Thread: Bills won't sock firms with undocumented workers

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... yer12.html


Bills won't sock firms with undocumented workers

Elvia DÃÂ*az
The Arizona Republic
May. 12, 2005 12:00 AM

Arizona businesses caught hiring undocumented immigrants would no longer face the loss of their licenses and hefty state fines under a legislative decision made Wednesday.

A committee assigned to smooth versions of two immigration measures, House Bills 2030 and 2592 removed the employer sanction provisions from the bills.

Members of the conference committee said the primary intent of the measures is to save money by denying undocumented immigrants certain benefits and banning them from securing jobs through publicly funded day-labor centers.

The new versions of the bills are expected to win final approval from both chambers as early as today and move on to Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Arizona companies would have faced losing their licenses for six months and being subjected to a ban from seeking state government contracts.

They also would have faced state audits and hefty fines toward health care programs for the poor.

The business community, which had opposed the employer sanctions, welcomed the legislators' decision.

"The federal government has its own penalties," said Farrell Quinlan, the spokesman for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. "There was no need for Arizona to piggy-back and impose further penalties on Arizona businesses."

Federal law forbids employers from hiring anyone but U.S. citizens or those who can work in the country legally.

But it's widely believed that private firms are either ignoring the law or are unknowingly hiring undocumented workers.

Democrats appointed to the conference panel to smooth versions of the bills opposed removing the employer sanctions.

"We must send a message to both the business community and the federal government," said Rep. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix.

Republican Rep. Tom Boone of Glendale, who championed HB 2030, said he supports going after employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers but added his bill is about something else. "This bill deals with public funding and the state budget and I'd like to keep it that way," Boone said.

HB 2030 would deny undocumented immigrants child-care subsidies, adult classes and other government-funded benefits.

It would also force undocumented students to pay out-of-state tuition to attend Arizona community colleges or universities.

HB 2592 would prohibit cities, towns and counties from building or maintaining a work center that facilitates the hiring of undocumented immigrants.



Reach the reporter at elvia.diaz@arizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8948.

Cowards sold out again. We wouldn't want to punish the biggest crooks in this travesty now would we?

"The federal government has its own penalties," said Farrell Quinlan, the spokesman for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. "There was no need for Arizona to piggy-back and impose further penalties on Arizona businesses."

Federal law forbids employers from hiring anyone but U.S. citizens or those who can work in the country legally.

But it's widely believed that private firms are either ignoring the law or are unknowingly hiring undocumented workers.

Translation: Since we know we can skate on the Federal rap, let's not have a state law that might actually snare us. Hey, we gotta make a profit!

The unholy alliance strikes again, business and politicians.

Yes, Mr. Arizona Chamber of Commerce, the federal government does have its own penalities. It's 5 years in a federal prison for every single alien employed....or otherwise aided and abetted.

Thank you Mr. Arizona Chamber of Commerce for bringing national attention to THESE FEDERAL LAWS...that until NOW....your organization was willing to violate.