Firms that hire illegal immigrants could lose Allegheny County business
Monday, June 06, 2011
By Len Barcousky, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Allegheny County would be able to break any contracts it has with companies that hire illegal aliens under an ordinance now being considered by county council.

The proposed county legislation is similar to that being considered in Harrisburg.

Both measures would require companies working on publicly funded projects to use the federal E-Verify identification system to prove that their workers are U.S. citizens or foreigners who are in the country legally.

"Illegal immigration is a problem across the county," county Councilman Ed Kress said at a recent committee meeting held to consider the county version of the ordinance. "The federal E-Verify system is easy to use and will not result in extra costs for companies or the county."

Mr. Kress, R-Shaler, introduced the measure last month. It picked up bipartisan support at a meeting on Tuesday of council's government reform committee. Councilmen Nick Futules, D-Oakmont, and Michael Finnerty, D-Scott, both expressed support for the bill. "It seems like a good piece of legislation," Mr. Futules said.

Council President Jim Burn, who also serves as chairman of the government reform committee, told Mr. Kress he would schedule a second committee meeting on the ordinance for Thursday. Full council could take a final vote by the end of the month.

The ordinance drew support from representatives of the Western Pennsylvania unit of the Foundation for Fair Contracting.

"Illegal workers are taking jobs away from American workers and depressing wages," Chris Petrone told council members. He is local administrator for the foundation, a national labor-management organization.

Fourteen states already have adopted E-Verify requirements, he said. Another 11 states require similar checks of immigration status for companies doing government work.

Undocumented workers usually are paid a fraction of the wages of legal workers and receive few or no fringe benefits, Mr. Petrone said. As a result, construction companies and other firms that follow labor laws find it impossible to compete on public contracts, he said.

The workers often live in cramped apartments that violate zoning and health ordinances, Saul Franco told council. They are afraid to complain because of their status as illegal aliens, he said. Mr. Franco is a field representative for the foundation.

"You have employers taking advantage of this situation," Mr. Kress said.

The proposed county legislation would empower the county controller to conduct on-site inspections of county work zones and review citizenship and immigration status for people employed there.

County Executive Dan Onorato is familiar with the bill and is following the discussion before council, a spokesman said. "We have people taking a look at the ordinance, but it is too early in the legislative process to announce a position," Kevin Evanto said.

The state E-Verify measure, Senate Bill 637, passed the Senate on May 24 and has been sent on to the House for consideration. Both chambers are controlled by Republicans.

Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, is the prime sponsor of the Senate bill. She said her bill mirrors U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations that require federal government contractors to determine the immigration and citizenship status of all their employees.

"It attempts to stop an illegal activity, which costs the state money because illegal workers pay no taxes, take jobs away from our own workers and open the door to possible national security risks," Ms. Ward said in a statement.
Len Barcousky: lbarcousky@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1159.

First published on June 6, 2011 at 12:00 am

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