States don’t need Fed governance

Stealing a glimpse at much that is wrong in America most frequently requires only a turn of the head toward the Capitol.

Should that view be obfuscated, a southward turn on Interstate 95 toward Richmond will do. If nothing else, the tight proximity of vintage American inanity is convenient.

Cases in point include the flurry of legislative activity in the General Assembly over illegal immigration and the persistent absence of action inside the Beltway on the same subject.

The state Senate opened the week by approving a bill requiring police to check the immigration status of inmates born outside the United States. In other moves, both the Senate and House have passed bills that would deny bail to illegal immigrants jailed for another crime and yank business licenses from people convicted of hiring illegal aliens.

These measures are remarkable in a way first-time parents of small children should recognize. Advising little Johnny not to dash in front of that large truck or admonishing little Sally to keep her hands free of the red-hot stove burner shouldn't be necessary. But it is, particularly if Johnny is under government employ. Shouldn't checking inmates' immigration status or denying bond to illegals be the norm already- Only if you trust Sally not to put her fingers in the light socket.

Two other bills lived and died by hairs' breadths in committee. The first, passed 8-7, would require proof of Virginia residency to change one's name. So what was required before- A note on a napkin-

The second, defeated by the same margin, would have required court clerks to record the Social Security numbers of people applying for marriage licenses. Republicans pushed this idea pointing to a 1996 federal mandate that states record the last four digits of Social Security numbers of people seeking marriage licenses.

Democrats argue that the feds have no right telling states what to require for a marriage license. Hear, hear.

While Republicans' aim is to snare more illegals, who wouldn't figure to have Social Security numbers, the real impact of their bill would be to burden the courts and millions of American citizens with more bureaucratic hoop-jumping. We suspect precious few illegals would be tripped up in the process.

State Republicans' zeal to demonstrate their zest for taking on illegal immigration is commendable, if only for their recognition that it is an issue on the minds of many of their voting constituents. But they forget, in this case at least, a core conservative ideal that emphasizes allowing states - as well as local governments - freedom to shape their own laws and policies.

Further, stemming the tide of illegals flowing into America falls under the purview of the feds, whose responsibilities include protecting our national borders. Perhaps if some small portion of their attention were directed to those duties rather than to dictating to states the particulars of completing marriage licenses, the gang in Richmond could ease beyond the realm of the obvious.

And, along with pigs flying, we might hope that little Johnny recognizes without being told the dangers of pulling the hair dryer into the bath tub.