(Print edition) "Northwest Section" of the Spokesman-Review. In Brief.
Where Betsy Z. Russell reports that:
An Idaho Senate Committee refused to introduce a bill Monday for an Arizona-style anti-illegal immigration effort that would penalize employers who hire illegal workers. "The reality is that this law has passed in Arizona and has gone to court and was upheld," Senator Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, told the Senate State Affairs Committee, after several members raised legal questions about the bill. "Whether or not this can happen in Idaho is yet to be seen."
Jorgenson asked the panel to introduce his bill and not proceed any further with it this year. But no committee member was willing to make a motion to introduce it. Senate President Pro-tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, said, "I fear that the employers of this state just don't have the wherewithal to determine if documents are valid or are forged or whatever. ... Are we holding them to a standard that is virtually impossible to comply with?"
Jorgenson had co-sponsored the measure with Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol; House Speaker Lawrence Denney, R-Midvale; and Senator Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth.
My take on the refusal by this Senate committee to even consider this bill says just how pro-business they happen to be. Well now, this is Idaho. We only had in Kootenai County a measure passed that made all of Kootenai County at least an English only zone. It isn't as though foreign tourists were likely to vote, migrant workers were going to buy up homes in the area, and anyone already living in the area would already mostly know English to begin with. If Idaho County Commissioners up north could come up with such a bill and get some friendly ridicule about how businesses in the area would have to rename just to meet the new English only standards. Then I am just as certain that businesses across the state could indeed be vigilant when it comes to whom they hire. Hate to have to profile here, if they don't know a word of English, look Hispanic, don't produce some sort of green card or work visa and come in with a Social Security number, then I can imagine that they do indeed have forged documents and what would it take for the business interests to run a national check on whether the SSN was even valid? Make that don't care to because this labor comes cheap. And of course the Rs in Boise have to keep their real constituents satisfied. Even though the Rs at the federal level are now on record as opposing illegal immigration. The outcome of this "one party state?" when Rs divide into polarized factions on any issue, inclusive of this one. Guess there is reason to believe that democracy still exists around here.
Senate silences illegal immigration bill
Where Betsy Z. Russell reports that:
An Idaho Senate Committee refused to introduce a bill Monday for an Arizona-style anti-illegal immigration effort that would penalize employers who hire illegal workers. "The reality is that this law has passed in Arizona and has gone to court and was upheld," Senator Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, told the Senate State Affairs Committee, after several members raised legal questions about the bill. "Whether or not this can happen in Idaho is yet to be seen."
Jorgenson asked the panel to introduce his bill and not proceed any further with it this year. But no committee member was willing to make a motion to introduce it. Senate President Pro-tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, said, "I fear that the employers of this state just don't have the wherewithal to determine if documents are valid or are forged or whatever. ... Are we holding them to a standard that is virtually impossible to comply with?"
Jorgenson had co-sponsored the measure with Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol; House Speaker Lawrence Denney, R-Midvale; and Senator Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth.
My take on the refusal by this Senate committee to even consider this bill says just how pro-business they happen to be. Well now, this is Idaho. We only had in Kootenai County a measure passed that made all of Kootenai County at least an English only zone. It isn't as though foreign tourists were likely to vote, migrant workers were going to buy up homes in the area, and anyone already living in the area would already mostly know English to begin with. If Idaho County Commissioners up north could come up with such a bill and get some friendly ridicule about how businesses in the area would have to rename just to meet the new English only standards. Then I am just as certain that businesses across the state could indeed be vigilant when it comes to whom they hire. Hate to have to profile here, if they don't know a word of English, look Hispanic, don't produce some sort of green card or work visa and come in with a Social Security number, then I can imagine that they do indeed have forged documents and what would it take for the business interests to run a national check on whether the SSN was even valid? Make that don't care to because this labor comes cheap. And of course the Rs in Boise have to keep their real constituents satisfied. Even though the Rs at the federal level are now on record as opposing illegal immigration. The outcome of this "one party state?" when Rs divide into polarized factions on any issue, inclusive of this one. Guess there is reason to believe that democracy still exists around here.
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2 comments:
Betsey Z. Russell makde a mistake in her article. When she said that "no committee member was willing to make a motion to introduce it", she was mistaken. A look at the minutes of the meeting shows that Rep. Kren did make a motion to introduce RS18074., but Rep. Rusche then made a substitution motion to return the resolution back to it's sponsor.
At least Rep Kren was trying to get it done.
Thanks for the additional info. Given when this was published, S-R Tuesday. There was no way of finding out much about the bill from the updated Congressional website in the State of Idaho. I was trying to link to further info that might have a bearing on this most important news event. Very much appreciate your coming by to inform.
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