke about the current immigration reform debate.

Graham is pushing a bill that would put undocumented workers who are already here on what he calls probation. They would have to pay a fine for entering the country illegally, learn English, take civics courses, hold down a job, undergo background checks and then, after 11 years, could get in line to apply for citizenship.

At the same time, he said, the U.S. must stop any more people from entering illegally by increasing the ranks of Border Patrol agents, building a wall and using technology to monitor the southern border.

The employment cards will ensure that workers have the right to be here, he said.

"Right now there's a million ways to scam the system," he said, with fake Social Security numbers, driver's licenses and other documents that are easily obtained.

It's not too much to ask, he said, to require people to have an employment card with fingerprints, retinal scans or other such information.

"I don't think it's Big Brother-ish to control who's paying taxes and who's not," he said.

But the U.S., as well as South Carolina, cannot afford to simply kick out the undocumented workers who are already here, he said.

"If you took the immigrant work force out of agriculture and tourism ... you'd have an economic collapse," he said.

Graham gave Lee County a pat on the back for the strides it's made in the last few years and encouraged members of city and county councils to collaborate on a letter to him with requests for two or three critical projects.

"I've seen in my three years as senator a refocusing on old problems," in Lee County, he said.

He said he intends to work with U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., on road, water and sewer infrastructure. He also wants to increase the Internet infrastructure.

"You can do business in any town in America if you've got the right technology. ... The highway that's missing, really, in South Carolina, I think ... is the cyberhighway," he said.

Lee County Council Vice Chairman Gordon Eckley and Councilman Travis Windham pitched a bypass for Bishopville so that truck traffic won't rumble down Main Street at all hours.

John Bell, chairman of the Lee County Economic Development Alliance, said education and a trained work force are vital, but he expressed confidence that the country can weather the transforming economy.

"We've always met the challenges we've had to in this country," he said.

Graham received a warm welcome from the small group, several of whom thanked him for working across the aisle.

"From one Democrat to a good Republican, I hear more compliments about you and the fact you stand up for what you believe in," state Rep. Grady Brown, D-Bishopville, said.

Graham is a "breath of fresh air," Brown said.

Bell agreed, saying he was sick of watching typical partisan politics and thanked Graham for working on compromises.

Having two vibrant parties is good for the country, Graham replied.

"Parties representing different philosophies are good for the country, as long as they can solve problems. ... When Senator (Hillary) Clinton and myself can work together, anybody can work together," he said.


Contact Staff Writer Leslie Cantu at lesliec@theitem.com or 803-774-1250.