Salt Lake Chamber Blows a Fuse!:

The Salt Lake Chamber has blown a fuse!

Better call an electrician.

A legal-worker electrician, that is.

Why?

Because Representative Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, is proposing to introduce a bill that follows the U.S. Supreme Court's decision giving the green-light to states to require E-Verify and impose appropriate punishments for failure to comply with the law and/or knowingly hire illegal aliens:

According to the Salt Lake Tribune:

"Sandstrom, who expects to have language for the measure within two weeks, said it would mirror Arizona’s law — mandating employers use E-verify and setting up severe penalties if companies knowingly hire undocumented immigrants or fail to use the federal system."

Arizona's bill - good enough for Arizona and now good enough for Utah!

Kudos to Rep. Sandstrom.  Let's hope the governor goes for another of Sandstrom's suggestions: a special session to pass the bill.

But the Chamber, oh man...

Here's what Marty Carpenter of the Salt Lake Chamber had to say about the situation:

"But Marty Carpenter, spokesman for the Salt Lake Chamber, said individual state immigration laws create a patchwork problem and that the solution must come from the federal government.

"Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s good policy. This opens the door for state legislators to try and solve a problem by treating one symptom rather than treating the root cause of the issue," Carpenter said. "Businesses are in the business to create markets, transport and sell goods. Businesses are not in the business to police or enforce immigration policy."'

Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's good policy?

Huh?

Well, on the face of it and as a general principle, the idea makes sense and that's why people try to create, alter, and eliminate laws all the time. 

But does it make sense as it relates to illegal immigration?

I suggest that it does not.

Requiring employers to verify the work-status of potential employees is absolutely good policy.  It serves to preserve the integrity of our economic system as a whole. 

Mr. Carpenter's final statement, however, is truly strange:  "Businesses are not in the business to police or enforce immigration policy."

True, businesses do not police or enforce immigration policy.   That is not their function.

But, how about complying with the laws, Mr. Carpenter? 

Are businesses not in the business of conducting their business in accordance with law?

I would certainly hope that they are.

It is the respect for the law that creates stability in our system and provides the foundation for businesses to be successful.  Without that respect, we will tend to become like less successful nations. 

(Quote by Mr. Carpenter and information for this blog entry are from the Salt Lake Tribune article:

"Lawmaker to propose bill that mirrors Arizona’s E-verify law"

Available at:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51900396-90/law-sandstrom-arizona-undocumented.html.csp)