Thread: Iowa legislators to target illegal immigration

Iowa legislators to target illegal immigration

By Charlotte Eby | Wednesday, December 12, 2007
DES MOINES — Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and legislative leaders said Wednesday they will look at ways to crack down on illegal immigration in the state by targeting employers who knowingly hire illegal workers.

Top Democratic leaders rolled out the idea at a seminar for journalists at the State Capitol four weeks before state lawmakers convene for the 2008 session on Jan. 14.

“Anything we can do to hold anyone accountable related to illegal immigration, I support,â€

Yes... come down on corrupt business that hire illegals...and THEY KNOW... no matter how much they LIKE TO PLAY DUMB!!!!!

Fine them heavily and throw them in prison!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's why I'm surprised that Iowa isn't going for Hunter or Tancredo.

Legislative leaders pledge to pass tough immigration package
By MIKE GLOVER | Wednesday, December 12, 2007

DES MOINES, Iowa - Democratic legislative leaders on Wednesday promised to get tough on businesses that knowingly hire illegal immigrants, and Gov. Chet Culver said he likely would support the effort.

"It would include some pretty aggressive things such as cracking down on corporate CEOs who may be skirting the law when it comes to recruiting illegals," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Des Moines. "That's going to be one of the policy focuses of this session."

The Democratic leaders raised the issue at a seminar for Associated Press member editors and reporters, focused on the legislative session beginning Jan. 14.

Speaking later at the seminar, Gov. Chet Culver said he'd likely support tougher laws the punish employers who skirt immigration laws.

"Part of the problem right now is maybe the state law doesn't have the kind of teeth that we need to be successful," said Culver.

A key Republican said GOP legislators likely would go along with the effort, but he argued that Democrats haven't delivered in the past.

"Last year, Leader McCarthy voted against a bill that punished businesses who knowingly hired illegals, but he's singing a different tune today," said House Minority Leader Chris Rants, R-Sioux City, in a statement. "Leader McCarthy already had his chance to punish businesses who knowingly hire illegals and he blew it."

The exchange underscored the political sensitivity of immigration as an issue on the campaign trail. Democratic leaders said they would move on the issue.

In addition to stronger enforcement against employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants, House Speaker Pat Murphy, D-Dubuque, said lawmakers likely will slap new restrictions on a form of contract employment that allows businesses to maintain that people working for them are independent contractors, not employees. That allows employers to circumvent immigration laws, he said.

"There are a lot of what people call self-contractors," said Murphy. "Somebody hires them, they come to work for them every day, they work for them eight or nine hours a day, they use their tools, they get their paychecks from them but they are considered self-employed."

Murphy said one important impact of such a measure would be its deterrent effect.

"If we catch people in the future, we want them to know they face stiff penalties, including jail time," said Murphy.

The immigration issue is being hotly debated in the unfolding presidential campaign, and Culver and lawmakers said they hear about it everywhere they go.

"I talked about it quite a bit during the campaign of 2006," said Culver. "I've talked about really holding those companies accountable. Anything we can do to hold anyone accountable related to illegal immigration I support."

McCarthy and Murphy said the Democrats' immigration package would include civil and criminal penalties for company executives who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. McCarthy said more details would be released after the Legislature convenes.

Rep. Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said Republicans likely would go along.

"If you've got an employer who knowingly hires illegal aliens, they are breaking the law," said Paulsen. "When you break the law there are consequences that go with that."

Murphy ruled out a step that has been discussed in other states _ the issuing of driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

"We will not be taking up driver's licenses for illegal aliens," said Murphy.

On another issue, lawmakers said they would likely to approve construction of a new prison to replace the maximum-security prison at Fort Madison, the oldest prison west of the Mississippi River. Culver said he probably would go along, and he suggested a potential method of financing the expensive project.

"It's a priority and we certainly have some bonding options, for example, that we're looking at," Culver said.

That would allow the state to, in essence, borrow the money to pay for the prison, spreading the cost over years.

Details of that plan likely will be announced within two weeks, Culver said.

Democrats now lead both the legislative chambers. They have a 53-47 House majority and a 30-20 edge in the Senate.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/12 ... g3to80.txt

IF this is Iowa and they are hurting from illegal immigration. They need to know the truth about Huckabee.

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-2789--0-0.html

Yes... come down on corrupt business that hire illegals...and THEY KNOW... no matter how much they LIKE TO PLAY DUMB!!!!!



Yes, they do and I'm a little leary of the 'knowingly' loophole.

Vaguely, I remember some town in Iowa was actively asking for illegals to come live there - I'm sure I do.

Immigration Enforcement, not Amnesty, a Priority for Iowans, Finds New Poll by Zogby International:
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-94042-.html

Democrats are looking at creating criminal and civil penalties at the state level for employers who knowingly hire or contract with illegal immigrants.

Are the Dems waking up to schemes like hiring illegal immigrants as contractors rather than W-4 employees to avoid not only higher wages for Americans but SS taxes for any worker? Iowa--WAKE UP! You don't want Traitorbee, Traitoranni, Traitorthomp, Traitorclint or anyone else who is for amnesty.

Iowans and their leaders at county, state, and federal level are well aware of the illegal alien problem. The people thrown out of jobs and those who knew people thrown out of jobs contacted our political leaders and the media years ago. They have been denying it for years.

Specifically, people were laid off and then replaced by the illegals because the companies got a grant from then Gov. Vilsack's bill to "aid minorities". I could not find the bill and Vilsack's office said the governor had heard rumors of such things happening and it was just wrong. They were as offended by it as I was. They did know that, if indeed it was happening, a bill had to have been passed somewhere to allow it. The governor's office just didn't know what it was.

In case I didn't make myself clear, American taxpayers were losing their jobs and their taxes rewarded the company for doing it!

When the raids occurred at the meat packing plants, there was former governor Vilsack (newly announced pres. candidate). Also present, current Governor Culver. Both were lamenting the raids and encouraging the families "devastated" by them to seek aid. Iowans are such good people they will not allow this injustice to go on! Bull! The Iowans who lost their jobs cheered. Their friends and neighbors cheered with them. Those who protested were those who rented/sold homes to the illegals, sold their products to the illegals, those who set them up in businesses, and the Hispanic lobbies of Iowa and the nation. You know, of course, the ACLU made their presence known.

Governor Culver is talking about tough sanctions on employers who hire illegal aliens and a tough stand by Iowa against illegal aliens. The people's response to designating the capitol city, Des Moines, a sanctuary city was loud and clear. If you believe Culver, don't shop for the kids this year, rely on Santa Claus. Let me tell you, both scenarios have an equal chance of happening.

As you might imagine, Iowa does not have a lot of industry outside the capitol city. Gulilooni and the national media refer to us as fly-over country. The jobs lost were held by Americans who needed them.