Obama to take his shot at immigration reform
May 5, 2009 by Jim GiulianoPosted in: Employment law, Immigration, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, policies
Ronald Reagan tried it. George W. Bush tried it twice. Now President Barack Obama likely will take his best shot at immigration reform and how it affects the labor market. Here’s the difference in what Obama is doing: His proposals are backed by organized labor and are tied to the job market.
Union leaders say they’ll back the idea of giving millions of illegal immigrants a chance to become citizens, but only if Obama appoints an independent commission to decide how many foreign workers to allow into the country: When the economy goes up, so would the number of immigrants; when the economy drops, the immigration numbers would drop.
Under the system, union leaders say, the jobs of American workers would be protected during tough times.
Business groups generally oppose the idea because it doesn’t include a temporary-worker program needed to fill jobs quickly when the economy rises rapidly.
The Senate will hold hearings on the proposal, but two border-state Republicans — John McCain and Jon Kyl, both of AZ — say they’ll oppose the proposal if there’s no temp-worker proposal combined with better border security.
Look for the legislation to be introduced in the fall.
May 11th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
What part of ‘ILLEGAL’ don’t voters and politicians understand? What the heck is wrong with people in this country? Why aren’t we, as taxpayers, telling them to do something about it before we agree to all of the free benefits that we provide for those who are intentionally breaking the law? I am voting against any more social programs until they enforce our existing laws pertaining to people being here illegally – especially in California!
May 11th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
It is amazing to still find people to talk just for the sake of doing so, without knowing the facts. By the mere fact that someone is illegal, they do not automatically (or otherwise) receive any benefits. Instead, if they work – THEY PAY TAXES – just like you and I (I assume you do), however, the ones who do, file their tax returns and hopefully get something in return…they do not file taxes and don’t get anything in return. Obviously, if they don’t have a SS Card, they are not contributing to the SS Admin, but neither can they hope to get a few dollars if and when they decide to retire. On the other hand, most of these “illegal immigrants” are working hard, trying to earn a living while so many others live off of welfare only because they are US citizens and enjoy nothing more than to be couch potatoes. Why isn’t anybody requesting a review welfare and other programs that only help lazy people stay home at the expense of all of us who work hard and pay our dues.
May 11th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
Nothing amazes me more than people who have their heads in the sand and actually believe that all illegals pay their taxes – something they probably read on the internet? Yes, welfare couch potatoes are a problem but, a lame diversion from the subject. Ever been to an emergency room or health clinic in California? They are so packed that you have to wait for hours. Who do you think pays for their health care? We pay for their children to be born and educate their children – whether they are born here or not. Whether you believe this or not does not make it an untruth. All I am saying is that they should not come here illegally. I am an immigrant and am now a naturalized citizen. It wasn’t easy but it was worth it. I earned my American benefits. They expect them because no one is stopping them. Enforce the existing law!
May 11th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
I have worked for companies that have nothing but undocumented workers and others that have few if any. The fact is that every illegal that is working with a SS # (real or fake) is paying at least SS tax. The ones that don’t pay it, are being paid under the table (ie in cash) by US employers that ICE should go after. If they rent or own a home or apt they are paying real estate taxes, if they buy goods they are paying sales taxes. The only tax they may not pay is income tax, depending on how they fill out their W-4. I married a legal immigrant and know several undocumented people in our circle of friends. Most are doing everything they can to pay their taxes since they have no chance of getting adjusted status without it. Most have no chance of getting welfare due to their undocumented status. I agree that the weight of this situation on our healthcare system is extreme. The only thing I have to say in defense of that is that: I thank God I live in a country that is full of good people that recognize that everyone has some right to life and liberty. The constitution preamble says that the government is to provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare. It seems that now-a-days we are providing for the general welfare and promoting the common defense (ie. border protection). Does something need to be done.. Absolutely! is turning ourselves into the Gestapo the answer? Not really! I have very little faith in congress to resolve this, at least not with our current or even recent past leadership; but I am sure that if the Feds don’t do something about it, the states will and it will end up making the problem worse.
May 11th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Talk about IGNORANCE the illegal immigrants do pay taxs just like everyone else does thru payroll. The only advantage that we (legal workers) have that we get to report it at the end of the year and can actually get money back. Apparently, the IRS thinks its ok for the illegals to report income taxes and be elgilble for reimbursement. What most people don’t understand is that an illegal person has to make a lot of money in order for them to see any kind of reimbursement and they don’t qualify for the majority of tax breaks that we get (i.e EIC). In order for someone to get any welfare benefits you have to be a legal resident of the US. I don’t know where Lori C is from but I bet its not from Mexico or anywhere South of their borders. Those countries have the lowest percentile of being able to get any kind of visa. I do agree in enforcing the laws but also lets help the ones that deserve to be here.
May 11th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Your telling me the guys outside of home depot, nursery, paint store, etc harassing people for work are paying taxes?
The school system is broke, our kids can’t learn becasue they have to go as slow as the non english speaking kids. Go to any section of town where illegals live and take a look around, gangs, graffiti, churro carts rolling up and down the street, people with chickens/goats in the yard, it no longer looks like th U.S, it gets turned into little tijuana. they don’t want to assimilate (Press 1 for english).
they do want all the benefits of the U.S without paying for it. Other people need to wait in line (since they don’t border the U.S, they can’t just jump in front of the line. they need get checked for health and the ability to take care of themselves. Not working at McDonald’s as a career choice and the rest gets taken care of by taxpayers. We have enough poor people in the US without importing more for us to take care of. Why not march and demand your rights in Mexico, instead they come here and demand we take care of them (School, health, etc), yet do not want to even learn to communicate in a common language (and I don’t mean Spanish). So don’t give me “they are just trying to get a better life: excuse, or they would wait like all other countries immigrants have to. they just take if it doesn’t get handed to them. I cannot afford to pay for my family and theirs. We are headed for 3rd world status as we dumb down our kids and go broke paying for the world’s problems instead of taking care of our own first.
May 11th, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Reason they have lowest percentile of getting a visa is because 1) they don’t leave, and 2) we need skilled, educated workers.
May 11th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Lori C, I’m with you. Illegal is illegal. That isn’t to say I don’t have sympathy for the illegal immigrants that are trying to escape horrendous conditions in their own cuntries – if I were in their shoes, I would probably be trying to cross the US border as well.
But this isn’t (or shouldn’t be) about who pays taxes or who draws on our government’s resources. It’s about enforcing the law. Whether or not the immigration laws should be changed is an entirely different issue. As a taxpayer and resident of a border state, as an employer, as a family member of a Border Patrol Agent, and as a friend of several people who have been unemployed for extended periods of time, I have many mixed feelings on the subject of immigration law.
But the fact is that the laws are what they are and if/until they are changed, illegal immigration is illegal.
May 12th, 2009 at 10:43 am
Joe American- Those people standing outside the nursery’s, Home Depots and etc looking for work atleast are looking. They are the ones willing to make minimum wage to make sure your lawns and your brick patios look nice for YOU! You can’t find an American worker wanting to make minimum wage and you know why because they have the mentality of thats below them. So instead they rather just go on welfare and work the system. As for the farm animals in yards that has to do with a local ordinance law and if it bugs you that much report it to the local authorities. As for the your kids not learning the non english speaking children aren’t holding your kids back because most likely they are in an ESL class. If your kid is being held back maybe they are slow, so don’t blame the other kids. As a concerened parents you can request your child to be moved to different classroom but of course an educated person as yourself would know that. I thought people who work at McDonalds pay taxes or am I wrong! YOU are no better then they are, I am sure those indivduals working there think you are an ***! We are all immigrants in this country it was taken from the Indians so does that make us any better. When they march they aren’t demanding for you take to take care of them they are asking for rights just like any other person thats here. They are asking to be legal so they can keep contributing to the economy. Please don’t start saying that the economy is for crap because of them because that’s not true. The economy is the way it is now because our past presidents (who are Americans) have failed us.
May 12th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Joe American is not saying that illegals are stupid – nor is he saying that they are lazy. They are ILLEGAL! Our tax money is paying for their children to be educated – that we take care of their health – and they are not such a huge contribution to our landscape or economy that can even begin to pay for the burden that they have put on our system. Why is it that you who oppose enforcement of the laws seem to resort to name-calling and say we have narrow-minded thinking? Yes, this is (or was) a great place to live – but why can’t they take a number like me and all of the other law-abiding citizens that apply properly. When the hispanics marched in this city, it was terrifying! They were DEMANDING that they have rights and that we give it to them right now! It was truly third-world and they were ready to mow over anyone in their way – Gringos are idiots and they shouted as though they were going to start some sort of revolution. I’m tired of California being taken over by the illegals and I’m tired of our government looking the other way while they push their way to the front of the line for rights that only citizens deserve. I vote for no more social programs until something is done about this. I’ve paid my dues and they haven’t! It’s the law – period – but our government wont’ enforce the law so that encourages more to come. Too many rats in the cage…this cannot end well. We loose.
May 12th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
“American workers would be protected during tough times”. I thought the American worker was to be protected ALL the time! The Unions back it just so they can raise more dues. They don’t care about the American worker. Just their money and power. Of couse they back the plan.
May 12th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
This is for “LIZZY”. I don’t understand where you and others get this idea that the illegals are paying taxes. They are not. They just about all file that they are “Married and have 9 dependents” on both their Federal and State withholding forms. No income taxes are taken out. They do pay the required Social Security and Medicare tax, just under somebody elses number. But don’t you believe for one minute that they are paying into anything else. Yet they are given Government Housing, Food-Stamps, WIC, education, medical assistance, you name it. Everything but unemployment. We have to work that much harder and pay that much more so that they can work our jobs, and we can pay for their social programs. Washington needs to get it together. Close the borders, round them up, and then come up with a program that works, and is good for the country.
May 12th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
“MR” you need to read my last posting! You dare to call people IGNORANT and yet you are the one that doesn’t know all the facts. 95% + of the illegals in the Southeast U.S. don’t pay ANY income tax! Now, what part of that don’t you understand !!!!!
May 12th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
For MR, my kids aren’t held back they’re in private BECAUSE, the schools are now doing what they call Spanish Immersion, which means they teach half the day in spanish and half in english.
The parent’s of kids in this program have been leaving the school in droves and enrolling in private or in the other local elementary that does not subscribe to this one more bending over to accomodate people who only want the benefits of America withoput having to at the very least learn a common language.
Had to move because my once nice area became tijuana complete with crime, gangs and grafitti on houses! (Complete lack of respect for the neighborhood).
As far as We are all immigrants? that is a lame excuse used by Illegals to justify their law breaking/line jumping.
also as far as jobs Americans won’t do? Somehow the grass got mowed and I was able to buy a hamburger before, and understand what the person behind the counter was saying!
May 12th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Everyone pays taxes (in a different scale) – if you didn’t know – taxes are paid for gas, for food, for rental properties, etc – so YES – illegals are also paying taxes, and YES they are contributing to the economy based on the fact that whatever they pay for – will not get anything in return BECAUSE THEY ARE ILLEGAL. No they do not get any food stamps, or government assistance if they are illegal immigrants. All you have to do is go online to any governmental office and see for yourself. I never said or implied that it is ok to break the law – but that doesn’t give anyone the right to think of them as being below anyone. Also, why is it that when people refer to immigrants they immediately think of latin america? What do you call illegal immigrants from Asia, Europe and other parts of the world who are doing exactly the same thing? I believe change needs to happen, for those people who can positively contribute to our society. What a shame that the only people who can truly say I am an American and this is my land > Native Americans, are not the ones being vocal about this, and yet they also have to keep fighting for their rights. Have you all forgotten what happened in the old days when Irish came to America? and then when Italians came…no different, just a different group of people, but same issues all over again. Instead of fighting one another, wouldn’t it be better to bring this up to your House Representatives – but if you do, make sure to inform yourselves and make the right petitions. If you are here now, think back a little, and think what it was like for your parents or grand-parents when they decided to move to this wonderful land of opportunity. Don’t take away the opportunities that others continue to look for, as once our ancestors did.
May 12th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Good Heavens, Lizzy – what color is the sky in your world anyway? Have you seen the car lots that advertize primarily to the illegals? No license necessary – no insurance needed…The cost of uninsured driving accidents alone is astounding. Who pays for that? (I bet YOU have uninsured drivers insurance.) Once they are established they bring their whole family over – no need to check in at the border – stupid gringos! Aging illegals-do you think we deport them? Heck no! We take care of all of them. Stupid Americanos! The overflow of the poor is killing us financially. California will serve as an example to warn the rest of the country of what can happen to them. We have bent over backwards to take care of people who fly the Mexican flag and thumb their noses at us stupid taxpayers. So, Lizzy and MR – YOU can bend over! I’m sick of it. I hope they take over your neighborhood like they did mine. That’s right Joe, crime, gangs and graffitti – welcome to America – a better life.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Glenn, I agree with you on several fronts – unions are just in it for the money!!! Also, you are right about claiming 9 kids. I think that the IRS should change the W-4 form to include a place for dependents’ social security numbers (for everyone). That way they can only declare what they actually have in their household. So even if they don’t file their taxes in April, the government has captured more tax monies that would have previously!
MR – I also agree with you in the fact that legal and illegal immigrants are the ones that will work menial jobs for minimum pay. I am not sure the American public realizes how many of those types of jobs would be left empty if they were all deported. Not saying it is right, just saying that the American economy would take a huge hit – one because the rate of pay would have to increase in order to get the caucasian population to do those jobs. I worked at a food processing facility that paid much more that minimum wage and couldn’t get anyone to do the work but the immigrant population.
The immigration issue is one that is multiple sided. I don’t believe that one bill in congress is going to solve all of it’s problems.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:38 am
To everyone who posted a commment saying illegal immigrants pay payroll taxes…..
NOT TRUE!
I work for a company who uses hand-workers from a service, and NONE OF THEM PAY
ANY KIND OF PAYROLL TAX, NO FED, NO SS, NO CITY, NO STATE, NO SUI.
THEY ARE PAID CASH!
May 18th, 2009 at 9:49 am
This is a problematic issue. But, I also know for a fact, there are many illegal immigrants who are working hard AND paying taxes through their payroll checks. Although, I do agree, the reality is there are some who do not. For those who do not, yes, I do not agree with this, but many times these people are then exploited by the employers they work for, with say, only 1 day off in an entire month and very poor living conditions.
We cannot say all do not pay taxes, etc., because many do. I am a patriotic American, and have served in our Armed Forces, although I am sympathetic to the immigrants currently in our country as I know many of their personal stories. I believe some type of solution for immigration reform to allow those who do want to remain here, work hard, and assimilate into our culture would be beneficial. I know of many immigrants who do try their hardest to assmilate into our culture, learn to speak English fluently and work hard. I do not believe they should be punished, but allowed an opportunity to gain residency.
I see first-hand – there are MANY Americans who will not and ARE NOT applying for the lower paying wage jobs that many of these people are filling. I have seen in my company and others, we have openings in lower-paid positions, and your average American who is complaining of being out of work, is still not applying for these jobs. So what are those American people who are out of a job doing – probably waiting around for a better job rather than doing whatever they can to work hard in the meantime??
We are a country based on immigrants, that is how this country was formed. Our immigration system, among others is inefficient, back-logged, and out of control. We need practical reform that allows those who work hard and try to follow the rules, to remain here. I do not believe this will hurt our country. The current economic crisis we are in was not caused by the illegal immigrants here, it was caused by our banking system, their management nationally of finances, leading to the mortgage crisis. In turn, consumers taking loans they could not handle, consumers buying way over their means, companies mismanaging funds, outrageous spending of company funds, etc. This is why our country is in trouble now economically.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Illegal, legal, pay taxes, don’t pay taxes, health-care burdens, all the same old debate over the symptoms of the problem. Corporate America’s Washington, D.C. lobbyist delight to see our attention diverted by the debate. Cure the disease and the symptoms will disappear. The disease is the very wealthy and influential Washington Lobby for large-cap corporations. Do you think they want to lose their access to cheap, hard working, non-complaining, and non-organized labor? Heaven forbid, they would have no alternative but to hire American Citizens and actually pay a living wage to them.
Trust your country, not your government!
May 18th, 2009 at 10:57 am
If the immigrant is over 65, they can apply for SSI and Medicaid and get more than a woman on Social Security, who worked from 1944 until 2004. She is only getting $791 per month because she was born in 1924 and there’s a ‘catch 22′.
It is interesting that the federal government provides a single refugee with a monthly allowance of $1,890. Each can also obtain an additional $580 in social assistance, for a total of $2,470 a month.
This compares to a single pensioner, who after contributing to the growth and development of America for 40 to 50 years, can only receive a monthly maximum of $1,012 in old age pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement.
Maybe our pensioners should apply as refugees!
Tell your Congressmen!!! This only encourages more illegals to come here!
October 13th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Illegal is Illegal. Just because people are breaking the law in droves and droves does not mean we should legislate around them. Those who broke our laws to get here and then reap benefits after the crime should be deported, along with their families.
What if all of my German family and extended family, village members and anyone who has any German blood at all decided we don’t have to stop at red lights anymore? Would you start paying for all of the consequences that came from that decision? Would you insure me as a driver? Would you pay the law suits and make sure I continued to have a license to drive? I mean after all there would be millions of us doing it, so it must now be ok. Heck even it is not legal you all should just “suck it up” because we Germans decided we don’t like the laws of the country we came to and we are going to do what we want!