Sen. Colgan Proposes Employment Checks for Va. Contractors
By: Lowell
Published On: 10/16/2007 4:15:07 PM
As I've been listening to the impassioned citizens of Prince William County on illegal immigration, I've also been reading Sen. Chuck Colgan's proposal to crack down on the EMPLOYERS of illegal immigrants. Immigration is definitely the hot issue du jour.
Sen. Colgan Proposes Employment Checks for Va. Contractors
Plan Insures that Employees are Legal
MANASSAS - At a press conference Tuesday morning in Manassas, Virginia State Senator Chuck Colgan announced his support for a new plan requiring Virginia contractors to check the legal working status of their employees.
Under Colgan's proposal, Virginia contractors would use a version of the federal E-Verify system to ensure that their employees were not illegal immigrants. Employers who knowingly violate the law would be punished.
"Most Virginia employers play by the rules and hire legal workers," Colgan said. "But a few employers insist on creating their own standards. Today, I am proposing that we enforce the law and all employers play by the rules."
Colgan was joined by local business leaders on Tuesday to discuss his proposal requiring employment verification. Colgan said that the current immigration problem in Prince William County inspired him to take action and propose an innovative solution.
"In my years of service, I've learned that when you're at ground zero of a problem, you've got to be on the cutting edge of the solution," Colgan said. "That's why I'm proposing this cutting edge solution to crack down on illegal immigration and the few employers who still won't play by the rules."
The E-Verify system allows employers to verify employees in seconds by matching the new hire's Social Security Number against their first and last name. Colgan said he would work with businesses to implement the program.
Governor Kaine added, "Chuck Colgan has a tough record on illegal immigration, and I applaud him for his continued work to combat illegal immigration. I look forward to continuing the discussion with Chuck during the General Assembly session."
Karen Bates, manager of Foley Plumbing, who has been using E-Verify stated, "Chuck Colgan has a tough record on illegal immigration and I applaud him for bringing attention to a powerful tool being used by businesses across the country. The E-Verify system is a quick, easy to use, and innovative approach for employers to use."
Senator Colgan has represented the 29th District of Virginia since 1975.
Comments
ok - don't attack me. (totallynext - 10/16/2007 5:35:28 PM)
I was walking around on capital hill yesterday - and I gotta tell ya. When I walked past construction workers that were working on the Senate office buildings and ney a one was speaking English - it did get my dander up a bit.
Just out of curiosity, why does it get your "dander" (Lowell - 10/16/2007 5:49:50 PM)
up to hear people speaking another language like Spanish? Personally, I've always liked learning other languages. I actually like the sound of different languages. That's why I'm truly puzzled about this. What it is that makes some people get irritated hearing another language spoken, because I totally don't have that reaction at all.
But - (VaNative - 10/16/2007 5:52:20 PM)
They probably knew it was Capitol Hill though ;)
Bush is listening, use BIG words (snolan - 10/17/2007 5:34:48 AM)
or speak another language entirely so the bastards can't understand ya
sorry - for no reply was busy (totallynext - 10/17/2007 12:29:36 PM)
It really bother me that while I hope I am not a looney Price William Supervisor, I did find it some what unsettling that apparently we cannot hire English speaking workers of any nationality to work on our Capital? Doesn't that strike you as odd in a nation of 300 million that we cannot find skilled labor that speaks English?
I know, I know - they could have been legal and just speaking Spanish for the heck of it. But come on, no one on construction crews are English speaking?
I've been remodeling my house. (Pain - 10/17/2007 1:08:48 PM)
We have a group of masons who have worked for us from time to time over the years. They all speak English; some are citizens and all are here legally. They are from Argentina and El Salvador, mainly. When they work together, they speak Spanish. I don't really mind and I don't blame them.
As for not being able to find English speaking workers, most government contracts go to the lowest bidder. Some might read hidden meaning into that statement but there is no hidden meaning, it's just that the contractor probably got the contract on a bid and there weren't any contractual requirements that the workers speak English on the job site.
My comments below [that weren't articulated very well] was that my only problem with some immigrants is that they *won't* try to learn English, which I guess also means they won't be able to become a citizen? I guess if they are here on a temporary visa then there may not be much reason to learn English... I don't know. People bring up the fact that most of our ancestors who came to America learned English. That's true in large part, but there also wasn't Spanish TV and Spanish radio [insert any other foreign language as required] so they had a harder time at it if they didn't learn English. But, I digress.
Speak English (Mary I - 10/16/2007 6:25:59 PM)
Whenever I call my bank to transfer funds from one account to another and I find myself talking with a person for whom English truly is just barely a second language, I have to admit I sometimes get a tad huffy. Then I remember my grandfather who never really did learn to speak much English nor for that matter, read or write. He managed to build a business that is still going strong with a 4th generation at the helm all of whom have degrees.
Fortunately, Mario Cumo could speak Italian. When the NYTimes did a full page on the contribution grandpa had made to Queens, New York and his leading a battle to keep what we now think of as open space, he and Mario Cumo became friends. I still smile when I think of the picture of the two of them sitting on grandpa's bench...grandpa in his Sunday Mass suit and hat. When he died, Mario Cumo attended his mass. No point to be made..just a walk down memory lane.
Interesting (Pain - 10/16/2007 6:39:36 PM)
I admit that I don't have a problem with people speaking another language, but I do have a problem with them not putting any effort into learning english. If you live here, learn our language. At least act like you are trying and I'll be happy.
Algonquin or Cherokee? (snolan - 10/17/2007 5:40:51 AM)
So how many "Americans" bothered to learn Algonquin or Cherokee?
What makes English so special - it's confusing, has more exceptions than rules, is inconsistent in the application of what rules it does have...
Don't get me wrong - I love English, it is incredibly versatile; extremely expressive... but I love languages in general, but it seems we are making the rules such that majority always wins, and James Madison warned about the "tyranny of the majority" which is why the Constitution is written the way it is. We Anglos (yes, I am one also, though I'm also a pan-European mutt) need to be especially careful of the tyranny of the majority going forward because even with closed borders and no immigration at all we are reproducing slower than our Latino brothers and sisters. We should protect minority cultures and languages.
I don't know, I wasn't here then. (Pain - 10/17/2007 7:57:04 AM)
You know what I meant, and if you don't....
I'm not saying people shouldn't be allowed to speak their language. I'm also not bothered by 'pressing one for english'. Thats not my point.
Your problem is with your bank, not the people (Sui Juris - 10/16/2007 7:43:53 PM)
They're outsourcing their calls so you don't have to pay so much in fees. Don't like it? Get another bank.
Huh? (connie - 10/16/2007 7:46:01 PM)
I am sure the workers at a federal project were required to be screened and were legal, so I too am mystified about why the fact they spoke another language would bother anyone. I have to wonder if folks got their "dander up" with my children's great grandfather spoke Hungarian to the relatives who worked with him in his butcher shop west of Cleveland, Ohio early in the last century. Have people forgotten we are a nation of immigrants?
Good (jiacinto - 10/16/2007 8:08:58 PM)
I support Colgan 100% on this effort.
Just What is the Big Deal??? (HisRoc - 10/16/2007 8:38:53 PM)
I have worked for three Fortune 100 companies over the past 10 years. When I went to work for each one them, there was one single similarity in the "first day" process: I had to take a drug test and I had to bring either my birth certificate or my passport to work to prove that I was a US citizen. I fail to see how proving that you are in this country legally when starting a new job is in any way an onerous reguirement. Yeah, I know, we are a country of immigrants. The difference is that most of our ancestors came to this country the old-fashioned way--they waited for their turn in line.
This Seems Like A Reasonable Step To Me (norman swingvoter - 10/16/2007 10:05:34 PM)
I saw a program on E-Verify the other night. One small business owner said he used the system and it is no problem to check. One company said if the info does not match, the worker is referred to the social security office to get his info straight before he can begin working. I don't know why this simple idea is such a big issue.
Bank (Mary I - 10/16/2007 10:03:09 PM)
Sui Juris...My bank is the Navy Federal Credit Union. They are not outsourcing. While they have and have had for years, offices all over the globe, the language issue is in the main office in Vienna. They are very much into equal opportunity and my bar bet is math and computer skills
are higher on their list than language. I will agree however, the problem is not with the person taking my call. It is with me. I need to talk slower and if all else fails, remember grandpa!