Eachus wants to crack down on illegal labor
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
By ROBERT SWIFT
Harrisburg Bureau Chief
HARRISBURG — A new federal crackdown on illegal aliens and their employers is drawing support from a northeastern Pennsylvania Democrat.

Hoping to halt illegal immigration into Pennsylvania, state Rep. Todd Eachus, D-116, has a package of bills in the hopper that would penalize companies that knowingly use illegal labor.
The measures would require employers to repay public money if they use illegal immigrants on taxpayer-funded projects and give state officials authority to yank the professional licenses of businesses that knowingly hire illegal workers.
Eachus, the House Majority Policy chairman, blasted the Bush administration for inaction when he introduced the bills last June.
With last week’s announcement by federal Homeland Security and Commerce officials that border security will be improved and employers will be expected to fire workers without valid Social Security numbers or face penalties, Eachus said Monday he is more optimistic that Washington will enforce existing laws against illegal workers.
“I’m gratified by the fact that Homeland Security and the Bush administration is focusing on compliance in the workplace,â€