As I talked about on the Lou Dobbs radio show and have posted in my thread about this, there are some members of the Idaho Dairymen's Association who joined forces to form a group called the Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform. In other words, they are pushing for amnesty to keep cheap labor in Idaho. During my research of this group, I found the LaRaza's "How To Avoid The Law" Handbook for illegal aliens on the Idaho Dairymen's Association's website. My Senator who wrote the article below is asking for support as he brings this to public attention. If some of you could make some comments every now and then (at the link), it will keep his article to the top in the newspaper. There is no waiting for sign up, so posting is easy. I have to tell you, though, that this paper has moderators just like we do and seem to go by the same rules. Note: Comments run from the bottom up in this newspaper, showing newest ones first. Thanks for your help.

COALITION: Something amiss about group
Posted: Tuesday, Jan 27, 2009 - 10:42:16 pm PST
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Recently the Coeur d'Alene Press ran a piece from a gentleman named J. Brent Olmstead representing an organization called the Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform. It seeks to create a legal "guest worker" program for struggling Idahoan businesses in need of labor. Who are the members in this coalition?

I am currently awaiting a reply from the Idaho Secretary of State, Ben Ysursa, regarding the legal status of this organization and which Idaho businesses are members of it. I have had to send this letter because I have been wholly unable to find out anything about it.

Idaho has strict laws that govern the conduct of entities that are engaged in trying to influence public opinion and government. These entities are either advocacy groups or lobbying firms. Either way, they must register their stated interest, their members, their expenses and their officers with the Secretary of State's office.

I am particularly concerned about the Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform as its contact, Mr. Olmstead, is a lobbyist of the Idaho Milk Producers. Is this coalition just a conveniently disguised mouthpiece of the Idaho Dairyman's Association?

I have a particular grievance with the Idaho Dairyman's Association. They have had on their Web site (www.idahodairycouncil.org) a document for viewing and download that gives undocumented workers, also known as illegal aliens, detailed instructions for how to avoid detention or arrest for working in the United States illegally. I have shown this document to many individuals and have had to show it to them as hardly anyone could believe what I was telling them was true. It is true, please look at this Web site.

It is against the laws of the United States and thus Idaho to aid or abet the efforts of an illegal immigrant to avoid detention with the intent of working and living in America. It is a serious crime under the Immigration and Nationality Act passed by Congress in 1996.

The impropriety of freely dispensing such advice is offensive enough, but it is particularly serious during these terrible economic times when tens of thousands of Idahoans are losing their jobs, losing their homes and have families who need incomes. My belief is that there are many hundreds of Idahoans who would line up for a chance of work and wages at milk farms in this state. We have a responsibility to help them and I will not stand by and let this pass. Hiring cheap illegal labor drives down wages for all the legal workers here as well.

I eagerly await news from the Secretary of State to see who is behind the Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform and who their members are and ask that readers follow my progress and support my efforts.

SEN. MICHAEL JORGENSON

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