Thread: Interesting discussion about E-Verify on Lou Dobbs Tonight.

Interesting discussion about E-Verify on Lou Dobbs Tonight.
August 20, 2008 01:03 PM EDT

A very interesting discussion about E-Verify (the law requiring employers to check prospective employees' Social Security status, if they have any) took place on the Lou Dobbs Tonight show. Participants included Lisa Sylvester (CNN reporter), Lou Dobbs, Timothy Sparapani (ACLU), and Dan Stein (FAIR). Noticeably absent was the gutless head of the US Chamber of Commerce, Tom Donahue.

DOBBS: The biggest business lobby in the country, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, once again trying to dictate U.S. immigration policy and doing pretty well so far, I must say. President Bush has this year ordered federal contractors to verify the legal status of their employees using the federal E-Verify system.

It's a proven success. It requires employers simply enter a Social Security number on the part of a perspective employee to find out whether or not he or she is legally in this country. And by the way, it's 99.5 percent effective and that's driving a lot of people crazy including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce apparently.

In spite of that effectiveness, the Chamber of Commerce, ethnocentric interest groups, and did I mention the Democratic leadership on Capitol Hill, are all trying to either block E-Verify or eliminate it. Lisa Sylvester has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)

LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a matter of seconds, companies can confirm if a perspective job applicant is legally allowed to work in the United States. The Bush administration wants all federal contractors and subcontracts to use the program known as E-Verify. But big business is pushing back.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the proposed regulation "contravenes the intent of Congress and will affect every employer and employee to the tune of $10 billion per year." Other groups like the American Civil Liberties Union are also speaking out.

TIMOTHY SPARAPANI, ACLU: And the president has not done the things that he needs to do to fix this program to make it work right. It's going to be a huge burden on America's workers. SYLVESTER: But Dan Stein with the Federation for American Immigration Reform says national security is at stake here. Illegal aliens have been caught working in sensitive areas from airports to military bases. He says that's unacceptable in a post-9/11 world.

DAN STEIN, FED. FOR AMER. IMMIGRATION REFORM: In this case we're talking about real jeopardy to national security if federal contractors are not required to use all the tools available to make sure the people working on their job sites have the right to work in the United States.

SYLVESTER: And the Department of Homeland Security balks at the notion that the program will cost $10 billion. Quote, "The Chamber's assertion that E-Verify will cost billions is nonsensical. E-Verify is free, takes seconds and it saves employers money by doing their due diligence on the front end." Stein says the Chamber of Commerce is fiercely opposing E-Verify because it works.

STEIN: We finally have a program that is taking this country on track toward actually starting to solve or cut off the magnet that attracts illegal immigrants here. And what's the Chamber trying to do -- stall, stall, stall, delay, delay, delay.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SYLVESTER: Now we asked the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for an interview, but they declined. The Department of Homeland Security has a 60-day comment period on the proposed rule and then will review those comments, but it is expected that E-Verify will take effect for federal contractors this fall -- Lou.

DOBBS: The American people, it seems to me, Lisa, if I may offer an opinion here, really need to try to understand why the U.S. Chambers of Commerce has U.S. in front of it because they're not working for the United States. They're working for large corporate employers without any regard to the well being of this country or working men and women and their families and the very idea that this organization, now, with all of its amazing lobbying success, and we should point out, it is the largest, most well-funded and highest spending lobbying organization in Washington, D.C., that they would object to the E-Verify program because it's 99.5 percent effective and because they don't believe employers should be responsible for following the law or looking out for the rights of their -- and the welfare of their employees and their communities in which they live. This is absolutely appalling on any level.

SYLVESTER: And behind the scenes, Lou, they are actually -- the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is actually fighting to get rid of E-Verify. It's up for renewal this fall. It expires in November and they are trying to defeat that. They're working very hard so that E-Verify doesn't exist at all.

DOBBS: And by the way, they have some very consistent help from the ethnocentric interest groups, the advocates on the left, including as you pointed out the ACLU. You name it. All of these groups align with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. You wonder why they have U.S. in the title. By the way, I just like to offer Tom Donahue, the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce the opportunity to come on this broadcast, sit down and talk with me and perhaps explain why he thinks his organization and its members should be above regulation, should be above the law and shouldn't have to pay taxes. Just exactly what do they do that would give them this kind of exalted position in our society? It's sort of amazing, remarkable, really. Lisa, thank you very much. Lisa Sylvester.

One can only wonder how all those on the so-called "left" can continue to call themselves that (with a straight face), while deeply in alliance with the US Chamber of Commerce, by far the largest lobbyist in Washington D.C., representing big business against the interests of the American worker and consumer.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?a ... 4977425884

IF ONLY LOU WOULD RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

Send this out to your email address books folks. This program also protects your SS#. IF people don't understand what this is, they can't fight it.