Thread: Vote set to keep illegal workers off the job in Pennsylvania Read more: http://www.

Would apply to publicly funded construction projects
June 25, 2012 8:14 am




By Tom Barnes / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


HARRISBURG -- For six years state Rep. John Galloway has been on a crusade, pushing for a law to prevent undocumented immigrants from getting construction jobs in Pennsylvania.
The Bucks County Democrat could finally reach his goal this week.
The state House is expected to vote on one of two pieces of legislation -- House Bill 380, authored by Mr. Galloway, or a similar measure, Senate Bill 637, by state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland.
Both bills would forbid publicly funded construction projects -- those receiving state, county and/or municipal funding -- from being awarded to contractors and subcontractors who hire, at low wages and with no health benefits, workers who can't show that they are in the country legally. Contractors doing projects with 100 percent private funding wouldn't be covered by the bills.
Mr. Galloway calls his measure "a jobs bill," aimed at giving jobs to unemployed construction workers who were born in the United States or who are foreign nationals who have entered the country legally and have the proper paperwork to show it.
"We have to make sure that tax dollars are being spent properly" and providing jobs to U.S. citizens or legal immigrants who need work, he said.
Ms. Ward said her bill "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 opens the door to possible national-security risks."
Legislators say privately they know that other employers, such as some of those in agriculture, are using undocumented workers to pick apples and grapes or do other backbreaking jobs. Farm owners contend they can't find American citizens willing to do such work.
Mr. Galloway originally wanted to include more industries in his bill but decided to concentrate on construction as "a good first step" because, he said, many undocumented workers are already working in the industry.
He said he knows of several locations in Bucks County where workers gather en masse on Monday mornings to be hired for construction projects. Contractors lower their costs by paying illegals low wages with no benefits, and there's obviously nowhere for the workers to go to complain, Mr. Galloway said. Such workers don't pay taxes because they don't report their income.
New vetting requirements
Both bills are similar to action taken in 2009 by the federal Department of Homeland Security, which requires all federal government contractors to verify the legality of their workers.

Read more: Vote set to keep illegal workers off the job in Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

boy that a good one . keep the illegal immigrants off the job. My friends live in PIttston he been out of work for 3month
now . he work for. all of the three Company & they let him go & hired the illegal immigrant On the spot .
I hope they get obama & this mitt out I don't like him at all he also is for the illegal immigrants . all I can say is get
your head out of the sand . every one . the cop should start to check the illegal immigrants In NYC all up & down
the Street & in PA