Getting HOT on the House Floor

[Sydnie]

Debate over a proposed amendment so the Unions will have to check on citizenship of all "card signers" for the Fair Workers Act.

[Sydnie]

1. Dem member (missed his name)

was telling the Rep member that proposed it, that it showed that he hated Unions more than he hated illegal workers. Admonished the Rep to enforce the laws for the employer to make sure that their workers are legal and stop trying to put that on the backs of the unions, when they didn't pursue it for the 12 years that they were in charge. Screaming from all signs followed and the Speaker had a bit of trouble gaining control again.

They are now voting on this amendment.

[tandot]

2. Stupid me thought it is the responsibility of the company not to hire illegal

immigrants in the first place?

If it is against the law for companies to hire illegal immigrants, why should unions worry about the citizenship of the workers?

[napi21]

3. Because illegals are willing to take low pay for jobs that the

union workers would love to have, but NOT for poverty wages! IT IS the Pubs who have protected the employers when they hire illegal workers by looking the other way! The unions have a responsibility to their members to fight against that!

[Sydnie]

5. The repugs fear that the illegals will vote WITH the unions

and it will be the illegals that FORCE the corporations to allow unionization of their shops. Their arguement was that it won't be Americans voting for a union or signing the card to form a union, it will be the illegals forcing it on the businesses.

[napi21]

7. Well, isn't life just a bi*ch! If those same co's would hire any illegals, they

wouldn't have to worry about them voting, now would they? That's the dumbest excuse I've heard in a long time!

[Selatius]

4. The responsibility technically is for the government, not individual employers.

If I am an illegal and I gave you my valid-looking Social Security card and drivers license and birth certificate to show I'm a citizen, unless there is probable cause, you can't question it, and if you did refuse to hire me because I simply "looked" like an illegal immigrant, the trial lawyers will have you wrapped up in litigation until eternity for discrimination.

The onus of responsibility in enforcing immigration law rests with the government, not employers.

[truebrit71]

10. It is still up to employers to collect the information, ergo if they are hired...

...they are 'technically'legal, ergo this whole brew-ha-ha is a ruse and just an attempt to bust the balls of Union Members.

[napi21]

12. That MAY be the way it's supposed to be, but it's NOT!

As an example, I have a close friend who works for our local water utility. She's told me that people constantly use ID's that are conspicuously not real...really bad copies or forgeries. She went to her boss and asked what to do. She was told IGNORE IT! If the person presents an ID you MUST assume it is valid and accept it as such!

You may not remember, but whenthe amnesty bill was passed during the Reagan admin, the authorities were charged with stopping any more illegals from being hired. The enforcement lasted less than 2 weeks! All the big business supporters of Reagan contacted their Congress Rats and said "Hay, you gotta call off the dogs! We need these guys to keep our payroll down!" Within 2 days, the dogs were called off, and they've been sleeping in their kennel ever since!

[redqueen]

11. That's logic, though...

Corporatists Republicans can't afford that, cuts into their profits.

[Nite Owl]

6. These damned cons

hate unions, hate the workers of this country so much. It's so obvious where their fidelity lies and yet so many workers are foolish enough to buy their hatred of others and continue voting for them. :mad:

[Selatius]

9. I understand the frustration. I live down here in Mississippi.

Voters overwhelmingly decided Trent Lott should represent them again as their senator. They keep voting themselves off the cliff, and they wonder why things are so bad.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Zeigen Sie mir Ihre Papiere! "Show me your papers" sounds ever so much

more persuasive in the original German.

As usual, the government is eager to go after the helpless victims rather than the perpetrators.