Taxpayer, open your wallet
Harley Heskett, Emporia
Originally published 02:14 p.m., February 26, 2008
Updated 02:14 p.m., February 26, 2008
When big business and special interest groups concentrate their lobbyists on Topeka, who do you think pays the bill? You the taxpayer will ultimately pay. Please, for your sake and the sake of the entire state, pay attention to who is fighting against legislation to stop illegal immigration in Kansas.
These groups will try to tell you that this bill will make businesses carry the burden of enforcing the law and that it will be very expensive. This couldn’t be further from the truth. This simple bill will only require an employer to verify each new employee is a citizen, by entering their name and social security number into a system that has been in place for several years. This check will be done using the Federal E-Verify system that is very simple and takes about 2 minutes to complete.
Why would Kansas businesses not want to hire citizens? Could it be that they can get illegal labor cheaper and drive down wages for U.S. citizens? Cheap labor, often paid under the table, often without benefits, make businesses more profitable while taxpayers pick up the tab for schooling, health care and other social benefits. According to the Texas comptroller of accounts, local governments bore the burden of $1.44 billion in uncompensated health care costs and local law enforcement costs not paid for by the state for illegal aliens. That comes to about $725 per illegal and there are approximately 70,000 estimated in Kansas. That comes to $50 million dollars every year for cities and counties in Kansas. Approximately 1/3 of the illegal population is children. Add $10,000 total tax cost per illegal student for education and you come to another $230 million.
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Having spent more than a decade in the field of human resources, and as an HR Manager, it is upsetting to think that there are domestic companies that cheat the system (and Americans) by employing illegal workers. Don't get me wrong, I am not 100% upset with the illegal workers... they are here for the same reason as our ancestors, to provide for a better way of life for their future generations. Fingers need to be pointed at the employers who don't follow the rules.
That said, government needs more assistance (at least temporarily) for the enforcement of immigration regulations. Sorry, but you have to admit that it does require funding for the program to be successful.
No one should be denied a path to citizenship so long as they want to use their skills and talents to contribute to a stronger America. But, given this day and age, it is that PATHWAY that needs revision. To deny citizenship without justified cause is to disregard the true purpose of this country; a nation of immigrants. We need legislators with common sense who can create a realistic pathway for these immigrants to join us in this land of democracy, but also to enforce immigration rules upon employers without scaring them to take jobs overseas. I know this cannot be easy. But, in my mind and heart it seems as though enforcement should be a simple process. BTW, no one should point fingers at Democrats or Republicans. Both parties are guilty of turning a blind eye.
It's a fine line to walk, immigration revision, I know. But, I think we can do it if we set aside partisanship, and meet one another at the kitchen table for a productive conversation.
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
February 27, 2008 at 5:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nutsaboutools (anonymous) says...
Just a note that "legal" immigrants will still be able to enter the US to support labor needs. Big businesses are playing the scare game by saying expect higher costs. If they are using immigrants, they should be of legal status and only here for the amount of time allowed by their visa, passport or green card. If they want to stay longer, receive benefits and/or use our system, then they should make an effort to become citizens. My grandparents were immigrants (from Italy), they followed the rules, became US citizens (including learning English) and struggled like every other American to make a living (including the Depression, 2 world wars, etc). Every time I register my kids for school I'm witness to how much of an impact these illegal immigrants have on my fees & taxes. Who do you think is paying for all the free lunches, services and other discounts they're receiving?
February 27, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
The difference between a person who immigrated to our country legally and an illegal immigrant is the difference between a house guest and a burglar. Illegal immigrants are not citizens of our country and have no rights: none. Until they are registered and begin the path to citizenship---and speak the language---they have no right to hold a job, receive welfare, get food stamps, hold driver's licenses, receive free medical care or anything else. The United States has the most lenient and liberal immigration policy in the world. We budget to allow ONE MILLION legal immigrants into our nation each year: more than all other nations combined. In fact, we very much welcome ANYONE who wants to come here and be an American citizen---if they do so through proper and legal channels. What part of the world "illegal" do we not understand? I don't know how you greet someone who breaks into your home in the middle of the night, but I doubt it is with open arms and free goodies. Anyone entering my home illegally would NOT like what I greeted them with. By any definition, illegal means criminal. It's time to stop rewarding criminals with jobs, food, shelter, and health care. If you don't want ants, keep the sugar off the counter.
February 27, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
BJ, why is what you say so hard for some to understand?
February 27, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
Well said BJ - you can't make it much clearer than that!
February 27, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
Admireed: We (Americans) don't understand because we are lazy and apathetic. We are too busy working, going to the mall, and worrying about Britney's custody battle to worry about our nation being invaded by a third world country. Americans tend to sit back and let our elected officials make all our decisions for us; no questions asked. We must speak up and tell them what we want. Those officials work for us. We need to start standing up and fighting for our rights. You only have the rights you are willing to fight for.
February 27, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Another component of this mess is the increasing cost of medical insurance. A typical employer pays 80% of the premiums for its employees. That's a huge cost, which leads many jobs to be sent overseas. I'm not saying this country needs universal health care (although, I would support such an endeavor), but insurnace companies and the health care profession need to be advised to reduce their skyrocketing costs. Regulation is not a favorite word for many people, but if administered effectively it would help with the health insurance mess that all Americans now contend with.
BP
SF, CA
February 27, 2008 at 10:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
bdprotheroe: "Universal Health Care" is Socialism. That health care currently system exists in Canada, where it routinely takes 4 months to see a doctor and 8 months to receive treatment after diagnosis. The good news is: all those poor people who die slow and excrutiating deaths while waiting for treatment have no medical or hospital bills to pass on to grieving loved ones. Our private pay system isn't perfect, but it beats ANY form of socialism or dysfunctional health care system implemented by ignorant self-serving corrupt government officials. Communists have universal health care. Check with them and see how that's working for 'em.
February 28, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Let us see. 1000 less students equals 50 teachers plus 40 adm. paras, support, bus drivers,,,,etc etc at $40,000 cost per including benefits, vacacion, hiring costs, retirement, subs, sick pay, days off, in service etc $360,000 at least we should save.
February 28, 2008 at 9:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
or is that $3,600,000. No matter is is a big big tax savings
February 28, 2008 at 9:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
admire, your figures are discombobulated. Support people like paras and bus drivers don't make $40 K a year, neither do all teachers. Even with 1000 students gone, you still have to provide a bus for the others on the route; the bus will simply carry fewer students. The same is true of paras and other support staff who will serve fewer numbers. It is even true of teachers. There will be fewer kids in classes. Granted, perhaps the schedule will have to be changed somewhat to allow for fewer classes offered in specific subjects, but teachers still have to be there to teach the kids who do attend.
February 29, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
Create, yes some cost more and some cost less. I tossed the numbers out (real bad math as it was) for discussion. Businesses hit by the beef fallout will bite hard to save themselves including letting people go. Govt (schools) will not bite hard because they can get funding anyway. The folks who were fired get hit again. It is NOT right!
February 29, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
admire, yes, I see what you mean with regard to those businesses hit hard by Tyson's failure, and how they may have to let folks go to save themselves. However, it's not that schools won't "bite hard" because they can get funding. We've seen schools all across the nation "bite hard" by dropping the kind of classes they consider as unnecessary -- such classes as Art and Music and Shop and P.E. since those are not required for graduation unfortunately. No matter how small the class size, schools must offer required classes which means they must hire the teachers who are qualified to teach them.
If you ever feel the need to get totally frustrated and pull out your hair by the hands full, work on a junior high and high school class schedule to make sure that everybody gets what is required. Oh yeah, and match that to the teachers you have who can only teach what they are certified to.
February 29, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
been_there (anonymous) says...
As far as I'm concerned, a GOOD education is priceless. If anyone actually did some checking into a teacher's salary, you would find that they are grossly underpaid. I am not a teacher but am the child of generations of teachers and I have watched my mother spend countless hours, without pay, to help her students succeed. She buys needed supplies for her classroom out of her own pocket because the money is not available in the budget. I don't think there is one child that has been in her classroom that doesn't still have a relationship with her, many of those are well into their 30's. The problem with the school system is the same as it is in most areas of business, too MANY chiefs and NOT enough indians. Most teachers don't need the amount of administration that is involved to tell them how to run their classroom. Just like in large corporations, such as Tyson, too many people want to tell people how things should be done rather than getting in there and doing it.
I realize this has nothing to do with the topic but since it was already getting sidetracked, and this is an issue I feel strongly about, I had to add my two cents.
February 29, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Bless you, been_there.
February 29, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )