Thread: Kansas - House Dems tout immigration reform

House Dems tout immigration reform

January 27, 2011

By Tim Carpenter
THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

A group of House Democrats offered Thursday a package of immigration reforms targeting businesses that hire undocumented laborers in Kansas.

House Minority Leader Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, said lawmakers in Topeka should strike at the heart of illegal immigration — the workplace — rather than waste time on bills purporting to deal with immigration by altering voting laws or college attendance policies.

"It's up to us in the state Legislature to approve reforms that are meaningful and address the core problem of illegal immigration," Davis said.

The Democratic coalition proposed all businesses be required to confirm residency status of new employees with the federal government's E-Verify system.

E-Verify is a free Internet-based program that compares information from an employee's eligibility verification form I-9 to U.S. government records.

Rep. Ann Mah, D-Topeka, said the coalition seeks to deny employers who knowingly employ undocumented immigrants from obtaining tax-financed contracts with the state, counties, cities or school districts for two years.

In addition, the group seeks to grant the Kansas Department of Labor authority to shut down work sites upon confirmation of multiple violations for hiring illegal immigrant laborers.

Mah said job opportunities in Kansas draw illegal immigrants to the state. Jobs are available because companies are looking for people willing to accept lower wages than legal workers, she said.

"When workers are hired under the table at low wages it starts a downward spiral that reverberates through the economy," Mah said. "Lower wages means less buying power, which drives wages even lower."

She said this type of immigration legislation offered during previous sessions in the Republican-led House and Senate didn't survive lobbying from Kansas industries relying on undocumented immigrants.

Eric Stafford, senior director of governmental affairs at the Kansas Chamber, said the statewide business organization "absolutely condemns any employer who chooses to cheat the system by hiring illegal immigrants."

"To suggest that the chamber and the business coalition fought against immigration reform in past years due to pressure from industries hiring illegal immigrants is an appalling and unfounded claim," he said.

He said legislators should recognize the solution to immigration reform was enforcement of existing laws rather than imposition of new government mandates.

Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City, said revising state employment law regarding illegal immigrants should be a bipartisan enterprise.

"As long as illegal hiring continues in Kansas, illegal immigration will continue to be a problem," she said.

Republican-sponsored bills introduced this legislative session would require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and presentation of a picture ID when voting.

Another bill would repeal a law allowing qualifying children of undocumented immigrants to enroll at public colleges and universities by paying the in-state rate.

http://cjonline.com

Follow KANSAS State Legislation here

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-226102.html

Originally Posted by jean

House Dems tout immigration reform

January 27, 2011

By Tim Carpenter
THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

"As long as illegal hiring continues in Kansas, illegal immigration will continue to be a problem," she said.

Now if only the Demos in Washington, D.C. could figure this out, too.
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