TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas House members have blocked debate for now on proposals aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration.
The House voted 91-31 against a request from Rep. Charlotte O’Hara, an Overland Park Republican, to remove an immigration bill from committee and debate it.
The bill would require companies holding contracts with state or local government agencies worth more than $5,000 to use the federal E-Verify database to determine whether new employees are in the U.S. legally.
A proposal to require state agencies but not private companies to use E-Verify cleared committee Thursday, but its future is uncertain.
House GOP leaders have said they don’t want to debate immigration this year because Republicans, who have a majority in the chamber, are split on the issue.