Jul. 09, 2006 - 22:36 MDT

NAME OF THE GAME ?

There is an article in the Rocky Mountain News on Saturday by Joanne Kelley, of that paper, that is of interest, I think. Here, quoted in full:

BUSINESSES TAKE UP IMMIGRATION

Political proposals concern industry leaders, lobbyists

"Colorado business groups, largely sidelined during recent months of heated immigration debate, huddled this week to figure out how to react to controversial proposals aimed at the state's employers."

"Concerns mounted when Gov. Bill Owens called a special legislative session on immigration proposals that would penalize employers who hire illegal workers."

"The development spurred the Colorado Competitive Council to assemble a gathering of dozens of industry leaders and lobbyists."

"A lot of folks are anxious that employers not be held to a standard that's not realistic," said Travis Berry, a lobbyist for the Competitive Council, created last year by the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce."

"Berry acknowledged that his group "hadn't really engaged agressively on one side or the other" as it monitored the immigration controversy both at the state and federal level."

"At this stage, Berry said his group still doesn't have a "hard and fast proposal we're advocating."

"Instead, "we're looking at the proposals to guage and address their impact."

"Representatives from, Colorado's hotel, restaurant and ski industry trade groups, as well as lobbyists working for a variety of Colorado companies and businesses, were among those attending the meeting."

"Obviously, business is a very important component of this discussion" in the legislature , said Metro Denver chamber President Joe Blake. "You've seen more proactivity" since Owens called for the session."

"Blake called this week's meeting "a step" in the direction of businesses getting more involved in shaping policy that would affect them directly." The groups agreed at the meeting that they shared three main concerns about any potential proposal affecting Colorado businesses:

##"The businesses want any legislation to make clear that sanctions could not be imposed on employers unless they "knowingly hire" illegal workers." (Owens wants employers fined if they fail to check the status of workers). (Another measure would disallow employer deductions for wages paid to illegal workers.")

##"Businesses also question the reliability of a fledgling federal data base for checking whether job applicants are eligible to work here."

##"If lawmakers approve a different verification system, business want it to be affordable and quick enough to deal with their tight time frames for hiring workers."

"Employers in the huge Colorado tourism sector also worry that state immigration policies could interfere with the federal process of bringing in seasonal workers on temporary visas."

"We don't want other steps on top of the federal process that will further delay hiring," said Ilene Kamsier, president of the colorado Hotel & Lodging Association."

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An idea or two from here.

First: Seal the border - - - not with just a thousand or so National Guardsmen who have their hands tied. But with a sufficient number of men with authority to do whatever is necessary to halt crossings of the border.

Then the federal government has the responsibility to come up with a rapid means of determining who is legal to work here or not. A revised green card, with fingerprints perhaps ?

Then a bureau that will handle input from employers who would be obligated to submit the evidence via fax or such of the Document showing the status of the worker they want to hire. Government to be obligated to rapidly answer back immediately on receipt whether the evidence submitted is valid.

Then when all this is in place - - - - make it a felony for anyone to hire an illegal. And come down especially hard on the "under the table employers."

Of course, if businesses were forced to pay union scale to workers the illegals wouldn't have a chance to break through the waiting throng. Of course big business would come unglued at the thought of that.

It will be interesting to finally see what the government, city, state and federal comes up with, there will be whickering, bickering and the lobby-hobby will have their "ist"say too. In the end if the big money has its way, the system will be ineffective, with no penalties involved for businesses and a barrelful of loopholes to crawl through, I fear.

After all, isn't that THE NAME OF THE GAME ? . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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