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5/16/2006 1:17:00 PM
Rubbermaid official: Immigrants vital to industry

By LUKE THOMPSON

On Monday night, President Bush took a firm stance on the immigration debate currently reverberating throughout the country.

Even in Cowley County, the debate is having a large impact. Rubbermaid’s Human Resources Director Bob Pippin said he didn’t hear Bush’s speech, but he believes that immigrants are very important to his industry.

“It could have a major impact (on Rubbermaid),” he said. “We can’t find associates in Winfield that want to work in a manufacturing environment.”

He said most Winfield citizens already have jobs, and often aren’t willing to work at places like Rubbermaid.





Currently, the Winfield and Ark City chamber legislative committees do not have a strong position on the debate, said Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Seth Bate, but they have prepared a study team designed to establish a policy position on immigration and business this summer.

Pippin agreed with President Bush’s stance that the U.S. should keep its fairly open policy on immigration, and he also said that he has no problem with tightening security.

“There has to be a simpler, easier and more efficient way for immigrants to be legalized,” he said.

Many of the problems stem from an excess of bureaucracy, with too much time required to obtain a visa and other documents required for legalization, Pippin said.

Bush emphasized that allowing illegal immigrants to gain citizenship through hard work and paying penalties would not be amnesty. He also said that it is not realistic to try to send every illegal immigrant back across the border. Pippin and Bush both believe many immigrants are hard-working people and a vital part of American society.

“Without a plan in place that’s going to allow immigrants, there’s going to be a major problem in the manufacturing industry,” Pippin said.

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