6 hours ago • Billy Hesterman - Daily Herald
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When Congress returns to action next week Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, will be looking at a proposal that will change the way border patrol agents are handled at the U.S. and Mexico border.

On Monday Chaffetz confirmed that he has been in discussions with the National Border Patrol Council to alter how the agents are paid and scheduled when on the job at the 1,900 mile border that spans across California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

"They think they can cut costs and create a more steady income for their agents," said Chaffetz. "That sounds like a winning combination to me."

Chaffetz said the fine details of the proposal are still being worked out but he said the legislation would eliminate the peaks in valleys that come in border patrol agents pay. Chaffetz explained that in some cases an agent will be involved in a situation with protecting the border and won't be off the job for hours -- leading to overtime pay -- but at other times the agents may never have any issues that keep them longer which results in no overtime pay on the agents' checks.

The legislation looks to equalize those periods and allow for the border patrol agents to earn a constant wage similar to a salaried employee versus an hourly paid employee.

Shawn Moran, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, praised Chaffetz's legislation as he said it would ensure the agency has full coverage on the border at all times. He also noted it would reduce the amount of uncontrolled overtime the agency deals with when emergency situations take place.

"No one is getting rich doing this job but they want to go out and actually be able to do it," said Moran. "This is our No. 1 issue."

Moran explained that more than 21,000 agents work on the border. They monitor the border using agents on ATV's, horses and in automobiles. Moran said if no changes are made to the way the agents are paid they may face having to have gaps in coverage on the border during shift changes.

Chaffetz's proposal is a variance from what is currently being suggested in the U.S. Senate's version of immigration reform.

The Senate bill seeks to overhaul many aspects of the current immigration system, including a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already living in the country, it also calls for doubling the patrol force on the border. But Chaffetz said that effort to double the agents was a political stunt to get votes for the bill and not a realistic proposal to make the border safer.

"That's not going to solve the problem," he said.

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