Critics: Immigration bill would target employers, workers

This is truly the biggest problem facing immigration reform, whining puling business owners...

Source: boston.com

CONCORD, N.H. --Representatives of labor and business groups picked apart a bill Tuesday that requires employers to tell the state if they hire aliens and face up to $2,500 a day in fines if they don't comply with labor laws, including knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
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The intent of the bill, which was introduced and passed in the Senate, is to penalize employers who take advantage of undocumented workers by paying them lower wages and denying them benefits, such as health care, said Sen. Majority Leader Robert Clegg, R-Hudson.

But labor and business leaders, testifying at a House committee hearing, questioned the need for the legislation when state law already mentions a $1,000 fine per day for employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Plus, they said, the bill could hurt employers and workers alike. It would require employers to try to verify if a worker is an alien -- something they say they aren't equipped to do -- and it would result in workplace discrimination, they said. *snip*

Ulery noted the bill says that if an employer files a statement with the state Labor Department on alien-employee status and has made a "good faith effort" to comply with the law, then the employer shall not be liable for fines.

But those testifying against the bill said the term, "good faith effort" wasn't clearly defined. Neither was "alien" or other language, for that matter.

The bill basically makes employers "nervous about hiring legal aliens," testified Randall Drew, an immigration lawyer.

By definition, just about anyone who hires someone for any type of job would have to file a statement with state on whether they hire aliens, testified David Juvet, vice president of the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association.

"If you have the boy next door rake your lawn this fall," you would have to file a statement, Juvet said.

The bill, which is supposed to protect undocumented workers, would have the opposite effect, said Judy Elliott, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health. Businesses would be open to surprise inspections and if undocumented workers are discovered, they would be reported to immigration authorities, according to the bill.

This hysteria is fairly typical for this issue, let's cut through the crap, I happen to have a whining, puling businessperson decoder ring handy...

But I's needs me some slaves. I loves me some slaves. I got to have me some slaves!

Don't take away my slaves!

And y'all can pick up the bill.

This is my favorite line...

"If you have the boy next door rake your lawn this fall," you would have to file a statement, Juvet said.

Nope, no hysteria here, move along please.

Also, are you every bit as sick as I am of the idea of protections for illegal aliens? Especially when these "protections" include protection from being busted for being here illegally?

I think that's ridiculous and these alleged businessfolks should be ashamed of themselves.

Technorati Tags: Illegal immigration, New Hampshire