Thread: E-VERIFY FACING OPPOSITION FROM CONSERVATIVE, TEAPARTY

press release

Sept. 15, 2011, 2:13 p.m. EDT

E-VERIFY FACING UNEXPECTED OPPOSITION FROM CONSERVATIVE, TAXPAYER & TEA PARTY GROUPS: Media Campaign Launched Today with First National Ad & Letter to Congress

SEATTLE, Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- An ad hoc coalition of almost 30 conservative, Tea Party and limited government groups representing millions has launched a national media campaign against a bill that would make E-Verify mandatory for all businesses. They have also sent a letter to Congress outlining their concerns, according to Take Back Washington

The headline in today's first paid ad - a full-page in Washington's "Politico" - reads:

"Punishing businesses and telling citizens they can't work is no way to stop illegal immigration...OR fix the economy

"So why is Congress even thinking about passing H.R. 2885, the 'Legal' Workforce Act & universal, mandatory E-Verify?"

Michael D. Ostrolenk, National Director of the Liberty Coalition, who has been working against E-Verify since it was introduced, says the effort coalesced in just two weeks after he approached Tea Party and conservative groups and found out that there were serious misconceptions about how E-Verify would work and it's effectiveness. So he enlisted Kathryn Serkes, founder of Washington state grassroots group, Take Back Washington, to help connect with other Tea Party groups.

"We didn't realize that E-Verify casts a broad net that ensnares every citizen and could jeopardize our ability to work," said Serkes. "And the tremendous negative impact on the economy, particularly for those of us who are small business owners. We realized we needed to fight and we needed to move quickly to kill this in the House Judiciary committee."

Included in the 28 signatories to the letter and ad are some big names in conservative and Tea Party circles, such as: Tea Party Nation, American Grassroots Coalition, Institute for Liberty, Competitive Enterprise Institute, Rutherford Institute, Gun Owners of America, Taxpayer Protection Alliance, Constitution Alliance, Republican Liberty Caucus and American Freedom Agenda.

The focus of the concerns are its impact on the economy and civil liberties of legal citizens.From the ad and Congressional letter:

"This job-killer creates a universal, mandatory electronic employment verification system by EVERY employer in the U.S. for EVERY person seeking employment in the U.S."

"Requiring citizens to secure permission from the Department of Homeland Security to enjoy the fruits of their labor is an unacceptable violation of our civil liberties..."

"E-Verify:-Creates a de facto national I.D. system - even for citizens;-Violates individual civil liberties such as the right to work & free speech;- Mandates a costly job-killing regulatory burden that cripples small business;-Requires employers to become enforcement agents of the federal government;-Encourages identity theft of citizens."

"I'm a small businessman, not an enforcement agent for Homeland Security," said Clint Didier, central Washington state farmer and 2010 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. "Why should I bear the burden of the cost and possible prosecution if I accidentally employ someone with a stolen identity?"

Ostrolenk said they are adding more groups to the coalition, and will release more media when mark up on the bill begins next week. "The buzz and blogging is growing every day."

NOTE: Full text of the letter to Congress is posted at http://www.takebackwashington.org/ .

Contact: Kathryn Serkes, Take Back Washington (206) 841-0100kathryn@takebackwashington.org

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/e-veri ... 2011-09-15

If you look closely, I would wager everyone of these people are employing illegals and I doubt the entire Tea Party endorses this. The whole article is a complete distortion. How can it possibly "jeopardize" citizens "right to work" and it surely doesn't make anybody an enforcement agent. If the SSN fails, the employer simply tells the employee to go to the SS office and clear it up. That's the employers only involvement.

Don't employers VERIFY the employees application information??? What's the difference? There's a lot more to this story.

There has been alot of debate going around about this for the past few months. I understand many of the points those against it (the tea-partiers - not the La Raza's) bring up. It's a tough decision that the US realy shouldn't be in if it weren't for the corrupt, pandering politicians of the last 11 years.

The bottom line for me, however, is looking at who and what is against it.

When I see Robert Menendez, Cecilia Munoz, and today Loretta Sanchez, railing against it, I have to believe it's the necessary step at this time.

The preemption clause is holding me back bigtime.

Tea Party Fringe Groups, Liberal Infiltrators and Posers!!!!!

What a distraction from the real issues that are destroying this nation.

Those same people don't mind giving government their information to get a tax refund check or social security benefits.

I'm sorry, but when you run around being afraid of every aspect of government, then you are just paranoid.

Dixie

HR2885 is nothing more than a way for the Feds to take away the States ability to enforce thier own anti illegal immigration laws.

The fact that the Chamber of Commerce wrote this bill is all that I needed to know. Yes there is opposition to this bill from Tea Partiers and Independants. They simply do not want a bill that Usurps the States and has so many loopholes such as exemptions for farm workers and all existing employees. Yes, thats right, existing employees and farm workers do not have to be run thru Everify. Say What??

Check out Senator Grassleys bill in committee. It is a much better bill and has no exemptions. The only reason they are not pushing Grassleys bill is because big business told them not to. Same old story.

Originally Posted by thomasinpain

Check out Senator Grassleys bill in committee. It is a much better bill and has no exemptions. The only reason they are not pushing Grassleys bill is because big business told them not to. Same old story.

Pretty sad we're so desperate we have to settle!

I have friends who are members of the Republican Liberty Caucus and I can tell you what their problem is with this:

If the government controls who works by telling employers who is "okay" and who is not, then they can also control whether or not US citizens are allowed to work. They feel that the government may decide that any one of us is a terrorist (we already know that the feds consider us terrorists) and "revoke" our ability to get a new job by controlling who can be hired.

I hope I made sense with that. I understand their position, but I may not have explained it well.

Some opponents of E-Verify claim that the American agriculture industry will be harmed if farmers are required to use E-Verify. But the Legal Workforce Act gives ag employers three years to comply.

And E-Verify doesn’t apply to current seasonal agricultural workers, only future employees, so current seasonal ag workers can leave and return.

They control who can be hired now. You must have a SSN. To believe some theory that the govt. is going to prevent legal people from working is beyond reasonable. Workers are the govts source of income and in another year, hopefully, the country will start to turn around.

The preememption of the States relates only to HIRING and VERIFICATION. There is nothing that prempts the States from enacting and enforcing other immigration laws.

Seasonal farm workers must return to the SAME employer.

NumbersUSA sent out a chart showing what your state would look like with the bill (Before and After.) That chart is very informative about what happens within the States.