Oklahoma and Immigration Law

[Teatownclown]

http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1

[Gaspar]

Wow!  Hispanics really don't like the cold.

I am really attempting to find the relevance in this. . .

[Townsend]

Short sightedness can come back and bite you in the butt.

http://news.yahoo.com/ala-loses-workers-immigration-law-takes-effect-222404123.html

Ala. loses workers as immigration law takes effect

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's strict new immigration law may be backfiring. Intended to force illegal workers out of jobs, it is also driving away many construction workers, roofers and field hands in the country legally who do backbreaking jobs that Americans generally won't.

The vacancies have created a void that will surely deal a blow to the state's economy and could slow the rebuilding of Tuscaloosa and other tornado-damaged cities.

Employers believe they can carry on because of the dismal economy, but when things do turn around, they worry there won't be anyone around to hire. Many legal Hispanic workers are fleeing the state because their family and friends don't have the proper papers and they fear they will be jailed.

Rick Pate, the owner of a commercial landscaping company in Montgomery, lost two of his most experienced workers, who were in the country legally. He spent thousands of dollars training them to install irrigation systems at places like the Hyundai plant.

"They just feel like there is a negative atmosphere for them here. They don't feel welcome. I don't begrudge them. I'd feel nervous, too," Pate said.

[AquaMan]

Its has multiple effects, few of them good. Alabama stands to lose lots of convention business as well if Arizona and Colorado are any predictor. Then it just ripples through the state economy. However, it has popular support because they are suffering high unemployment in the state and this is supposed to open up jobs that illegals are now holding. Looks good in the polls too.

Now if they could just get Americans to work like slaves for low pay, with no benefits, require no payroll taxes and live in group homes...they would have a net positive benefit.

No one wins either way really. These issues tend to flare up during bad economies and be tolerated during good ones. Pragmatically, that is the only solution.

[RecycleMichael]

"I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still."

- Ronald Reagan farewell speech as President.

[Townsend]

State Lawmaker Proposes Plan To Allow Illegals To Work In Oklahoma

http://www.newson6.com/story/16198651/state-lawmaker-proposes-plan-to-allow-illegals-to-work-in-oklahoma?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

OKLAHOMA CITY - A Republican state lawmaker has filed legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to legally work in Oklahoma.

Sen. Harry Coates of Seminole filed the Oklahoma Guest Worker Program Act on Monday. Coates says the measure would stop immigrants from fleeing to Texas and other states and encourage them to return to Oklahoma and jobs that are chronically unfilled.

Coates says that since the passage of tough anti-illegal immigrant legislation in 2007, many illegal immigrants have moved to surrounding states where they pump millions of dollars into those economies.

Under the bill, people living in the country without legal permission could stay in Oklahoma if they purchase a guest worker permit for $2,000. They would have to find a sponsor to hire them and provide them with basic health insurance coverage.

[carltonplace]

State Lawmaker Proposes Plan To Allow Illegals To Work In Oklahoma

http://www.newson6.com/story/16198651/state-lawmaker-proposes-plan-to-allow-illegals-to-work-in-oklahoma?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Are the illegals he is referring to "brown people"? He does realize he has an "R" next to his name right?

[Townsend]

Are the illegals he is referring to "brown people"? He does realize he has an "R" next to his name right?

Must've heard from enough of his constituents who are losing a bunch o'money due to inability to find cheaper labor.

[Red Arrow]

Are the illegals he is referring to "brown people"? He does realize he has an "R" next to his name right?

I saw that this AM in the paper.  He must be an infiltrator.   

[Townsend]

HHS knows something about Bridenstine and they're keeping him away from minors...

Oklahoma Congressman Denied Access to Facility

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-congressman-denied-access-facility

FORT SILL, Okla. (AP) — A Republican congressman from Oklahoma says he was denied access to a federal facility at Fort Sill that is housing hundreds of mostly teenage immigrant children from Central America.

Freshman U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Tulsa says he was visiting the Army post on Tuesday when he approached the facility and was told by security that he was not allowed to enter.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is overseeing the children's care, and Bridenstine says an agency official told him he could schedule a visit in three weeks. Bridenstine says there is "no excuse" for denying him access to the facility.

A spokesman for HHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gov. Mary Fallin and U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe toured the facility two weeks ago.

[rebound]

Ft Sill is a closed post.   Nobody can just show up at the gate expecting to be let in.   If you don't have a pass, or are on the approved list for the day, you don't get in.   I would think he could have made a few calls and gotten approval, but it sounds like he didn't do that, or didn't want to for political reasons.

Edit - Just re-read.  If he was approved on post and already doing a tour, then he has more room to criticize.

[Townsend]

Edit - Just re-read.  If he was approved on post and already doing a tour, then he has more room to criticize.

Not if he was asking for a price list.

[guido911]

Ft Sill is a closed post.   Nobody can just show up at the gate expecting to be let in.  

Unless you are in this country illegally. Then, it's "Come on in!"

[Townsend]

Unless you are in this country illegally. Then, it's "Come on in!"

"...but first, let me put these shackles on you"

[guido911]

HHS knows something about Bridenstine and they're keeping him away from minors...

Oklahoma Congressman Denied Access to Facility

http://publicradiotulsa.org/post/oklahoma-congressman-denied-access-facility

Why was it necessary that your source point out that Bridenstine is a "freshman" Congressman? It adds nothing to the story but to somehow make it sound like he has less significance than other Congressmen or he is naively ignorant (which I know folks in here will cheer). And why isn't Gov Fallin referred to as a "freshman" governor. She's still in her first term.