Thread: Senators take aim at employers hiring illegals

Arizona has got it.

http://www.svherald.com/articles/2005/0 ... /news1.txt



Senators take aim at employers hiring illegals
By Howard Fischer
Wednesday, May 4, 2005 1:09 PM MDT


Capitol Media Services

PHOENIX - State senators approved yet another measure Tuesday designed to crack down on illegal border crossers, but with a twist: This time they also want to go after the companies that hire them.
The underlying legislation makes even more services legally off limits to illegal entrants than Proposition 200, which was approved by voters in November.

For example, if HB 2030 becomes law, only citizens and legal residents could get adult education classes and subsidized child care. And students at state universities and community colleges would have to pay the higher tuition normally charged to out-of-state residents.
But senators first tacked on a series of amendments to also deal with the other side of the equation of illegal border crossers: They would financially penalize companies that are found guilty of violating federal law by knowingly hiring people not in this country legally.

For example, an employer would be denied tax credits and state contracts. Potentially more significant, a company would lose its state license to do business for six months for a first offense - and permanently for repeat violations.
Sen. Bill Brotherton, D-Phoenix, who crafted the additions, said people cross the border for a variety of reasons. He said it would be wrong to deny that a primary one is that they know jobs are waiting.

"We should move forward in enforcement, both supply and demand, with regard to the folks who are coming here and the people employing them," Brotherton said.
"But (we should) not do it in a hypocritical manner where we're just attacking the poor immigrant who comes across and basically is being pulled across by available jobs from employers who want to break the law."

Tuesday's preliminary approval of the measure drew concern from Farrell Quinlan, spokesman for the Arizona Chamber of Commerce.

He said it is "bad policy" to base state sanctions on violations of federal law. Quinlan said that's like saying someone should be punished by the state for breaking federal environmental laws.

But Quinlan conceded that many Arizona businesses are dependent on foreign labor.

"There are many categories of jobs that it's very difficult to find American workers to fill," he said.

At a political debate last year, John Bremond, president of KB Homes, said undocumented workers are vital for his industry, which he said suffers from persistent labor shortages.

"We rely on that work force," he said.

Quinlan said the same situation exists in agriculture. He said penalizing those employers is not the answer.

"There's a labor problem in this country," Quinlan said. "And there's a solution which is immigrant labor that should be utilized with a guest worker program that makes sense."

Quinlan was alarmed at the prospect a business would lose its license, even temporarily. Quinlan said that amounted to a "death penalty" for what might be a paperwork violation.

How many companies might be affected is unclear.

A spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement said there were only 124 cases nationwide in 2003, the most recent figures available. There was no immediate breakdown for Arizona.

Tuesday's vote is not the end of the matter: The House version of the legislation does not include the employer sanctions. Rep. Tom Boone, R-Glendale, sponsor of the underlying bill, remains open to accepting the Senate changes.

"The concept of sanctions or fines or something for employers that have knowingly hired folks that are here illegally, I would not be opposed to looking at something like this," he said.

That option is unacceptable to Brotherton. He said that would allow business interests to pressure lawmakers to kill the bill without fear that they would be voting against cracking down on illegal entrants.

We'll see if they mean business with HB 2030 .John Bremond, president of KB Homes should be one of the very 1st charged.

State senators approved yet another measure Tuesday designed to crack down on illegal border crossers, but with a twist: This time they also want to go after the companies that hire them.

Hooray!

That's absolute nonsense that Americans won't do construction work. That's what my husband does...and others of my family. Of late, it's difficult to find a job that isn't overrun by illegals...a job that hasn't dropped wages thru the floor. The illegals get about $7 per hour for a job that should pay $10-12. That old boy meant he couldn't get CHEAP labor...couldn't make a HUGE profit...if he hired Americans.

RR