Arizona Bill Requires Employers to Check Database...

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/business/52547.php

Above is a link to an article, regarding a new bill passed last Wednesday. In short, this bill promises to "confront" employers who hire illegal aliens. The bill proposes a plan to
create a database, which can be accessed by employers, to verify worker's eligibility. If a business is found in violation of "knowingly" hiring an illegal, then the business could face possible license suspension/revocation.

This is a definite step in the right direction. I commend Mr. Pearce, whom sponsored this bill, and his efforts. However, there are still some concerns which must be addressed.

1. Who will be enforcing this database check? Will a government agency be going around checking all the paperwork of business owners and then matching it up to their employees? Hmmmm probably not.

2. What happens to the workers, who provide false documents? Obviously, the supposed sentence of, 7 years in prison is not going to fly. It doesn't happen quite like that. The illegals slip through the system and are lost. Why not just DEPORT them?

3. Employers hiring illegally should face criminal charges! As previously mentioned, these employers and all enablers are clearly breaking the law. They are "harboring criminals." They are "evading the law." They are "obstructing justice." ...Whatever one wants to call it, it is breaking the law. Those who break the law, should face criminal charges.

Workmans' Comp for ILLEGAL Workers

Lawmaker: No workers' comp for entrants

Proposal runs into opposition from Chamber

By Howard Fischer

Capitol Media Services

Tucson, Arizona Published: 02.26.2007

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PHOENIX — Rep. Russell Pearce doesn't think that people who are working in this country illegally should be able to get benefits if they're injured on the job.
But Pearce's effort to bar compensation is getting a fight from business interests that fear that the alternative would be far worse: lawsuits.
David Selden, a member of the board of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the workers' compensation program is set up as a no-fault system. Companies agree to cover medical bills and a percentage of lost wages regardless of whether the injury is due to employee or company negligence.
In exchange, though, employers generally cannot be sued: The workers have to accept the benefits within the workers'- comp law.
But Selden said that if the injured employees are denied benefits, then they are free to sue. And Selden said even if the company eventually wins in court, that can be an expensive process.
Pearce, a Republican, is unmoved by business protests. He said any company that hires an undocumented worker probably deserves to be sued.
And Pearce said he sees workers' compensation coverage as a tax, even though the benefits are covered through insurance premiums paid by companies or, in the case of some large firms, through self-insurance.
"Any time you use the force of government and you mandate programs, it's a tax," he said. "We take money from businesses, put it into a pool to cover these kinds of issues."
Pearce is having some trouble convincing colleagues — and not just Democrats. In fact, one version of his proposal failed to clear the House Commerce Committee on a 5-5 vote.
Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-Safford, said Pearce is "well intended." But Konopnicki, who owns several McDonald's franchises, called it "very detrimental to business."
That is unlikely to be the last word: Pearce said he will continue efforts to push through measures that he believes will cut down on illegal immigration. And he said halting people who work here without documents from getting benefits is one piece of that solution.
"The public has spoken loud and clear," Pearce said. "We keep coddling employers we know intentionally hire illegal aliens." (I like to ask, "would you like to contribute to the illegal immigrants fund and provide for the illegal aliens residing in Arizona?") There are a lot of people who would be like, "NO," Yet those same people don't see that the money they spent on Saturday's night dinner and drinks helped pay rent for an illegal dishwasher. The don't see, that every time you go to a restaurant or get landscaping done, you are giving away money to illegals. Plain and Simple. there is no gray area. I am so sick of it...someone needs to say something. We need stricter laws. Why is it okay to hire an illegal alien, however it is a felony to bring one across the boarder? Our government is a joke...

Much of the debate surrounds whether companies knowingly employ illegal immigrants or, at the very least, don't make a big effort to determine if applicants are in this country legally.
The Pew Center for Hispanic Studies estimates there are about 500,000 people in Arizona illegally. And the presumption is that a good percentage are working — meaning someone is hiring them.
Pearce said he believes that many employers do the minimum checking possible of the required documents. So he said he has no sympathy for employers who might get stuck in a lawsuit from an injured worker.
"You know the liability, you know the Arizona Constitution," he said.
Konopnicki said it's not as simple as that. He said employers can only do so much to verify the veracity of documents presented to them by applicants.
"I do my due diligence," he said, including filling out the federal I-9 form that lists what documents must be provided. And Konopnicki said he keeps copies of the documents presented.
"I don't hire illegals as an employer," he said. But Konopnicki said legislation like this harms "mom and pop" operations that do the right thing, have a worker who is injured and then find out that the workers' compensation coverage they purchased won't protect them.
Selden said the flaws with what Pearce wants to do go beyond the hardship on employers.
He said a worker who is hurt is sent to a health clinic that specializes in industrial injuries. But he said that if during that treatment it is learned the person is here illegally — meaning no insurance for treatment — there would be a temptation to transfer that person to a public hospital where the cost would be borne by taxpayers.




They want a government directed program, which is undeniably partially funded by OUR tax dollars. Never mind the fact that they’re here illegally, working illegally, and not even paying taxes!

You see, this is what enrages me. I know I should not allow emotions to get involved, when dealing with basic principles of right and wrong. I just cannot comprehend it. Where's the logic? Who is unable to see how ridiculous this all is?




"They should get workmans' comp because they're illegal and can't afford health insurance."

"They should get amnesty because they're breaking the law."

"Their children should get scholarships because they can't afford college tuition because they're illegal and only get paid 10 dollars an hour."

"They should all get health care provided to them because they cannot afford to pay their medical bills."




What's next? Seriously...

Article 18. Section 10

The following is pulled from the Arizona State constitution... (Article 18; Section 10- The Employment of Illegal Aliens)

"No person not a citizen or ward of the United States shall be employed upon or in connection with any state, county or municipal works or employment; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the working of prisoners by the state or by any county or municipality thereof on street or road work or other public work and that the provisions of this section shall not apply to the employment of any teacher, instructor, or professor authorized to teach in the United States under the teacher exchange program as provided by federal statutes enacted by the congress of the United States or the employment of university or college faculty members. The legislature shall enact laws for the enforcement and shall provide for the punishment of any violation of this section."

I'm just curious as to what laws they will enact and what "punishment" they will provide.

It is against the law, a felony, to smuggle illegal aliens across the border. These employers who are hiring these illegals are enabling further than the smugglers are. The "punishment" for these employers needs to be more severe.

First Post/Introduction

Tucson is undeniably one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. It is recorded in 2005 there were 507,632 individuals residing in Tucson, Arizona. These numbers did not support surrounding areas such as: Oro Valley, Marana, or Green Valley. Other groups not included were students living in dorms, institutions, or other group living. It is assumed that the Air Force Base was not included. Tucson recently reached the million mark and continues to grow.

Given that, there is obviously a growing number of commercial properties. With the population comes business. There a thousands of locally owned and franchised businesses. These business thrive from the growing Tucson population. The massive growth is both good for Tucson citizens and business owners. Everything sounds wonderful, right?

...Not so much. With these businesses comes what many Tucson business owners/ proprietors call "undocumented workers." "Calling an illegal alien an undocumented immigrant is like calling a burglar an uninvited house guest." [IllegalAliens.US.com] It is laughable to say the least.

However, what is not laughable are the individuals hiring these illegal aliens to work for their business. Hiring an illegal immigrant is against the law. Unfortunately the 1986, Immigration Reduction and Control Act, has been ineffective. Local state governments and politicians want to look the other way, when it comes to such illegalities.

Everyday there are more and more individuals crossing our boarders illegally, to find work. And why wouldn't they? It is so easy to find work here. Business owners are eagerly hiring these illegals at minimal wages. They are not paying wages that citizens/legal workers, whom speak English, would expect. They are not only getting away with skimmed wages, but inflated hours as well. Since our government is not addressing the issues, then it is the our duty to get involved. As one of the largest growing cities in the nation, and with one of the largest illegal immigration problems, Tucson needs to make a stand!

We need to start saying "NO" to illegally ran businesses. By boycotting businesses, whom hire these "undocumented workers", we will be protecting our city, state and country.

I am propsing "Tucson Boycotting Illegal Businesses" or "T-bib" for short.