March 8, 2010 in Idaho

Idaho committee kills immigration bill

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Betsy Russell photo

Kris Kobach, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor who drafted sweeping anti-immigration legislation proposed this year by Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, testifies to the Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday morning.
(Full-size photo)

BOISE - Idaho lawmakers balked Monday at sweeping immigration legislation proposed by state Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, that sought to penalize employers who hire illegal workers and enact an array of other provisions, from penalizing “sanctuary cities” to requiring driver’s license tests to be in English.

The bill, SB 1303, was killed in committee on a 7-2 vote, after a tense three-hour hearing that saw lots of testimony on both sides - but much more against the bill than for it.

“You can actually create a job immediately if a hiring decision that would have gone to an illegal alien goes to a U.S. citizen,” Kris Kobach, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor who drafted Jorgenson’s bill, told the committee. “So it’s a way to immediately address the jobs for U.S. citizens.”

But Ken McClure, attorney for the Milk Producers of Idaho, told the panel, “People do not flock and stand waiting on line for work as milkers in dairies.”

Brent Olmstead, lobbyist for the Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration Reform, an array of agriculture and business groups, testified against the bill. “The domestic workforce no longer wants to do a lot of these jobs, even with a 10 percent unemployment rate,” Olmstead told the committee. “It is our experience in Idaho that the domestic labor force in Idaho is not applying for manual labor positions.”

As a result, employers ranging from agriculture to rock quarries are relying primarily on a foreign-born workforce, Olmstead said, but he said there’s an inadequate federal system for bringing in such guest workers legally. “The federal system is broken,” Olmstead said.

Jorgenson’s bill would have required employers to use the federal “e-Verify” system to check on the immigration status of an employee, even if the employee is a relative.

Earlier, a House committee killed legislation from Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, also aimed at penalizing employers who knowingly employ undocumented workers. One remaining immigration bill, SB 1271, would make it a crime to use false documents for employment; it’s still awaiting a Senate committee hearing.

26 comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  PhiltheBibliophil on March 08 at 11:40 a.m.

  Of course this bill got killed. As much by RepubliCan’ts as Demo’s! They didn’t want to upset their Business Apple-Cart. It always amazes me that citizens don’t stop to think - Who hires these people? Why do they come for jobs? BECAUSE mostly Republican businessmen hire them for less wages!

• 

  tinybobidaho on March 08 at 12:22 p.m.

  This is a huge loss for the taxpayers of Idaho as we will continue to pay $200 million a year for illegal aliens who are violating federal law, not to mention the continuing loss of jobs as illegal aliens keep scooping them up. These 7 legislators just thumbed their noses at the Idaho worker. They have made it clear they represent big business who fund their campaigns and NOT the people who elected then into office. They need to booted and we need to elect legislators who care about the legal citizens of this great state. These are the 7 who voted against the bill:

  Darrington
  Geddes
  McKenzie
  Stegner
  Stennett
  Kelly
  Davis

• 

  misjustice on March 08 at 12:39 p.m.

  So, the lobbyist, Olmstead has determined that no citizens in Idaho want to do jobs in manual labor? Perhaps it is because the firms that he lobbies for don’t pay squat and only undocumented workers will work for the low wages paid in Idaho, a “right-to-work” state.

  If companies do not hire undocumented workers, pretty soon they will stop coming into the state. But the companies want the cheap labor pool; and they intentionally pit citizens against immigrants, making the immigrants the enemy instead of greedy corporate policies.

  We are all in the “global jobs auction”, now; competing against eachother for ever lower and lower wages. And unfortunately, we are competing in a fast race to the bottom. A race with no winners, expect for the corporations!

• 

  trail_rider_mom on March 08 at 1:07 p.m.

  And you know that it’s mostly REPUBLICAN businessmen that hire undocumented workers & pay them less how?? Give me your source. I’d love to check it out.

  Ken McClure is correct when he says there is NOT a long line of people lining up to apply for milking jobs. Don’t go into the ‘because dairies pay crummy wages’ bit. I think $15/hour, 5 days a week, 6-7 hour a day, plus meat & milk, & possibly a house is pretty darn good!

• 

  spokanada on March 08 at 1:57 p.m.

  it seems like we are only to blame others and not ourselves. We live in a global village. We need to progress and not regress. Fighting illegal immigration is a waste of time and will not help the country move forward.

  If you want to collect money from immigrants to cover their costs on society then we should look at reforming the USCIS. Give them a piece of paper and let them get taxed to death like the rest of us.

• 

  LindaK on March 08 at 2:35 p.m.

  Can we embrace reality here? Fighting illegal immigration is not a waste of time! I assume we are all American citizens here in this discussion, and I am surprised so many have no pride in that, but feel it can be sold to criminals who came here illegally, and now we taxpayers have to pay their way in every aspect of their illegal lives in this country.
  Yes, we are to blame as the folks we elect to office sell us out every chance they get on behalf of big pockets able to afford campaign contributions for their elections and re-elections. Forget constituents as the unemployed are not able to contribute or make their voices heard. They are not part of the equation like cheap labor is.
  Where is our pride being Americans?

• 

  tinybobidaho on March 08 at 2:36 p.m.

  Ken McClure is correct when he says there is NOT a long line of people lining up to apply for milking jobs. Don’t go into the ‘because dairies pay crummy wages’ bit. I think $15/hour, 5 days a week, 6-7 hour a day, plus meat & milk, & possibly a house is pretty darn good!
  –––––––––––––––––––––––––—

  This is a crock. If this is true then why is it nobody can seem to get any documentation on this. They refuse to show their records. If you’ve got proof that these illegal aliens work on these terms, show it!

• 

  spokanada on March 08 at 3:11 p.m.

  That is my point. Make the illegals legal. Make them pay taxes so they aren’t a burden on society. We will never stop “illegal” immigration.

• 

  BigE on March 08 at 3:14 p.m.

  Grandpa would like to think that there are some proud Americans out there.
  The fact of the matter is, most people only care about themselves.
  You want to see sad, look at the gene pool, the people that are having kids, what we are producing, the human race will be extinct soon do to stupidy and greed.

• 

  Orange on March 08 at 3:51 p.m.

  Phil, quantify your comments. I’ll be willing to bet you’re absolutely incorrect.

• 

  CharlesBillford on March 08 at 4:10 p.m.

  SB 1271, which makes it a crime to use false documents for employment.

  That just means every elected official in Idaho would have been criminals..

• 

  trail_rider_mom on March 08 at 4:46 p.m.

  tinybob: not sure what you mean. Who is the “they” that won’t show their records & who needs to show “proof” that undocumented workers work under these terms?

  PHIL: Still waiting to see your source showing that only REPUBLICAN businessmen hire undocumented workers & pay them less.

• 

  tinybobidaho on March 08 at 5:11 p.m.

  trail rider mom, I am talking about the Ag businesses and the dairies who are the biggest offenders of hiring illegal aliens. Their lobbyist, Brent Olmstead touts that these businesses sre paying good wages with short hours, yet he’s refused to show proof. When a person refuses to show proof, he’s are probably lying.

  And my comment to Spokanada is, how many do we have to keep legalizing before we have enough? 1 billion, maybe 2. If you recall we have given amnesty to illegal aliens twice, once in 1986 and again 1996. All it did was open the border for more illegal aliens to come here because the part of the bill that said our laws would be enforced never happened, and there’s no reason to think they will enforce our laws or secure our borders if we do it again. Having said that, the first time we legalized 3 million, the next time it was a few more million, now they want to legalize 12 million. It never stops, and it never will if we don’t put our foot down. And to answer your question about taxes. Instead of allowing 8 million illegal aliens to continue to hold jobs here, why not give those jobs to taxpaying Americans who are out of work right now?

• 

  kazperking on March 08 at 5:17 p.m.

  american pride? lolz get it over with people look at it this way there are millions and millions of immigrants now they are all having babies that are born here and are american citizens 20 years from now americans will mean black white and mexicanz haha yall never though blacks would be american citizens look at them now… yall never think mexicans will be american citizens will see in 20 years when all this lil babies take all yallz kids jobz hahaha

• 

  empyrius on March 08 at 6:12 p.m.

  McClure and those he represents, and Olmstead and those he represents, are the true enemies of Americans!

  If Americans don’t want to do “manual labor” how is it that here in Spokane a job fair for fast food industry employment gets thirty adult applicants for every available position?

  Big business capitalist pig evildoers and their American government have sold us, the people, out!

  They can give up the land and means of production peacefully, or, one day . . .

• 

  spokanada on March 08 at 6:40 p.m.

  Note to all. America was founded and populated by immigrants. I’m sure the Native Americans didn’t want you here either so what gives you the right to tell others that they aren’t welcome.

  We can either deal with the effects of immigration (naturalizing them) or we can keep bitching and complaining to try and keep them out which will never happen.

  It’s up to you which fight you want to persue. Personally, I would rather legalize the immigrants so they can pay taxes and contribute to society than fight another war we cant win.

• 

  force_vector on March 08 at 7:05 p.m.

  Hey Spokanada,

  I’d be willing to legalize one law breaking, illegal immigrant in exchange for you departing permanently to wherever he/she came from. People with your mentality, the “well we’re screwed anyway so who cares” one are like a cancer that has weakened our country and made complacent a once proud people. We are already governed by morons, mostly because morons vote these fools into power. The only way to end the cycle is to end the stupidity. Do you have kids? Do you spew your crap to them to? Wake up, let rest those few brain cells you have, and for one second realize that our great country is only so by those Americans who call it home (past and present). What we have is worth fighting for, including rule of law and national borders. The first battle is political, the second is far closer to home than that. Let me guess, you probably think I’m a Glen Beck kool-aid drinker, right? Wrong. I’m no biologist either, but I know a rat when I see one.

• 

  spokanada on March 08 at 7:37 p.m.

  I wish you the best of luck with your battle Force. Let me know how it goes. There are those who deal with reality and those who live in a fantasy land.

  Aside from your personal attacks I agree with your views on the government.

  I heard Glen Beck has an advertisement for “survival seeds”. Better get your credit card ready because you get a discount only if you order in the next 15 minutes.

• 

  force_vector on March 08 at 8:13 p.m.

  Already on order….can’t wait for the strawberry seeds, they’re my favorite.

• 

  trail_rider_mom on March 08 at 8:17 p.m.

  They can give up the land and means of production peacefully, or, one day …

  empyrius: or else one day WHAT??

• 

  trail_rider_mom on March 08 at 8:41 p.m.

  tinybob:

  “This is a crock. If this is true then why is it nobody can seem to get any documentation on this. They refuse to show their records. If you’ve got proof that these illegal aliens work on these terms, show it!”

  Guess the proof that illegal aliens work on these terms is evident. Most of the comments on this subject have been complaints that the ‘illegals’ are taking YOUR jobs. Obviously they ARE working.

  FYI, an employer can’t question documents offered by a prospective employee because of race or specify what documents they wish to see when completing I-9 forms. This is clearly stated on the I-9 form. One document that can be presented is the social security card but it isn’t mandatory.

  Employers can use E Verify, but if a socsec number comes back as a ‘No Match’, it is still not grounds to let someone go immediately. There are still steps that must be followed in order to comply with employee rights.

• 

  SugarShane on March 08 at 9:05 p.m.

  “If Americans don’t want to do “manual labor” how is it that here in Spokane a job fair for fast food industry employment gets thirty adult applicants for every available position?”

  Because Empyrius, your comparing Idaho to Washington. The min wage in Idaho was 5.15 an hr til around 07. Its like 7.25 now but was 5.15 for YEARS. 3.15 For Servers, so all you servers making your cushy min+tips in wa should be really thankful.

• 

  greyhound2 on March 09 at 5:11 a.m.

  Legal immigrants have respect for our laws and play by the rules. Illegal immigrants have no respect for our laws and do not play by the rules. Legal immigrants are welcome. Illegal immigrants are not.

• 

  TOOBAD2 on March 09 at 8:53 a.m.

  THIS IS AMERICA WE SPEAK ENGLISH LIKE IT OR NOT. WE ALSO ARE CHRISTIANS LIKE IT OR NOT. SO THERE , IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT GO SOMEPLACE ELSE AND LEAVE US ALONE. IF YOU WANT TO BE AN AMERICAN YOU (WILL ) DO IT OUR WAY , OR LEAVE.

• 

  Beenthere on March 09 at 9:28 a.m.

  It is apparent that many of those crying crocodile tears for those here illegally do not know what they are talking about. Do you know who is dominating the construction industry and agri-business in Idaho? (Ans. - illegals); Do you know who are two of the largest clients of State Affairs Committee Chairman Curt McKenzie - the committee which killed S 1303? (Ans - construction and the dairy industry); Do you know who will benefit most from S 1271, an alternate bill introduced by Chairman McKenzie, which parallels federal law, which does nothing to control illegal immigration? (Ans - illegal aliens, the construction and dairy industries). Good grief people, wake up!

  I will leave you with 3 other statistics: 1.- Illegal aliens account for 25 killings PER DAY in America (12 homocides, 13 manslaughter incidents such as traffic accidents where the I.A. caused the accident. I can relate to this personally because over the last 35 years I have lost three friends in traffic accidents where I.A. drivers and passengers fled on foot after CAUSING the accident, plus lost one teenage realtive who was stabbed by illegals who crashed a birthday party at his house. 2. - Illegals are collecting a MINIMUM of $100 million per year in benefits (welfare, food stamps, AFDC, WIC, etc.) from Idaho taxpayers, and as much as $200 million. What about legal residents of Idaho who are out of work and running out of benefits? And, 3. - I.A.’s account for one MILLION sex crimes per year in America, and each sex criminal commits an average of four crimes before being caught.

  I am sure some of the commentors above will doubt these figures. I challenge you to research the facts.

• 

  Brittanicus on March 09 at 12:13 p.m.

  Whatever the outcome of the discussions between Sen. Chuck Schumer, Lindsey Graham of any other partisanship play on the illegal immigration explosion. No matter if our politicians kill E-Verify, 287 (g) federal agreement with local police, slowing down on ICE raids or anything. Whatever law they try to enact, the American people will not tolerate any kind of AMNESTY. Disguise it as they may, no Comprehensive Immigration Reform will ever pass. Illegal aliens will remain “Illegal” and stay that way, as patriotic citizens, sovereignty lovers will—NEVER—allow this abomination to pass. A citizen workers ID or biometric identity card may gain some recognition, but only for legal immigrants. THOSE WHO STOLE ACROSS THE BORDER WILL—NEVER, EVER—BE ACCEPTED BY AMERICANS.

  We will take the late Senator Ted Kennedy at his word, when he stated in 1986 Simpson-Mazzoli bill: “This amnesty will give citizenship to only 1.1 to 1.3 million illegal aliens. We will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring forward another amnesty bill like this.” End of Quote. SO BE IT! We take this venerated liberal politician as his word. NEVER ANOTHER AMNESTY. We are now dealing with the monstrous backlash of astronomic costs that have just amplified in support for illegal aliens who have cheated the entitlement system. Amendments to the 1986 Immigration Control and Reform Act may be possible, but if you want to settle in America, you follow the Rule of Law.and enter America through the front gates. READ THE LATEST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION NEWS AT NUMBERSUSA, CAPITOL THE CORRUPTION AT JUDICIAL WATCH. INFORM EVERY STATE POLITICIAN IN YOUR CONSTITUENCY YOUR ANGRY. JOIN MILLIONS AND CALL THE WASHINGTON SWITCHBOARD AT 202-224-3121. INSURE THE YOUR POLITICIANS AID LOG IN YOUR FRUSTRATED COMPLAINTS AND DON’T TAKE—NO—FOR AN ANSWER!