Sun, Sep 07 2008
|
|
Published July 09, 2008 12:23 am - A new bill dealing with illegal immigration, signed by Gov. Matt Blunt on Monday, features a powerful provision that addresses the main reason it occurs: employment. In our view: Immigration bill a good stopgap A new bill dealing with illegal immigration, signed by Gov. Matt Blunt on Monday, features a powerful provision that addresses the main reason it occurs: employment.
The bill adds severe punishments to employers that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. An employer could face suspension of licenses and permits if found guilty of a single violation. Repeated instances of hiring illegal immigrants could result in permanent suspension. That’s a big improvement over current state law, which simply takes away tax credits and abatements as a penalty. Combine those with federal punishments, and employers now have severe consequences to fear. Otherwise, the bill is filled largely with bandages that address wounds, but don’t really address the problem. Only the provision dealing with employment treats the source of this wound. Some predict the bill will reduce populations of illegal immigrants in Jasper County. They also argue that drop in population could be harmful to Missouri’s economy. We realize there are workers willing to do work and businesses who need those workers. Those workers stimulate our economy by buying goods and services from local sellers. But there is no reason for that work, and the economic side effects, to occur outside the law. A handful of federal programs enable citizens of other countries to work here legally. That legal status also ensures they enjoy all the benefits of their work. People who work in the United States should be paid a fair wage and granted certain workplace rights. Employers should not be able to take advantage of a worker’s legal status by paying substandard wages and offering no benefits. Blunt, before signing the bill, said states are having to deal with a problem that should be handled by Congress. We still need a federal solution to address the problem of illegal immigration. Until that happens, Missouri’s new law is a good stopgap. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Editorial section
In Our View: Listen, learn and vote Carol Stark: Taking the newsroom to its readers Dave Woods: Readers debate Palin pregnancy issue Guest columnist, John T. McDonald: Plethora of planetary pollution problems
|
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
Nick Myers' Republican National Convention blog w/ links to learn more about the convention
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
The Joplin Globe Publishing Company 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. |
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |