Legislation Alert!

[Lanelle]

This came to me from the ANLA and could be a serious problem for many of us.

Washington, DC – The American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) reports that House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced his long-rumored enforcement-only bill on December 6. Among other things, it mandates electronic verification of a prospective employee’s eligibility, and makes verification retroactive to the entire currently-employed workforce. It does nothing to provide access to or assurance of a legal workforce. If this bill were to be enacted in its current form, it would devastate the green industry, agriculture, and various service sectors.

The Judiciary Committee Considered the bill on Thursday, December 8. It will likely be on the House floor for a vote the week of December 12. Passage is expected. The Senate would then take up the issue next year. Senate consideration of more suitable provisions has become the industry’s major objective at this point. Following completion of the Senate’s version of the bill, a House/Senate conference would then iron out differences.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR READERS?



Retail: Without an economic and available source of labor, growers would simply not be able to reliably grow, harvest and ship product to your stores. Labor disruptions and higher costs in many service industries would reduce the spending power of many customers in your market whose income depends on immigrant employees to operate their small businesses. The end result: you have to raise prices and operate less efficiently, and your customers have less to spend. Delivery interruptions will result in lost sales.



Nursery growers: Whether you use immigrant laborers or not, your suppliers or customers do. If any significant portion of your product is sold to landscapers, the loss of an immigrant labor force will drastically reduce their ability to install plants and therefore to buy them. Many of the growers who produce liners and small plants rely heavily on an immigrant labor force, so the price of your inputs will increase dramatically while availability is eroded.

In the end, many growers throughout the workforce would face losing up to three quarters of their labor force, with limited options to obtain a legal workforce.



Greenhouse growers: Many of you have a large immigrant workforce. Those of you who operate without immigrant labor, will see the landscape and retail markets, you sell to, devastated by this legislation eroding the market to purchase your plants. Your suppliers, seed and small plant producers rely heavily on immigrant labor and this bill will dramatically increase the cost of your inputs.



Landscape firms: Like retailers, you will face a dramatic increase in cost and reduction in availability of product. Many Landscape firms rely heavily on immigrant laborers for crew management and installation. Enforcement alone will drive many employers into the limited and capped H-2B program, possibly imploding the program for both current and prospective users.



Landscape Distribution (re-wholesale): Many of your suppliers and customers rely heavily on immigrant labor. This bill would impact product cost and availability while disrupting your customer’s ability to install and therefore purchase product.





Jonathan Bardzik

Director of Membership and Marketing

American Nursery and Landscape Association

1000 Vermont Ave, NW Suite 300

Washington DC 20005

direct 202/789-5980, ext 3004

fx. 202/789-1893

email: jbrdzk@anla.org

[Bill Schwab]

In all honesty, it is about time someone ttempted to do something about illegal aliens. Living 45 minutes from the boarder, we see first hand the devastation anchor babies do. We hear those who call for work, only to get pricing and hie off the street corner, and, we see the communities of encampments in our canyons, the wild fires they start, and the problems caused. Yes, electronic verification just migth goof things up for a short while for those who hire illegals, but overall, if we don't provide sources of income to feed the furnas, maybe they will stop comming here as we currently see and go throughh the legqal channels, like with some of my English, Iranian, Itallian, German, and Austrailian clients.

I forgot to mention those contractors who are legally licensed, and hire knowingly, illegal aliens. Typically, their MO is to bid things 15-20% under what the work would go for if they paid taxes and insurances on their employees.

We have had 34 emergency rooms file chapter 7 in our area because of the illegals who by law have to recieve treatment, and don't pay their bills.

I can go on and on about this but it really is pointless, simply because our current immigration laws are designed not to work.

Illegal immigration is a broad based problem that effects all of us in some way weather you see it or not. I'm not at all a proponent of more regulations, but in this case, if it works, it is far better than what we currently have in place.

[Lanelle]

I have posted a summary of the H.R. Bill in the Management and Personnel Forum.

I think that you will see why both the ANLA and the US Chamber of Commerce oppose this particular bill.

Neither organization supports the use of illegal alien employees but they are looking for a workable immigration program.

If you look at the penalties that will be levied against employers for not using this proposed new electronic verification system, you will see that it is very serious.

If anyone wants a section by section review of this proposed legislation, email me and I will send it to you. It is too long to post here.

[Lanelle]

Since this is going to a floor vote next week, our Congressmen need to hear from us quickly. Below is a draft letter composed by the NJNLA and ANLA that you might use as a model for your own letter.

DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT

Dear

We are writing to express our extreme concern regarding H.R. 4437, introduced this week. It is an immigration enforcement bill that does not provide for guest worker reform. If not significantly altered, it will result in the demise of New Jersey and U.S. agriculture. It will eliminate most of the agricultural workforce, subject employers to extreme penalties and not provide any means of obtaining a legal workforce. Unfortunately, the introduction of H.R. 4437 coincides with significant labor shortages in New Jersey, creating an immediate crisis.

For a number of years the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, along with a national coalition of agricultural organizations throughout the U.S., has taken the lead in pushing for reform of our immigration laws that would provide a long-term solution to our labor needs. We have done so because of the demographics of our workforce and because we have feared the actual shortages of workers we currently are experiencing. We also believe that our immigration laws should be obeyed and enforced and that the employment verification procedures can be improved to achieve that end. It is extremely disappointing , however, that H.R. 4437 fails to do so in a reasonable manner and also ignores the compelling need for comprehensive reform.

Among the most problematic provisions of the bill are the following:

It provides for no guest worker reform to ensure agriculture a legal work force nor does it provide an alternative means of addressing the undocumented workers in the U.S. workforce.

It imposes mandatory electronic verification of all new hires and requires employers to retroactively verify all employees, many of whom who have already been verified and who may have been employed for decades.

The bill does not simplify the hiring process by eliminating many confusing employment eligibility documents.

The bill increases penalties nearly ten times for even the smallest employers.

The bill changes the definitions of “recruit and refer” in such a way that it would be impossible for agricultural employers to recruit the traditional migrant workforce without meeting workers face to face hundreds or thousand of miles away from the employers’ place of business and electronically verifying their employment eligibility. This would virtually eliminate our ability to recruit and hire domestic workers.

You have always had a keen understanding of the unique needs of our industry. We urge that when H.R. 4437 comes to the floor for consideration that you inform your colleagues that agriculture cannot survive if enforcement provisions of the bill are enacted without substantial revision and without being coupled with provisions that will ensure a legal future workforce for our industry and represent true comprehensive immigration reform.
Thank you for your attention on this matter and if you have any questions or concerns regarding our above noted comments, please feel free to contract me at

[HardDaysKnight]

This bill H.R. 4437
would be devastating to our economy. It will destroy the farmers
who are already being subsidized. We will be paying $20 for a
gallon of orange juice and every vegetable and grain product will be priced through the roof. This will also trickle down to the
restaurant, sanitation, home building construction, etc., etc, etc.,
and we will be forced to hire our very own who want NO part
of manual labor. I can't see this being passed whatsoever. I can
appreciate what Bill is saying. He is so close to the overflow and
something must be done. This bill seems to me like an " atomic
bomb" solution to the problem.

Thanks Lanelle for this thread. This is the first I heard of this. I think it's scary.

[Bill Schwab]

This is a small amount of what is going on regarding illegal immigration in our state.


Save Our State Update

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We, at Save Our State, want to take a moment to provide an update about our organization. We have just completed an overhaul of our website here at Save187.com and will again be providing regular updates on current issues affecting California and national security.

For the past few months, since the defeat of "One Bill Gil" Cedillo's SB-1160 (& AB-2895), which Save Our State greatly contributed to their demise, we have been taking a step back and evaluating a number of issues both at the state and federal levels of government. Now while Save Our State has been rather quiet, we have remained active in our pursuit to secure America's borders from terrorists and illegal aliens.

With that in mind, we created a Federal PAC Organization called Friends of the Border Patrol to assist and support the Agents of the US Border Patrol while defending them from political intrigue, obstruction and interference.

As you know, "One Bill Gil" is still hellbent on his driver's license for illegal aliens bill though it has been announced in the Congress by House Judiciary Sensenbrenner, and numerous US Federal Agencies to be a detriment to our national security. We shall be there to support the Sensenbrenner bill, and to defeat the Cedillo bill, which was introduced in the CA State Senate on January 14, 2005.Any other plans shall be announced at the appropriate time.

Save Our State has appreciated the support of numerous people throughout California and across America for the past 12 years and shall continue to work hard on behalf of American Citizens. We hope to maintain your continued support in the years ahead.

Save Our State has made several important contributions and had both legislative and political victories since 1994 and we thought we'd share a few of these items with you today.

Prop. 187 - Passed by the people of California in 1994 (Many sections were later upheld by the courts and enacted into California law)

H.R. 3734-Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193) – Welfare Reform

H.R. 2202-Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-208)

Arizona's Prop 200 - Passed by the people of Arizona-2004 (Assisted with drafting)

Defeated SB-1160 & AB 2895- The Cedillo driver’s license bill (Sept 2004 by Governor's Veto).

We thank you for your continued support, and thank you for visiting Save Our State's website at Save187.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Website Update

It is important that you visit our Friends Of The Border Patrol website to learn how you can help support the Agents of the US Border Patrol, who are under siege by the Bush White House. FriendsOfTheBorderPatrol.com featurs extensive information about the Border Patrol, DHS, White House, Congress, USBP agents, policies, and a plethora of information that we post as soon as we find it. California legislative updates are featured here at Save187.com, though we'll be updating the website later this month.

The next driver's license for illegal aliens bill is back for 2005. "One Bill Gil" Cedillo has announced he will introduce the exact bill that we denounced as the most dangerous version yet, and called for LAPD Chief Bratton to be dismissed for having supported.



In the event many of you have forgotten some of the key issues, from earlier this year, scroll down below for what was the major news items.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Don't believe The Wall Street Journal Wing of the GOP is not working with Vicente Fox to open up the borders? Read further below for a key statement on the subject from Fox personally.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arnold & Dreier - Campaign 2004

During the recently held election Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger campaigned on behalf of David Dreier, who was targeted by KFI's John and Ken Show in their political human sacrifice. Dreier campaigned for Arnold, when Arnold ran for Governor, headed the transition team, and now Arnold is paying Dreier back, by contacting voters in Dreier's Congressional District and misinforming them by calling Dreier a champion against illegal immigration. Dreier's recent record is the opposite, therefore making it a lie by Arnold. In case many of you have forgotten, until Arnold was forced to veto due to the pressure put on by TalkRadio, activists and S-O-S, Arnold supported driver's licenses for illegal aliens. Arnold added the provision of the colored/marked licenses, which "One Bill Gil" Cedillo has said he'd never accept. However, in a twist, Speaker Fabian Nunez has said he will accept the marked license. Don't remember Arnold's January 2003 statement supporting driver's licenses for illegals, click to listen below as Arnold get's cornered by Univision's Pablo Espinoza.

Arnold on Univision Audio
Click To Listen Here

To download to your computer, right
click on the link and save as a target.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Important Update

Support HR 10 & Defend America

We support H.R. 10, and ask for your help in the fight to see it pass through the Conference Committee, which resumes meetings in Washington D.C. after the election.

H.R. 10, the primary legislative response in the House of Representatives to the recommendations of The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (9-11 Commission), was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, October 8th. A Senate 9-11 response bill, S. 2845, which includes NO immigration provisions, was earlier passed by the Senate.

The 9-11 Commission made several recommendations with regard to immigration that, in the Commission's opinion, would increase security and help prevent a future attack. Many of the Commission's immigration recommendations were included in H.R. 10 such as provisions to: prohibit driver's licenses to illegal aliens; expedite removal of illegal aliens; increase Border Patrol and ICE agents; and prevent Federal agencies from accepting or recognizing Matricula Consular ID as valid proof of identity.

Every one of the immigration provisions recommended by the 9-11 Commission would help reduce illegal immigration and improve homeland security. Together, they would make major strides toward reducing the current illegal alien population of some 8-11 million and toward preventing future illegal immigration.

Now House and Senate Conferees will hammer out in Conference Committee a final bill based on H.R. 10 and S. 2845.


It's clear that both Presidential Candidates support illegal immigration and amnesty. If you are able to take only one action to stop illegal immigration for the rest of the year, please call the White House and Congress demand they support HR 10!

Messages to the President

President George W. Bush, if you support illegal immigration, you do not support conservative values!

The President addressed the RNC Convention and stated, “I believe the most solemn duty of the American president is to protect the American people.” If George W. Bush truly believes that, then why has he ordered the Border Patrol to stand down?




Vicente Fox’s Real Agenda


By: Stop The Free Trade Area of the Americas

If you like illegal immigration you’ll love the Free Trade Area of the Americas! FTAA advocates favor open borders. Although keeping the general public in the dark as to their real plans, FTAA sponsors admit that the FTAA is intended to follow in the footsteps of the EU – and so will lead to the abolition of meaningful national borders. National borders will become like state borders. There will no longer be an immigration problem, because there will be no more immigration – only migration of populations at will.

Proponents conceal the effect of the FTAA on U.S. borders, realizing that the American public would not support their revolutionary goals. Representative Tom Tancredo (R-CO) has clearly and correctly warned:

"There are people in the [Bush] administration, and in Mexico, and in Congress, who believe that we should do away with borders entirely. Their ultimate goal is to create this hemispheric ‘free trade’ area consolidating all of North and South America into some kind of ‘United States of the Americas.’"

Mexico’s Vicente Fox, in a 2002 address to European elites, was unexpectedly candid about these aims:

"Eventually our long-range objective is to establish with the United States, but also with Canada, our other regional partner, an ensemble of connections and institutions similar to those created by the European Union, with the goal of attending to future themes [such as] the future prosperity of North America, and the movement of capital, goods, services, and persons." [Emphasis ours]

During his address, Fox referred to a large impediment to his vision, "what I dare to call the Anglo-Saxon prejudice against the establishment of supra-national organizations."

This same vision has been endorsed by powerful people in our nation -- including some regarded to be conservative. Among those who applauded Fox's vision was Robert L. Bartley, editor of the influential Wall Street Journal:

"Reformist Mexican President Vicente Fox raises eyebrows with his suggestion that over a decade or two Nafta should evolve into something like the European Union, with open borders for not only goods and investment but also people. He can rest assured that there is one voice north of the Rio Grande that supports his vision. To wit, this newspaper."

[Bill Schwab]

One more. This has to stop.


Report: Illegal immigrants
cost feds $10 billion

By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer (NCTimes.com - Aug. 26, 2004)

Illegal immigrants cost the federal government $10 billion more in services than they contribute in taxes, according to a report released Wednesday by the Center for Immigration Studies, a conservative research organization in Washington, D.C.

Gleaning information from the U.S. Census and other sources, authors of the report, called the High Cost of Cheap Labor: Illegal Immigration and the Federal Budget, offers a complex fiscal picture of the illegal immigrant population.

The report drew criticism from some pro-immigrant groups, saying that the researchers did not paint a full picture of the contributions illegal immigrants make through their labor and purchasing power.

Despite popular notions that illegal immigrants abuse welfare services and don't pay taxes, the report concluded that this segment of the population receives relatively few resources and contributes $16 billion in federal taxes.

Nevertheless, the report's principal author, Steven Camarota, said that if presidential candidates fulfill their pledges to offer amnesty to the country's estimated 8.7 million illegal immigrants, the cost to provide services for them could triple to $29 billion.

"Ten billion isn't chicken feed," Camarota said. "It's not trivial."

Much of the cost of illegal immigration is attributed to relatively low educational levels among immigrants, Camarota said. Little education translates to low-paying jobs with few benefits. Fewer employment benefits lead to a greater need for government services, he said.

The federal government pays about $2.2 billion in medical treatment for uninsured immigrants, according to the report. It pays $1.9 billion in food assistance programs, such as food stamps and school lunches, for low-income families. And it pays $1.4 billion in aid to schools that educate illegal immigrant children.

Moreover, there are unavoidable costs, according to the report. Those costs include federal courts and prisons that punish illegal immigrants charged with crimes and costs associated with aid to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

The report does not include the costs of state and local governments, which share in the burden of paying for illegal immigration.

The report also does not address the broader contributions made by illegal immigrants, such as profits their employers generate or the sales taxes immigrants pay for goods they purchase, critics of the report said.

"It's a polemical debate that has no end," said Arturo Navarro, a professor of ethnic studies at UC Riverside and a Latino activist. "Our people are not driven to risk their lives crossing the border by the dream of becoming welfare recipients. They are driven by the American Dream."

Even some who support more strict immigration controls said they were suspicious about the report's findings. Freeman Sawyer, a local anti-illegal immigrant activist, said he questioned how the researchers arrived at their figures.

"If I go to Temecula (Valley) High School, even with a court order in my hand, and I said, 'I want to know how many illegal aliens are here; how many are receiving free lunches?'... They are not going to give them to me," Sawyer said.

He added: "I don't understand how they were able to get (data) from a population that doesn't want to be found."

Other findings of the report include:

On average, the costs that illegal households impose on federal coffers are less than half of other households, but their payments are less than a third of other households.

The vast majority of illegal immigrants hold jobs. Thus, the fiscal deficit they create for the federal government is not the result of an unwillingness to work, according to the report.

Although legalization would increase average tax payments by 77 percent, average costs would rise by 118 percent.

Read the full report at: http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalrelease.html

Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-5426 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.

[johnkeegan]

I'll admit I'm a little naive on the immigration controversy.
I currently don't employ any immigrants but I have heard nothing but praise about their work ethic from local farmers and other green industry businessmen. But,as I understand it,there simply are not enough immigrant workers available through legal channels to fill the need. So, am I right in assuming that this is what has caused the problem? Or is it that some businessmen are merely trying to save money by hiring illegals under the table.
And on a side note, Bill, I'm wondering if you also hire immigrants or if you only hire U.S. born workers. And, if so, how do you belive they compare.

[Bill Schwab]

John:

We are all immigrants of one form or another, 1st, second third generation and so fourth. The difference is legality. Just as my relatives, and yours, and others relatives went through proper channels and became legal, and eventually became US citizens.


At the turn of the last century (1900) when waves of immigrants entered, they became legal, it was and is an apsiration for many who wish to come here.

In our area of operation, many of those south of the boarder feel reaping the american benefits, heath care and education is an entitlement.

In fact, we employ Guatamalan, Mexican and Irish employees. Of those, 4 are going to adult reading classes, 2 are entering the credit reporting system leaving ghost status, and 2 have past ghost status and next year through the help of my wife and some legal hand out programs will a downstroke to their first home, so they can earn the American dream During which time, 3 employees will become United States Citizens.

The difference between anyone who came from somewhere else, and someone born with a surf boad up their rear end, like the natives around here, is they have no problem getting dirty. Those who are native to our area, won't work in a position where they have to get their figernails dirty, even for $30.00 an hour. Pay regardless of work performed is an entitlement.

There are legal channels to enter our country. And theere are ways to break into our country and steal all it has to offer.

Illegal immigration has to stop. In our area, homeowners should be included in any type of penalties being made for those who hire illegals. And, these laws actually should be enforced, not just passed.

[johnkeegan]

Thanks for the info. I'm interested in finding this type of LEGAL employee also and are wondering what is the best avenue. Should I go through a firm that advertises "H2B" workers? And it seems as if the appropriate applications are not in by now it might be too late for the spring?
And Bill, pardon my ignorance, but what is the "credit reporting system" and "ghost status" you refer to?
Also, back to the politics of this issue, is there a shortage of the visas that would that would allow these workers to enter the country legally?

[AZTLANLC]

We are about 10M ilegal immigrant in this country , I count myself as one cause no matter that I have become citizen I will never be one to the eyes of many, even my children and heirs will be seing as hispanics for many years until the next wave of immigrants emerge.

Just on SS and medicare ilegal immigrants contribute 12Billion yearly which we will never see, not even after becoming legal, + federal and state, unemployment.
But if this law passes then most likely employer that have being taking taxes out of ilegal immigrants will start paying cash just like the rest.
Tell me how can a employer hire legal help since the H2b program only allows for about 60000 and the cap reaches pretty soon.
I'm in favor of some type of law like this, but before has to be an immigration reform, why not give the oportunity to become legal to someone already here with no criminal record, holding a job and an employer willing to sponsor him.
Also make them sign an afidavit of support for each spouse not working, so they will not take advantage of the system, so they can not claim they're single moms.
Cause is true I know couple of people that pays for beer with cash and formula with food stamps.

[Bill Schwab]

John:

The credit reporting system is that unfair grossly flawed and extremely ridiculous way banks and lenders view you and I and anyone who gets credit to buy something. We all are given a score based on how past and current creditors report how we pay so others considering us for credit see the risk we might be if they choose to work with us. (Can you tell I'm very frustrated with this system?)

By getting a Social Security number, all you get is that number. you are a ghost in the system. As soon as you are given credit, and pay on time, you then leave ghost status and show history. And, without a score dancing in the mid 6 hundreds, you ain't gunna buy no house in San Diego county So, we hoked the guys up at our bank, showed them that the cash world of their old country does not cut it here, even though cash still might be king in some markets. They then obtained car loans, paid on time, and now are ready to get the house they are looking for. 2 of them are buying together so they can have enough income to show, and after the equity builds, they will pull a refinance and get another house. This will happen next year for them, and they can quit paying blood money to the landlord.

Every area of the US is different in terms of Visas, H2B, and so fourth. We have a large Hispanic population because of location. I have yet to use an H2B vendor, because along with all those who should not be here, there are many who have visas, and are taken advantage of by their employers when they offer cash. So, for me it is easy to find legally documented people for work, and now, anyone who works here, came as a referral from the current employees we have. As soon as they see we are the real deal, they tell their relatives. As soon as we check them out, and social security says all the numbers and names jive, we know we got a keeper so to speak.


There is a guy who hung around in Compass forum named Chuck Twist who is an H2B vendor/agent. I think Rob S. could hook you up if you want to go the H2B route. I hope that helps!


'We are about 10M illegal immigrant in this country , I count myself as one cause no matter that I have become citizen I will never be one to the eyes of many, even my children and heirs will be seeing as hispanics for many years until the next wave of immigrants emerge."


Aztlanc:

As long as you keep thinking like this, you are right, you will never blend into our society. Please don't misread me here, I'm not trying to be combative, but you are clearly on the wrong thought path. Remember when you fall into that liberal woe is me hug a tree mentality, you are damning yourself from the start.
Getting the goal means looking at all the obstacles and seeing how you can make those obstacles your advantage, rather than recognizing they are there and telling yourself this is all you will ever be. The greatest salesman in the United States has Cerebral Palsy and did not let that get him down.

Success is a choice, and as soon as you decide to succeed, believe me, you will.

As soon as you start showing a sense of pride for your new found land and freedoms that come with living in the United States, you will be looked at as that brave person who came here to seek a better life for your family. I'm not sure I would have the courage to ever leave my country as you had and start up again. That has to be scary as hell.

Yeah, you will run into a hand full of go home or else types, but there are morons and idiots everywhere.

Now when you go to the numbers game of SSI contributions, the first thing 99.9% of illegals that enter California do is sign up for state aid, and MediCal benefits, basically enter into the free food train and adopt the belief that these are their entitlements...That myself and millions of others pay for.......
The second thing done is they work very hard to get their women here, so, when the babies are born, they get an anchor baby into the US, because by birth right, that baby is a citizen, even though the mother is not. They then allow the mother to stay to raise the baby, and she is supposed to leave after 18 years lapse, which never happens..
The mother, never pays for the birth, gets as much welfare as she can to raise the kid, does very little to advance her education, and when that kid goes to our schools, the teachers who are supposed to be educating my kids, and other English speaking kids end up slowing the class own because the kid born to the alien mom does not know how to speak anything other than her language. And the list goes on and on.

Considering California's vast wealth, it should have the best schools in the country. Because of the dilemma I just described, we are 49th, just ahead of Hawaii. US benefits come with work, and should be earned, they are not entitlements..

The third thing, and this is never seen as it is, is the taking of cash by standing on street corners looking to get picked up by homeowners who feel they can get work done cheaper by not using a legitimate contractor, and by working for those employers who feel that taxes should not be paid, so, they pay the person cash. I have gotten two of our best employees because their old employer did not want to pay them by check, rather cash. Because of that, they could not document income, and ran the risk of loosing their work visa.

When you consider all of that activity that goes on, millions of dollars in would be spent revenues leave the economy, so much that it counter sets their contributions by 23%.

There are right and wrong ways to enter the country. And unfortunately, it is a process that takes time, and can be done....

As this problem is repaired, the only other way to correct what goes on is by slowing taking away the food train, the dependence on the welfare, such as in New Orleans. If you make someone work to get ahead rather than handing out freebies and creating a dependent society as was the case in N.O., the issue of who is going to fill the jobs not done by illegals goes away. After all, if there were not any jobs for them to come take, there would be no real reason to come here, right?

It takes some pretty big stones to leave your land and enter this one, but not doing it legally is screwing my kid and many others kids out of what I have worked all my life and paid into to collect.


Anyhow, back to the legislative alert, I'll restate it. Any law we enforce and enact to address the problems of illegal immigration is better than what we have. matter of fact, is all we did was enforce, and better equip and fund our boarder patrols, we would not really need too many laws.

[johnkeegan]

Bill, it's good to see you help your employees navigate the financial world so that they can get ahead. Perhaps the new arrivals to this country are more open to learing this than are the ones born here. Most employees I've had complain they don't make enough money but I believe what most need today is merely a disciplined approach to their finances. If they put down the joint, beer, cigarettes, fast food and lottery tickets and stuck that money in the bank and paid their bills on time, they be shocked at the opportunities that would arise. But then again, it might make it harder for them to whine...
And to Aztlanlc... You're probably more appreciative and deserving of the opportunities this country offers than most native citizens. In fact, maybe we can make a trade with Mexico. They can send us appreciative individuals that aren't of hard work and we can send them, in return, all the above-mentioned whiners, and "those born with a surf board up their butt" (as Bill said) and the town/city/state/federal employees that piss and moan even they are paid quite well for doing very little and the poor little rich kids etc.