E-Verify immigration bill dies, then rises again in Utah Legislature

"This is not a penalty on undocumented people. It is a penalty on businesses," said Sandstrom.

Sandstrom also said that Gov. Gary Herbert wants a discussion on this bill this session.

Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, said if this was such an important issue, Sandstrom should have filed the bill before last week's deadline. Nothing has changed between then and now to make it more critical, he said.

"I would suggest we have our plates full now and we don’t need another bill," he said.

House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, who voted against Sandstrom, said after the debate that Sandstrom discarding then bringing back the same bill was the biggest factor in the House vote.

“I think that had more influence on the body than the subject itself,” she said. “The Legislature did not abandon that bill. He did.”

Still, Lockhart said there is no need to push illegal immigration legislation through this session.

“This is one of those issues that we’re not pressed for time,” she said. “The passage of time will be a helpful thing on either side of the issue.”

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