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Sen. Harry Coates on Thursday addressed his decision to file legislation that would repeal portions of House Bill 1804, citing both economic and moral concerns with the sweeping immigration reform bill approved earlier this year by the Legislature.

Coates said the legislation is already having a negative impact on the Oklahoma economy, as employers in the agricultural and construction industries are beginning to see the first effects of a potential labor shortage. Coates filed Senate Bill 1143 on Wednesday which would repeal parts of the immigration bill.
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In response to recent announcements regarding a proposal to make English the official language of the state of Oklahoma, Sen. Jeff Rabon on Thursday stated he would do everything in his power to ensure such a measure would not win the approval of the Senate.

Rabon said he felt the state should be doing more to honor the fact that Oklahoma is home to numerous sovereign nations with unique languages and cultures that deserve the respect of the Legislature.

Over the past few years, the State Legislature has passed right to work and tort reform measures designed to make Oklahoma more attractive to business, but now the state has a law on the books that negates those efforts. That’s according to Sen. Harry Coates, Co-Chair of the Senate Business and Labor Committee and the only Republican in the Legislature to vote against HB 1804. Coates announced he would file legislation to repeal portions of the bill approved during the 2007 session aimed at illegal immigrants.
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