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House backs withholding money for work using illegal immigrants
Thursday, May 04, 2006
BY JAN MURPHY
Of The Patriot-News
Recipients of state grants for economic development projects who are caught employing illegal immigrants would face steep penalties under a bill that the state House sent to Gov. Ed Rendell last night.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bob Allen, R-Schuylkill, would require grant recipients found to have illegal immigrants on job sites to repay grants or pay penalty interest rates on low-interest loans.

"We want to make sure that legal aliens and U.S. citizens are working on those sites," Allen said.

Allen introduced the bill after federal agents arrested scores of illegal immigrants at a Schuylkill County construction site in a Keystone Opportunity Zone.

The bill could apply to more than $1 billion in annual state grants and loans.

The state government regularly spends hundreds of millions of dollars a year on loans and grants to subsidize major civic projects or to help businesses expand.

The bill would leave an out for recipients of the money who notify federal authorities of suspected violations.

The Associated Press contributed to this story. JAN MURPHY: 232-0668 or jmurphy@patriot-news.com