Senate AgJOBS Fight Expected on Farm Bill

Numbers USA ^ | October 5, 2007

[Delacon]

(October 5) In July, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) promised to try to include the AgJOBS amnesty for illegal farmworkers in the farm bill (H.R. 2419) when the Senate takes up that measure. The bill saw initial Senate action yesterday in the Senate Finance Committee, which was charged with finding budget offsets for new spending in the bill, but Agriculture Committee chair Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) postponed marking up the measure until the week of October 22. The Finance Committee did not consider an AgJOBS amnesty amendment, but it is unclear whether one will be offered during Ag Committee markup.

By and large, this is the same AgJOBS amnesty proposed last year, which, if enacted, would reward an estimated 1.5 million illegal aliens with amnesty (plus their spouses and children which could push the total to three million or more). This measure also would provide amnesty for employers who broke the law by hiring illegal aliens. Pro-amnesty advocacy groups are telling their members that Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) have promised them that AgJOBS will be attached to the farm bill this fall and be signed into law.

The Federal government offers the H-2A visa which allows farmers to import unlimited numbers of foreign agricultural workers for specific short-term work. Those complaining growers mostly bypass the H-2A visa program because they would have to pay an almost acceptable wage under the program, whereas wages for illegal aliens are far less.

Occasionally, a news story about "rotting crops" mentions that H-2A workers are available, but quotes growers as saying that going through legal channels of immigration is too cumbersome. NumbersUSA has worked with some of the most pro-farmer Members of Congress to streamline the H-2A program, make it faster, more dependable and remove a few somewhat outdated requirements. However, the farm group lobbyists have failed to support reforms and, instead, have put all their efforts into an amnesty for the illegal workers their clients already are hiring.

While NumbersUSA questions the need or the advisability of large-scale foreign agricultural worker importation, we support efforts to drive all such hiring through legal programs that are designed to minimize the negative effect on our American native and legal immigrant agricultural workers. It is time to revamp the H-2A program – not give amnesty to illegal aliens who, as history has demonstrated, often move on to non-agricultural professions and are replaced by new illegal workers.

[Delacon]

Google Agjobs right now and see that anti agjobs articles are non existent. This was the heart of the immigration reform bill that failed this summer that anti-amnesty people fought against. Where is everybody?

[MNJohnnie]

This one will drive you nuts. Cannot believe Congress is still pulling this crap. What part of NO do they not understand?

[stephenjohnbanker]

Here we go again........

[org.whodat]

The Federal government offers the H-2A visa which allows farmers to import unlimited numbers of foreign agricultural workers for specific short-term work. Those complaining growers mostly bypass the H-2A visa program because they would have to pay an almost acceptable wage under the program, whereas wages for illegal aliens are far less.

This is the truth of the matter these farmers want modern day slavery, with the help of the chamber of commerce.

[TheBattman]

How about a little cheese with the whine going on....

I heard on the radio today that GW was talking about expanding the guest worker visa program to help bail out the ag business (primarily out West) because the big farms are complaining that they don't have the labor force to get all the fruits and vegetables harvested...

What is the unemployment rate in the states affected? What? It isn't ZERO? Until unemployment is down to zero, there should be a FREEZE on guest worker programs (Visas). Those who are unemployed and drawing benefits - make them go work the ag jobs if they expect to receive any payments. We have to quit rewarding slothfulness as well as those who enable it (illegals, employers, the government, etc.).

IF folks don't want to take the jobs that are available, then they don't want a check.

[Delacon]

“This is the truth of the matter these farmers want modern day slavery, with the help of the chamber of commerce.”

Been going on for 40 years. American business wants the modern equivalent of slave labor just as southern businesses did back in the 1800s. Those that can’t appeal to the law when they are transgressed. Those that are unable to demand equality. Those that can’t have a representative voice in government. The Republican party STARTED because of these issues. The republican party became pro-business as they should. Sensible limited government is to their benefit. But business is amoral. Capitalism is amoral(though it has moral benefits). It takes a moral people and its elected government to keep them in line. Illegal immigration is immoral. Amnesty is immoral because it will expand illegal immigration as it did back in 1986.

[tennteacher]

“This is the truth of the matter these farmers want modern day slavery-”

And they want new voters on the Democrat side. The sooner, the better.

[Will88]

“Occasionally, a news story about “rotting crops” mentions that H-2A workers are available, but quotes growers as saying that going through legal channels of immigration is too cumbersome.”

And the article goes on to say they just hire illegals directly. If the feds started leading a few farm owners off in handcuffs this refusal to use the H-2A program would be less frequent.

The more we learn, the more we see how little about our immigration and visa programs is ever complied with or enforced.

[Delacon]

ENFORCE!

[org.whodat]

Are you really a Tennessee teacher?

[gubamyster]

ping

[Delacon]

The Dream Act just got shot down. Now they will try to sneak amnesty in through the Farm Bill.

[Snoopers-868th]

Yep, BUT we aren’t gonna go away either!!