Mississippi

It is time to crack open the champagne.

The Mississippi House has approved the Arizona-style immigration law. This is the same bill that passed the Mississippi Senate earlier this month. The final vote was 77 to 40.

There are a few important changes from the Senate version: the House bill is tougher on businesses that employ illegal aliens and strips out the language which allows citizens to sue public officials for lack of enforcement. This only shifts the burden from local first responders to employers.

The essence of the law remains the same.

The bill is now headed to the reconciliation process and then to Gov. Haley Barbour for his signature. Boss Hogg is on record saying that he will sign it into law. Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant, who is running for Governor of Mississippi, has been an outspoken support of Arizona-style immigration reform.

Touchdown.