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Pearce slams lawmakers’ indecision on illegal workers
A key business group is lobbying strongly against a proposal that would let voters decide whether to punish companies that knowingly hire undocumented workers.
Legislative leaders haven’t committed yet to putting the issue on the November ballot. The idea was raised after Gov. Janet Napolitano vetoed border security legislation. That measure would have imposed fines, possible loss of business license, and jail time for employers of illegal immigrants.
The indecision troubles Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, a staunch opponent of illegal immigration who wants voters to decide the issue. He said GOP leaders had promised him they would take the issue to voters if Napolitano vetoed the border security bill.
But Senate President Ken Bennett told Capitol Media Services that caution is appropriate, especially when the state constitution bars lawmakers from tinkering with voter-approved changes in law.
He said lawmakers need to ensure voters understand what the measure would accomplish and that it wouldn’t have unintended consequences.
But Pearce said the proposal was carefully vetted so it wouldn’t harm law-abiding companies or employers who inadvertently hire illegal workers. The real issue, he said, is the opposition lawmakers are facing from the business community, particularly the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Chamber spokesman Farrell Quinlan acknowledged his organization is trying to kill any ballot plan. He echoed Bennett’s sentiments about the possibility of getting it wrong and not being able to fix it. But he added that his group doesn’t want any state sanctions for federal immigration violations.
“We think the federal government has a responsibility to police our borders,” he said.
Pearce said lawmakers need to take action. “Employers who cheat, hire illegals knowingly . . . have an illegal, immoral competitive advantage over the honest businessman,” he said.
Pearce added if it were up to him, business owners who break the law “would go to jail on the first offense.”
He also wants voters to decide whether illegal border crossers should be prosecuted under the state’s trespassing law, and to deny adult education classes and subsidized child care to illegal immigrants. That provision also would say that illegal immigrants couldn’t pay the instate college tuition rate.
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