A Push for Arizona-Style Immigration Laws Stalls Out

In his successful campaign to become Florida's governor last year, Rick Scott argued that his state needed an immigration law similar to the controversial statute passed in Arizona, which gives police broad powers to question people about their legal status. He skewered his opponent in the primary for calling the law too "far out." Governor Scott has since learned that a lot of his fellow Republicans agree with that assessment. The state's Republican-dominated legislature adjourned for the year on May 7 without agreeing on an immigration bill, much to the relief of business groups, including the Florida Chamber of Commerce, that came out strongly against the measure.

"We did not want to see damage done to Florida's brand," says David Hart, executive vice-president of the Florida Chamber, citing the potential blow to the state's tourism industry if Florida came to be viewed as "inhospitable" to foreign visitors.

Resistance from business, along with legal challenges, have limited the spread of state immigration laws patterned after Arizona's. Bills expanding enforcement of immigration laws were introduced in 28 states this year, but passed in just three, Georgia, Utah, and Indiana—and in the Hoosier state only after legislators softened some provisions. In Florida and 22 other states, legislation failed or stalled in committee. Legislators in Alabama and South Carolina are working to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of the bills.

In Florida, business groups particularly objected to a provision that would require employers to screen prospective workers using a federal immigration database. "I truly don't think you could pick the crops in the fields" if employees' names had to be run through the federal verification system, J.D. Alexander, a Republican, told fellow state senators on May 3. Alexander is an investor in Florida citrus farms.

The potential cost of such legislation has been a constant refrain of opponents nationwide. A 2008 report commissioned by Americans for Immigration Reform argued that removing all unauthorized workers from the labor force would cut $245 billion in economic output. After Arizona's law passed last year, the Los Angeles City Council banned local agencies from doing business with companies from the state. Also, several organizations, including the Service Employees International Union, said they would not hold conventions in the state. The boycotts could cost Arizona $253 million in economic activity over two to three years, estimates the Center for American Progress. "States are saying, 'Yes, let's debate it' and then deferring until next year" while they study the potential economic and legal effects, says Ann Morse, director of the Immigrant Policy Project for the National Conference of State Legislatures.

What is the best way to make money from photography? | The Making ...

Landscape and wildlife photography has been my hobby for many years, so much so that I moved from NJ to the Ocala National Forest in Florida.

I started selling photographs about six years ago, mainly to greeting card companies. Then I started selling them to calendar companies, I have sold photo’s to The Florida Dept Of Tourism, newspapers (forest fires and such). Presently I am working on a collection of photos about The Ocala National Forest for a “Coffee Table Book”, to date I have taken about 1500 photos of the forest and of that there are about 20 that I think I can use. I have made money by ALWAYS carrying a camera with me, you never know when that Kodak moment will appear. When I come upon an accident I pull over and start taking pictures, then as long as there is someone that isn’t severely injured, I hand them my card and tell them to have their Attorney or Insurance Company call me (both parties in the accident if I can). If it’s a really bad accident, I call the newspaper and offer a photo or two for sale. You just have to think outside the box, there a million people out there trying to sell their photos, landscape photos are a dime a dozen and even if you can sell one or two, it doesn’t pay much, basically I use the sale for creditability so I can say to a prospective buyer that I have sold photos to such and such, it makes you look like a pro and will get your foot in the door to a more lucrative sale.

Wildlife photos pay the best, but if all you have are zoo shots then forget it. I sit in a deer stand for hours just waiting for anything, I have walked miles through the forest,sometimes I get the shot, sometimes it’s all day and nothing, sometimes it happens when you least expect it, you have to have an eye for an unusual photo, sometimes I will “stage” a photo, everyday things can make the best photo if you know what you are looking for, spider webs and spiders, butterflies and insects of all sorts are often overlooked, it’s not just about animals and snakes, insects are wildlife too, so are wild flowers, squirrels and birds it’s not an easy business, but you can do it if you are determined, like I said, think outside the box.

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