Columbia County forum will address new 'illegal workers' measure
Friday, November 14, 2008 7:25 PM PST
By The Daily News

Columbia County Chamber of Commerce officials will hold an informational session Saturday on a new voter-approved measure targeting employers who hire illegal aliens.

The session will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Ixtapa’s Mexican Restaurant in Scappoose.

Measure 5-190, which Columbia County voters approved in the Nov. 4 general election, subjects employers to $10,000 fines for knowingly hiring illegal workers.

In a statement released Thursday, the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, Rainier Chamber of Commerce, and state Rep. Brad Witt urged employers not to hold off responding to the measure.

The county’s lawyer says many provisions of the measure likely are illegal and the measure is likely to be challenged in court. County officials are crafting their own version of the measure and will submit it for court review. Implementation of the measure could be months away.

“There is no need for businesses to take any immediate action. The best course of action for businesses is to sit tight and take no immediate action as a result of the passage of 5-190,â€