Mike Bennett Straddles Fence on Florida Immigration Legislation

State Sen. Mike Bennett, author of a putative immigration-control bill, continues to send mixed signals about his intentions.

While his SB 136 might charitably be dubbed "Arizona Light" for attempting to bolster enforcement, Bennett's op-ed in Saturday's Tampa Tribune blurred the line between legal and illegal immigration, and even applauded the DREAM Act, which would grant in-state tuition to illegal residents.

"We cannot look to the federal government for solutions," the Bradenton Republican wrote. Yet a University of Florida professor called the content of Bennett's bill "incredibly vague."

Indeed, Bennett won't even say if he will vote for his bill. As he enters his 11th year as a state legislator, the veteran lawmaker simply calls his measure "the start of the discussion."

To which George Fuller, a member of Floridians for Immigration Enforcement, wonders where Bennett and the Legislature have been for the past decade as this state's illegal-alien population soared past 1 million.

Fuller and FLIMEN support one straightforward solution: Mandate all employers to use the federal government's E-Verify database to screen new hires. Sen. Alan Hays and Rep. Gayle Harrell are sponsoring bills to do just that.

Alas, Bennett, who was caught by a Sunshine State News camera viewing near-naked women at his computer on the Senate floor last session, isn't committing to E-Verify, either.

If Republicans expect to lead on the immigration issue, it's increasingly clear that following Bennett will take them nowhere.

Sign up for Sunshine State News alerts.