Thread: Fix immigration, employers say

WARNING: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Propaganda !!!
Published August 17, 2007
Fix immigration, employers say
U.S. Chamber of Commerce official shares views on future of U.S. workforce.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... 70375/1092
Didi Tang
News-Leader

Larry Snyder favors immigration reforms that would make it easier for him to hire foreign workers.
The contractor recently met a 24-year-old Mexican man skilled in heavy-equipment operations, which Snyder said is a rare find in the industry.

He decided to help the worker gain legal status so he could be hired. But, he didn't get anywhere because of limitations in immigration laws.

Now he's frustrated.

Snyder was among the dozens of area employers who met Thursday with a U.S. Chamber of Commerce official, who shared the organization's views on immigration reforms. "No one has any clue how serious the problem is," he said.

John Gonzales' appearance in Springfield, MO. was the latest in a series of immigration forums sponsored by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. He shared workforce statistics with his audience.

Gonzales said the country's workforce is aging and that the country's future economy would be in jeopardy without immigrants.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce favored the recent comprehensive immigration reform bill, which the Congress failed to pass this year.

Gonzales said he warned that Arizona, which is imposing stricter rules on employers who want to hire undocumented workers, may see its economy suffer in a few years.

Tim Lacey, a Springfield commercial builder, agreed that reform was needed. "The U.S. will have to come up with some sort of strategy. The workforce isn't out there."

Gonzales said that with the looming presidential election, no major reform of the country's immigration system is expected.

He said the wait means many area employers continue to grapple with workforce and immigration issues as they are seeking to fill open positions at their companies.

To Employers of Illegal Aliens:

Go ahead and hire your illegals. As long as you can guarantee us that you will:
- report and pay their taxes
- pay ALL of their healthcare bills (medical, dental, etc)
- pay for their pregnant wives to go back to their home countries to give birth
- pay for the education of their children
- pay for their food so they don't use food stamps
- make sure they don't drink and drive (give them bicycles)

If you can guarantee us all that, yes, by all means, hire them!