Episode 2: Three Stooges from Arizona Meet Sen. Craig ID

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2003 2:56 PM

JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

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This comedy show is a real bellyacher.

For today's comedy show we have The "Three Stooges from Arizona":
Curly, played by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Moe, played by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
Larry, played by Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)

with guest comedians:
Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho
Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass

and special guest star:
Larry's brother played by Walter Kolbe

As the show begins the Stooges are up to their usual high-jinks, but
now they are knocking more than each others heads - they are in a spat
with Sen. Larry Craig and Sen. Edward Kennedy. The argument began
because Craig and Kennedy are working on competing bills to give
unlimited work visas and amnesty to illegal aliens.

First the good news: The Stooges' guest-worker amnesty bill hasn't
attracted a single co-sponsor from either party.

Now the Bad News: Senators Kennedy and Craig are working on another
guest worker bill that is probably almost as bad.

Here is where the comedy begins: The Stooges are trying to sell their
amnesty by bragging that it would help to destroy "millions of workers
in other industries" while the Craig bill only destroys agricultural
jobs.

So what could be funnier than that?

Just read what Larry's (Kolbe) brother had to say about about this
bill. As you all know, Sen. Kolbe has been denying that his creation is
an amnesty bill, even though it allows illegal aliens to get green
cards. His brother (Walter) snitched on him - and that is the funniest
part of the show:

"the proposed guest-worker bill is not the answer
because it will lead to amnesty", Walter Kolbe said.

Walter Kolbe refused to be a team player when he said that he approves
of an Arizona initiative that would require people to show proof of
U.S. citizenship to be able to vote and be able to obtain some benefits
from the state.

At the end of the show, the Three Stooges were throwing cream pies at
Walter and chasing him around their mother's house.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT EXCITING EPISODE OF: "The Three Stooges from
Arizona"

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0912Kennedy-farmworkers12.html

Final touch being put on farm worker bill

Billy House
Republic Washington Bureau
Sept. 12, 2003 12:00 AM

Related links

Poll: How should the illegal immigration problem be handled?

Special report: Border security >>

WASHINGTON - Final touches on a bipartisan bill to give up to 500,000
farm workers not currently authorized to work in the United States a
one-time opportunity to legalize their stay are being negotiated by two
key U.S. senators.

"We're nearing agreement. What we hope to have by the end of this week,
or perhaps next week, is a truly bipartisan piece of legislation," said
Will Hart, a spokesman for Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho.

The bill will focus solely on farm workers and will not be as
far-reaching as a controversial "guest worker" bill sponsored by
Arizona Reps. Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake and Sen. John McCain that would
extend temporary U.S. work visas to millions of undocumented immigrants
who toil in restaurants, hotels and other industries.

Though the details must be finalized, the office of Sen. Edward
Kennedy, D-Mass., who is working with Craig on the bill, along with
groups representing growers, farm worker advocates and immigrants,
provided a draft of the measure. Kennedy is the ranking Democrat on the
Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on Immigration, Border
Security and Citizenship.

Main provisions would:

Provide farm workers with eligibility for temporary U.S. resident
status after they performed at least 575 hours, or 100 days, of
agriculture work during any 12 consecutive months since March 1, 2002.

Enable workers who became temporary residents under the program to
achieve permanent residency after 2,060 work-hours of agriculture
labor, or 360 workdays, during the next six years.

Extend eligibility for adjustment to permanent resident status to a
farm worker's spouse and children once the worker completed the work
requirement and gained permanent status.

Give farm workers the right under federal law to join a union and
give them the same labor-law protections as U.S. farm workers.

Require their employers to pay the same federal payroll taxes as
for employees who were U.S. citizens.

The bill essentially would reform an existing agricultural visa program
that the Kennedy office summary says "has failed to protect worker
rights and is criticized by employers as costly and burdensome."

It would cap at 500,000 the number of workers that could be affected.
It is unclear how many of those workers would be in Arizona.

One recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report estimated that there
are 800,000 to 1 million farm workers throughout the nation and that
anywhere from 30 percent to 70 percent are foreigners.

Agriculture focus

The bill is being geared specifically to agriculture because
agriculture is covered by its own laws regarding wages and working
conditions.

Kolbe, Flake and McCain's broader bill has attracted much editorial
attention and praise. But McCain's Senate version has yet to attract a
single co-sponsor in that chamber from either party.

"We welcome all efforts to solve this country's immigration problems,"
Kolbe said Thursday of the Kennedy-Craig effort.

Flake said, "I agree that there should be a temporary worker program in
the agriculture industry, but why not include the millions of workers
in other industries? Our plan addresses all industries."

Celia Muqoz, National Council of La Raza vice president, said passage
of such a bill would be a real breakthrough that could open the door
for more ambitious bills.

Marc Grossman, a spokesman for the United Farm Workers of America, said
he did not want to discuss specifics of the work being done on the
Kennedy-Craig bill but said, "We're trying to hammer out an agreement."

Sharon Hughes, executive vice president of the National Council of
Agriculture Employers, could not be reached for comment on the measure.

A major bone of contention in negotiations has been whether temporary
workers would be protected by a majority of the same laws that protect
domestic farm workers.

Craig last week sent a letter to other lawmakers urging them to take
final action on a farm worker measure.

"In recent months, we have read of the senseless and inhumane deaths of
farm workers being smuggled illegally into the United States," Craig
wrote. "Those who survive to work in the fields are among the most
vulnerable persons in this country, unable to assert the most basic
legal rights and protections."

In addition, Craig wrote that farmers and growers are finding it
difficult to secure a predictable workforce, as enforcement of U.S.
immigration and employment documentation laws have been stepped up and
"the workforce is frequently and widely disrupted."

Reps. Howard Berman, D-Calif., and Chris Cannon, R-Utah, are involved
in the talks, and would be House co-sponsors of an agreed-upon bill.

http://svherald.com/articles/2003/09/05/news/news4.txt

Kolbe's brother doesn't stand in favor of guest-worker proposal

Hereford resident Walter Kolbe voices his concerns about the proposed
guest-worker program. He is less than enthusiastic and highly skeptical
on the merits of the bill that his brother, U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, helped
to frame. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review)
BY BILL HESS
Herald/Review

HEREFORD-- The Kolbe brothers, Walter and U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe, are
split on a pair of proposals to address the illegal immigrant problem
in the United States.

Walter Kolbe does not support brother Jim's bill to establish a new
guest-worker program, which was introduced in the House of
Representatives by Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake of Arizona and in the U.S.
Senate by John McCain of Arizona.

Walter Kolbe also doesn't agree with his brother that a state
initiative to require people to show proof of U.S. citizenship to vote
and withhold some social benefits from illegal immigrants is bad.

"We sat here (in Walter Kolbe's living room) not too long ago and I
told Jim (his) bill was wrong," Walter Kolbe said.

Saying his brother vigorously defended the bill, Walter Kolbe said he
got the impression from his brother that he would not listen to anyone
opposed to the idea. The congressman declined to comment.

"I strongly believe Jim has been one of the few voices in the
wilderness concerning the problems we have here along the border with
Mexico," Walter Kolbe said. "But this latest attempt at legislation is
where we part company."

Jim Kolbe has done many things to help border communities, such as
aiding hospitals overwhelmed by illegal immigrants needing medical
care, Walter Kolbe said.

His brother also has directed funds to help local law enforcement
agencies and the judicial systems tackle the problems created by
illegal immigrants and drug smuggling, Walter Kolbe added.

"He has tried to get the (U.S.) Border Patrol management to do what
they are supposed to and has been a success in some cases," Walter
Kolbe said.

But the proposed guest-worker bill is not the answer because it will
lead to amnesty, something his brother denies will happen, Walter Kolbe
said.

Walter Kolbe said he agrees a new guest-worker program is needed, but
opening an avenue to those who entered the United States illegally is
not right.

"It's amnesty on the installment plan," Walter Kolbe said about the
part of the bill allowing illegal immigrants in the country to come
forward and start the process of becoming legal entrants.

Walter Kolbe said the first things that have to be done is to secure
the borders from additional illegal activities, mainly people and drug
smuggling, to prove it can be done. The nation also needs to find as
many of the illegal immigrants in the country as possible and deport
them.

As for the ways people in other countries, "and let's be truthful, we
mean those from Mexico," can come into the United States through a work
visa has merit, Walter Kolbe said that part of the bill needs a lot of
work.

There will be costs for employers based on whether or not they are
small or large businesses -- $500 and $1,000 respectively. The employer
also becomes responsible for returning a migrant with a work visa if
there is no more work for an individual, Walter Kolbe said.

The bill allows legal migrants up to 45 days to find a new job or they
will have to leave the country.

If such people cannot find a job, "they will disappear in the
undocumented (immigrant) underground," Walter Kolbe said.

The federal government has proven it cannot find people who have
overstayed their visa and disappear, and this is another case where the
same thing will happen, he said.

He also sees the possibility of fraudulent activities with job brokers
breaking the law to make money finding workers for American employers.

Another thing that may not stop the flow of illegal immigrants id the
coyotes, those who traffic in people smuggling, may tell potential
customers not to take part in the guest worker program, Walter Kolbe
said.

The coyote trade is a moneymaker, and coyotes will not want their
source of funds to dry up, he said.

"I see the coyotes telling people not to take part because the United
States will only use the (guest-worker) program as a way to track
them," Walter Kolbe said.

Walter Kolbe said he approves of an Arizona initiative that would
require people to show proof of U.S. citizenship to be able to vote and
be able to obtain some benefits from the state.

His brother and all of the Republican members of the Arizona
congressional delegation are opposed to the initiative.

Members of the Arizona Republican Party leadership also are opposed to
the idea, even though some of the supporters are Republicans.

State law requires people to affirm they are U.S. citizens to be able
to vote and receive some benefits, and there is nothing wrong with
requiring a document to prove they are U.S. citizens, Walter Kolbe
said.

When the Arizona congressional delegation came out in opposition to the
state initiative, the members said controlling immigration and the
possibility that illegal immigrants are obtaining rights limited to
U.S. citizens "is a federal issue that must be dealt with on a federal
level."

Sitting in his house, where a large living room picture window looks
out over the 20 acres he has near the San Pedro River, he said he sees
a lot of illegal immigrant traffic and the trash such people leave
behind.

Walter Kolbe said his brother's proposal "is a slap in he face to
people who struggled so hard to come to America legally, lead
productive lives, raise families and proudly become citizens of the
United States of America."

Coming from a family of lifelong Republicans, Walter Kolbe said it is
hard to disagree with his brother.

"I feel Jim is out of touch with the people on this subject," he said.

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