House Bill 1502, which bars companies that hire illegal aliens from entering into state construction contracts, was passed 188 to 6. A companion bill, House Bill 1503, which could cost a company its state license and bar it from entering into construction contracts with other private firms, was passed 188 to 7.
Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks, said some contractors, apparently in an effort to lower costs, are hiring illegal immigrants for construction jobs and paying them less than legal wages and not providing health benefits. The illegal aliens also aren't paying state and federal taxes, he said. This situation is hurting unemployed Pennsylvanians who are seeking work, he said.
Some business groups, including chambers of commerce, oppose the bills, which may cause them to face a difficult time in the Republican-controlled Senate. Under the measures, which Mr. Galloway said 14 other states have already enacted, companies would have to use a system called E-Verify, which includes millions of Social Security numbers in a federal, online database, to ensure that each of its workers has a legal Social Security number or the proper papers showing he or she has entered the U.S. legally.
Approximately two years ago when Lou Barletta challenged Paul Kanjorski the media was proclaiming that the illegal alien fight was relegated to the back burner as an issue. After Arizona passed their bills the illegal immigration issue is front and center. Since Judge Munley has yet to have his decision upheld it will be interesting to see how this issue is resolved in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
In 2007 Rep. Todd Eachus had this to say about illegal immigration.
Hoping to halt illegal immigration into Pennsylvania, state Rep. Todd Eachus, D-116, has a package of bills in the hopper that would penalize companies that knowingly use illegal labor.
The measures would require employers to repay public money if they use illegal immigrants on taxpayer-funded projects and give state officials authority to yank the professional licenses of businesses that knowingly hire illegal workers.
Eachus, the House Majority Policy chairman, blasted the Bush administration for inaction when he introduced the bills last June.
With last week’s announcement by federal Homeland Security and Commerce officials that border security will be improved and employers will be expected to fire workers without valid Social Security numbers or face penalties, Eachus said Monday he is more optimistic that Washington will enforce existing laws against illegal workers.
“I’m gratified by the fact that Homeland Security and the Bush administration is focusing on compliance in the workplace,” said Eachus. “Our bills mirror what the feds should have been doing all along.”
After the bashing Barack Obama has been taking over the illegal alien issue Eachus's words fall on deaf ears for politicizing an issue affecting all Americans. Let's see if Eachus calls out his own Democratic President for inaction. Has Barack Obama and his administration enforced existing laws against illegal workers or were they trying to figure a way out to pave a path to citizenship in the hopes they would join the Democratic ranks?? How does Todd Eachus square up the Democratic House's vote today with Concerned Parents of Hazleton Area and former school director Elaine Curry who was pandering to that group? Better yet can anyone tell us where Eugenio Sosa, former president and founder of the Concerned Parents of Hazleton Area, is today?
Over at Capitol Ideas by John Micek he will tiene que empezar a escribir su columna en español. La pregunta es si va a comer sus palabras sobre la inmigración ilegal y el impacto que ha tenido en todo el estado y la nación. En serio entrada ilegal o remianing en el país no es acerca de la inmigración es sobre la capacidad de un país a concentrar sus limitados recursos, ya sea monetario o de mano de obra para atender las preocupaciones de unos pocos sobre las necesidades de las masas.
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