Thread: Fort Collins jumps into immigration debate

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Fort Collins jumps into immigration debate

written by: Adam Chodak , 9NEWS Northern Reporter
posted by: Dan Boniface , Web Producer created: 3/6/2007 5:04:48 PM
Last updated: 3/6/2007 9:53:02 PM


Fort Collins jumps into immigration debate. 9NEWS at 6 p.m. 03/06/07

FORT COLLINS – The City Council planned to vote on a law Tuesday night that would allow the city to investigate and punish city-hired contractors who use undocumented workers.


Illegal immigrants fall into that category. The ordinance would apply to major construction and service contracts for city projects.

Following up on spot checks and complaints, the city would conduct an audit to verify the legal status of workers. If the city finds the contractor has used an undocumented worker, it could end the contract and impose a fine of $1,000 for each offense.

About 100 people showed up to voice their opinions at the city council meeting.

Supporters say this ordinance is much needed.

“We don’t want contractors coming who are obeying the law on the one hand and other contractors who are not and underwriting the competition,” said Fort Collins Councilor Diggs Brown.

However, opponents of the measure say the state enacted a bill last year that addresses this problem by making contractors doing government work certify that they don’t knowingly employ or contract with an “unauthorized alien.”

“We’ve got a state law. Let’s see how it works. Let’s follow through on that. I don’t think local government needs to get into that kind of business,” said Fort Collins Mayor Pro Tem Karen Weitkunat.

In addition, Weitkunat points to the price tag attached to enforcement. The city estimates it would cost $1,600 to audit a firm with 100 employees.

But Brown asked, “What is the cost if we don’t enforce this?”

This bill requires two votes to pass. The vote planned for Tuesday night was the first vote.

Ft. Collins Considers Illegal Immigrant Crackdown

Mar 6, 2007 7:51 pm US/Mountain

Mike Hooker
Reporting

(CBS4) FORT COLLINS, Colo. The City of Fort Collins will consider banning companies with undocumented workers from doing business with the city.

The city council will take the first of two votes Tuesday night on an ordinance saying that contractors on big construction jobs can be fined if they're using undocumented workers and be barred from future city contracts.

On construction sites for new facilities in Fort Collins, there are federal and state laws to make sure workers are here legal, but now the city is considering its own local crackdown.

Councilmember Kelly Olson said he proposed the ordinance because state and federal laws don't have teeth.

"We're trying to ensure that City of Fort Collins projects that are bid out, to their contractors, that those tax dollars are spent on jobs that go to documented workers," said Ohlson.

The city would use spot checks and impromptu audits to confirm contract workers are legal. Violators would have three days to fix a problem or risk a $1,000 fine and possibly losing the opportunity to bid on city projects for five years.

City staff said each audit would cost the city at least $1,600 dollars and much more on bigger projects. There's also a risk that contractors will charge more, or avoid bidding on city projects altogether.

"The overall question is 'is it really appropriate that we even think about doing this,'" said Mayor Doug Hutchinson.

"We're not trained to do it. It does require some money and it does require some staff effort."

The mayor says he supports the concept of making sure taxpayer money goes to legal workers, but he's not convinced the city should tackle immigration enforcement.

"Do we really need to have federal, state and local government effort against this," Hutchinson said.

CBS4 spoke with several construction contractors who did not want to be identified because they have they have ongoing business with the city. One said a city immigration crackdown would just mean more paperwork and hoops to jump through which would increase costs but wouldn't keep the company from bidding on city projects.

Another said federal and state laws are working and wasn't yet sure what gap a city ordinance would fill.

(© MMVII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

http://cbs4denver.com/local/local_story_065215449.html

Contractors that hire illegals should not be able to get a federal, state or local contract. The america taxpayers pay for these contracts and we should only have americans work on those contracts

Plan To Sanction Employers For Hiring Illegal Immigrants Rejected
Fort Collins' Proposal Defeated In 4-3 Vote

POSTED: 12:05 am MST March 7, 2007
UPDATED: 10:15 am MST March 7, 2007

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The Fort Collins City Council voted against an ordinance that would've imposed fines and other sanctions to contractors and subcontractors who knowingly recruit or hire undocumented immigrants for city projects.

The vote came late Tuesday evening after extensive public comment. Around 20 people spoke out against the ordinance; five speakers were in favor.

Councilmember Kelly Ohlson argued the city ordinance would pick up where state and federal laws fall short.

"Everybody says the buck stops with the employers. This does exactly that. You could lose the right to bid on city projects if you have undocumented workers," Ohlson said before the meeting.

The ordinance would've also imposed fines of $1,000 if a contractor or subcontractor falsely certifies the legal employment of any person working on a City contract.

A number of opponents wore paper buttons to the council meeting that said, "Immigration is a National Issue."

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