Thread: Hispanic group calls hearings 'a sham'

http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/st ... 7486.shtml

Hispanic group calls hearings 'a sham'
Director says enforcement-only policy out of touch with business
By HARRIS BLACKWOOD
The Times

The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials is calling two days of Congressional hearings on immigration issues in North Georgia "a sham."

"It's smoke and mirrors, trying to delay important national policy," said Jerry Gonzalez, the organization's executive director.

The association held a news conference Monday at the Georgia Mountains Center, two hours before the first hearing at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Gainesville.

The group planned a second gathering later Monday in Dalton, site of the second Congressional hearing, which is set for this morning.

Monday's conference in Gainesville featured a parade of speakers who took issue with the current stance on illegal immigration.

Charles H. Kuck, an immigration attorney from Alpharetta with an office in Gainesville, said he is a lifelong Republican, but does not like what the GOP-controlled House is doing.

"I have been dismayed at the recent efforts of the House Republican Caucus to use immigration as a political punching bag in an effort to scare members of the GOP into thinking that sopping positive, immigration reform is a good thing."

Kuck said the Senate bill has provisions that protect American workers.

"(The bill) requires that employers first offer the jobs, at the prevailing wage, to U.S. workers," Kuck said.

A spokeswoman for the Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, archbishop of Atlanta, read a statement from the Roman Catholic leader, who she said would be submitting written comments for the hearing's official record.

"The current House bill containing primarily enforcement measures does not solve the problems facing our society," said Gregory in the statement.

He suggested a five-step approach including a path to citizenship.

"I and my brother bishops support these reforms because every day we witness the human consequences of an immigration system which is severely flawed," he wrote.

Gonzalez said that both cities where the hearings are being held would be in trouble without immigrant labor.

"Where would Gainesville and Dalton be without the immigrants who have come here to provide much needed labor?" he asked. "Gainesville and Dalton would not be as prosperous as they are without the immigrant population."

He said that U.S. Reps. Nathan Deal and Charlie Norwood, who are holding the hearings were "out of touch with the business interests of the communities."

Contact: hblackwood@gainesvilletimes.com, (770) 718-3423

"(The bill) requires that employers first offer the jobs, at the prevailing wage, to U.S. workers," Kuck said.

Yes, the bill may supposedly require it, but who and how will it be enforced? That's the whole problem, lack of enforcement. Talk about smokescreens!

...
He said that U.S. Reps. Nathan Deal and Charlie Norwood, who are holding the hearings were "out of touch with the business interests of the communities."
...

Let me suggest... that might not be a bad thing.
Maybe they are in touch with the needs of ordinary citizens more.

PhredE....excellent point! That might be used for the light side of the force.