12/07/05 Ag`s opponents on immigration reform

12/07/05 Ag`s opponents on immigration reform

As the House is back in session this week, and the Senate returns next week, there are several matters that Congress must attend to prior to closing of the 2005 session. But one issue that at least the House could return to this week is crafting of possible immigration reform legislation. Any attempts by Congress this year to pass such measures are being pushed by President Bush. He said as much last week in stops in Texas and Arizona as he unveiled a comprehensive strategy for immigration reform. HASTINGS: The reality is our immigration system is broken and it needs to be fixed. And the most responsible approach in my view is a comprehensive approach. I agree with President Bush when he spoke last week, and I quote, he said "We will not be able to effectively enforce our immigration laws until we create a temporary worker program". Unquote. That's U.S. Representative Doc Hastings of Washington speaking before the Washington State Horticultural Association earlier this week. And while the President's plan includes tougher measures on illegal aliens, the lightening rod of the proposal is in a revised guest worker program. Debate on revising the H2A program is nothing new in Congress, and it isn't just about if there should be a new guest worker program, but how to go about it. But considering his Congressional district, his state, and the Pacific Northwest region, is one of the largest employers of guest workers, primarily for specialty crop agriculture, Hastings supports a guest worker program. HASTINGS: A functional guest worker program is also critical to our economy. Because of the costs and the time involved and a lack of flexibility, the existing H2A program can not keep up with the labor needs specifically in our area. With a nationwide unemployment rate of about five per cent, which is full employment, and not taking into consideration the illegal work force, there is a lot of pressure right now on our economy. But Hastings admits his, and ag's, support, for a reformed guest worker program is not popular with many non-ag voters caught in connected issues such as border security and our government supporting illegal workers. HASTINGS: From past communications, it's obvious that you clearly want and need a guest worker program. But frankly thousands of your fellow citizens and taxpayers in Central Washington don't share that view. So I'll like to ask for your help. First, it's important that agriculture speaks with one voice and thus far, agriculture has pretty much done that, but you need to continually press to speak with one voice on this issue.
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