Candidates for governor take aim at illegal immigration

By Brandon Cone
BDN Staff Writer
bcone@bransondailynews.com

Illegal immigration is becoming a big issue in Missouri, and is already taking its place as a point of debate among Missouri’s 2008 gubernatorial candidates.

So far both democrats and republicans have agreed that measures need to be taken against employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Earlier this week, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, 2008 democratic candidate for governor, proposed legislation to impose sanctions on Missouri employers who use undocumented workers.

“It is the lure of that job that attracts undocumented workers to the state,” Nixon said. “Getting tough on the employers who use undocumented workers to gain an unfair advantage over the law-abiding competitors must be a top priority. Any effort to combat illegal immigration that refuses to crack down on the employers who hire undocumented workers might sound good but cannot work.”

Nixon’s proposed law will also offer incentives for people who give information that leads to the prosecution of offending employers.

According to Nixon, the law is modeled after an Arizona law, scheduled to take effect Jan.1, 2008.

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, a republican, feels the law needs to be stronger.

A statement was made by the governor’s spokesman, Rich Chrismer, not long after Nixon’s legislation was introduced.

“Attorney General Jay Nixon has copied these provisions from an Arizona state law. Governor Blunt strongly supports those provisions and would like to enact them along with the other illegal immigration proposals he has already announced including his proposal to specifically ban the issuance of driver licenses to illegal immigrants and create penalties for those who assist them which Jay Nixon has said is unnecessary,” Chrismer said.

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce officially voiced its opposition to Nixon’s proposed measure a day after it’s introduction, stating that the chamber “supports meaningful immigration reform that will ensure companies can’t use illegal workers to gain an unfair advantage.”

The chamber’s release goes on to say that officials with the organization believe Nixon’s measure could have an adverse effect on business in Missouri, stating “suspending business licenses and permanently barring businesses from operating in Missouri would be bad for Missouri workers and employers — not to mention unconstitutional and virtually impossible to enforce.”

“We need to make sure that undocumented workers are not taking jobs that should be going to Missourians, but this proposal could mean fewer jobs for everyone,” said Daniel Mehan, president and CEO of the state’s chamber.