Senator has hope for worker bill

North Idaho Sen. Mike Jorgenson, who wants state employers to check workers’ immigration status, hopes that high unemployment and state budget woes may finally overcome farm and business opposition to such a requirement.

Jorgenson-authored immigration legislation has failed to get a hearing the last two sessions. But with more than 66,000 people in Idaho jobless, and a $50 million budget gap, a hearing would unleash popular support for measures that discourage the hiring of illegal immigrants, the Hayden Lake Republican said Saturday.

“We can’t afford to take care of ourselves,” Jorgenson told a receptive audience of about 60 people in Post Falls, gathered for one of 53 Tea Parties Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration held across the United States, including events in Boise and Idaho Falls.

Organizer Anita Steiner said Americans overwhelmingly oppose amnesty for illegal immigrants, but the “open borders crowd” wants access to workers who will accept lower pay than U.S. citizens.

“It’s all about cheap labor,” she said. “Americans are fed up.”

Jorgenson, who on Saturday had to steer crowd comments away from gun control, health care legislation and the legality of the federal income tax, said illegal immigrants each year cost Idaho $200 million and Washington $800 million for health care, education and other services.

Jorgenson’s bill would require Idaho employers to use the government’s national E-Verify system, which checks worker immigration status, and revoke their business licenses if they do not.

Alternative measures supported by agricultural interests are “toothless,” he said.