Thread: Miss. to Verify Worker Status Under Bill

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070209/immigran ... .html?.v=1

AP
Miss. to Verify Worker Status Under Bill
Friday February 9, 5:31 pm ET
By Emily Wagster Pettus, Associated Press Writer
Bill Aims for Mississippi Businesses to Verify Workers' Status

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Businesses would have to verify that their employees are either U.S. citizens or are in the country legally, under a bill the Mississippi House passed Friday.

The proposal sparked more than an hour of heated debate between supporters who said they're trying to safeguard American jobs and opponents who said the plan unfairly singles out certain groups, particularly Hispanics.

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Rep. Willie Bailey, D-Greenville, said some lawmakers were backing the bill only to pander to voters back home this election year.

"There are people supporting this bill because they're scared they're not getting back here," Bailey said. "You need to go home because you have no guts. You have no glory."

The chief sponsor of the bill, Rep. Mike Lott, R-Petal, responded that he's not trying to stir up anti-immigrant sentiment.

"I'm doing this not because I'm fearful of a race of people," Lott said.

The bill -- which still must go to the Senate -- is called the "Mississippi Employment Protection Act." It says: "Employers in the state of Mississippi shall only hire employees who are legal citizens of the United States of America or legal aliens."

It says companies that fail to comply could have their public work contracts canceled and could be ineligible for any public contracts for three years; could lose any state licenses or certificates for a year; could be fined up to $1,000; or a combination of the penalties.

"We're not here to hurt anybody who's trying to obey the law," Lott said.

Rep. Ed Blackmon, D-Canton, reminded the House that back in the 1920s, the federal government set limits on certain groups of immigrants who then were considered "undesirables," and some of those immigrants might be forebears of people now in the Legislature.

Blackmon said Lott's proposal is unenforceable.

"This is a piece of feel-good legislation for people who want to say, 'We socked it to those illegal immigrants' without saying, 'We're socking it to you,'" Blackmon said.

Rep. Deryk Parker, D-Lucedale, argued for the bill, challenging the assertion that illegal immigrants are taking jobs Americans don't want. Parker also incorporated a seemingly unrelated argument against abortion.

"How many babies have we aborted in the last few years?" Parker said. "They could be filling those jobs."

Employers should be required to check the status of employees. Once a notice comes back that a social security number has problems, then the employer should required verification.

Originally Posted by had_enuf

The proposal sparked more than an hour of heated debate between supporters who said they're trying to safeguard American jobs and opponents who said the plan unfairly singles out certain groups, particularly Hispanics.

Wrong! Those Hispanics who are in the country legally are NOT singled out!

Now do you get it, Liberal Journalist?

http://www.wlbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=6089008&nav=2CSf

Illegal Alien Bill Called "Racist"


Feb 14, 2007

By Wendy Suares
wsuares@wlbt.net

A bill aimed at keeping illegal aliens out of Mississippi is working its way through the state legislature. It requires businesses verify their employees are here legally.

Mexican immigrant Angel Palsencia works as a waiter to support his family on the Gulf Coast. He worries that could all change if businesses are forced to check employees' legal status.

"I've lived in Mississippi for 7 years, and to make that bill into law, it would stop the future of me and my family," Palsencia said.

Members of the immigrant rights group, MIRA, are trying to kill the bill that has passed the House and is now before the Senate Labor Committee.

"I think it's a really racist bill and an attempt to get people of color out of Mississippi," said MIRA organizing coordinator Victoria Cintra.

"We do have a problem, and we need to do the right thing," said Senator Richard White, who serves on the labor committee and is studying the proposal. He says small business owners are asking for tools provided in the bill.

"I think you're seeing employers taking a look at their employees and trying to make a decision whether they're here legally or not," he said.

Opponents say immigration legislation is best left up to Congress. They question how local law enforcement could even enforce such a law. The bill sets penalties for businesses that fail to comply. They could be fined up to a thousand dollars and lose state licenses and any public work contracts.

But MIRA members say it's the workers, not the businesses, who would pay the price. "The employees are the ones that suffer," said Cintra. "They end up getting deported and not getting their pay."

MIRA wants to remind lawmakers it was immigrants who did the brunt of recovery work after Katrina, and says they were forced here because of unfair trade agreements, like NAFTA.

Many lawmakers will be looking to take a hard stand on illegal immigration, as many campaign for reelection.

Senate Labor Committee Chairman Terry Brown says he hasn't received the bill yet, but when he does, he will schedule a hearing to discuss the issue.

Businesses would have to verify that their employees are either U.S. citizens or are in the country legally, under a bill the Mississippi House passed Friday.

What's so unique about this, isn't it already a federal law? This crap is absolutely amazing. Why should any state have to jump through hoops to pass a law that is already in effect as a federal law? Just color me confused.

Originally Posted by MW

Businesses would have to verify that their employees are either U.S. citizens or are in the country legally, under a bill the Mississippi House passed Friday.

[quote:3dmgrjka]What's so unique about this, isn't it already a federal law? This crap is absolutely amazing. Why should any state have to jump through hoops to pass a law that is already in effect as a federal law? Just color me confused.

[/quote:3dmgrjka]

I'm with you "MW" I am completely,BAFFLED.!!!!
Why is it so difficult just to enforce our existing laws?

Waah! Waah! Waah! Get out the crying towels. It's amazing all the lame excuses and accusations the opposition comes up with when this bill should be a no brainer for our elected officials.

Rep. Willie Bailey, D-Greenville, said some lawmakers were backing the bill only to pander to voters back home this election year.

Pander to voters back home? Gee I thought it was their JOB to carry out the will of the people that elected them. I know, there I go again with crazy talk.

It's about time these guys started pandering to voters, they're the ones that pay their dam salaries!

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

I'm with you "MW" I am completely,BAFFLED.!!!!
Why is it so difficult just to enforce our existing laws?

It's called corruption. Our own leaders are refusing to obey our own laws so they have become our enemies. That is why we are seeing so many contradictions: "build the fence, but don't fund it", "criminal gangs and rapists cannot be arrested", "We will get everything solved in two years, but maybe not.", "It's your fault if you don't vote, but both choices are equally bad so why vote?", "Encourage illegal activity from Mexicans, arrest Americans who enforce laws"... On and on to a giant, putrid stinking mess.