Thread: Guest-Worker Plan Clears Utah Senate -- Barely

Guest-worker plan clears Utah Senate -- barely
On to governor » Program would create guest worker program. Would feds go along?

By Sheena Mcfarland
The Salt Lake Tribune
Posted: 02/14/2009 12:37:37 AM MST

Utah's lawmakers are sending a clear message to the federal government on immigration: Let us try to fix it.

Both chambers now have passed a resolution -- the Senate did so Friday -- requesting federal waivers so Utah could create a state-run guest-worker program. It now awaits Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s signature.

HCR1, sponsored by Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, asks the federal government to let Utah use Social Security and Medicaid withholdings to pay for the cost of the worker program.

The nonbinding resolution had to go through a bicameral committee to address several legislators' reservations.

Ron Mortensen of the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration voiced several concerns, including the potential of making undocumented workers cheaper for businesses to hire, removing money from the Social Security system and creating a guest-worker program while the state is facing one of its highest unemployment rates in recent history.

Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Eagle Mountain, was part of the committee, but disagreed with the measure.

"This resolution doesn't do anything to address concerns for FICA and Medicare withholdings," he said, "and the cost foreign workers would place on the system."

However, the resolution squeaked through the Senate, 16-13.

"It's very clear the federal government has abdicated its responsibility with regards to immigration," said Sen. Dan Liljenquist, R-Bountiful. "This bill, imperfect though it is, says, 'Let us do something.' It is important to stand up and ask for ability to address something that's right before us."

Utah's proposal comes from the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, which is attempting to get other chambers across the nation to sign on. Other state legislatures, including Arizona and Colorado, also have tried to create guest-worker programs, but have not been successful.

"I'd like to see it happen, but realistically the federal government is not going to give up its power to the states," said Tony Yapias, director of Proyecto Latino de Utah. "It has to be a uniform law, with comprehensive legislation coming all the way from Congress."

HCR1 previously cleared the House 57-12.

smcfarland@sltrib.com

http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_11700049

What?!! They want to use Social Security and Medicare dollars to underwrite a "guest worker program"?

Has the Chamber of Commerce lost its mind or do these eggheads really want to lose their business?

Americans: Boycott every member of the US Chamber of Commerce. They are the creme de la creme of the United Globalist Traitors Supreme Order!

Oh my God ... Utah Legislature .. you can go straight to you know where ... get my drift?!

Shut. These. People. Down.

I always thought that our elected politicians worked for us- the AMERICAN citizens who elected them into office! If so, how do they justify passing legislation that is completely to our detriment?

How much more do these traitors think American people are willing to take of their deliberate efforts to undermine this country and its citizens?

Congress is not going to give the states permission to control their own GWP...what a bunch of fools.

Go to the link below and send your opinion to the GOP they are meeting next week, tell them about everything you disagree with so they will discuss it at their meeting....
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-849894.html#849894
Don't forget to throw in e-verify, I forgot to guess I will have to write again tomorrow