Business fears Obamas immigration actions will do more harm than good. 😩 The groups hurt the most will be low to middle income workers, but all jobs will be hurt as higher operating costs will force layoffs of current legal citizenship employees. Kent Hoover Business groups were at the forefront of the fight for comprehensive immigration reform, and many fear President Barack Obamas executive actions will make it less likely that theyll ever get a permanent solution to this work force issue. Putting in temporary solutions for anything, Anything you name it always delays the right, correct, comprehensive solution. So it is Obamas refusal to meet, listen and compromise with Congress, that has caused an environment so toxic, so much distrust of Obamas exec actions, that no one believes Obama who just now did what he said a dozen times, he cant do and would be illegal. Yes; illegal! But does it anyway! Up to 5 million undocumented immigrants will be granted protection from deportation, and authorization to work in the U.S. for three years if they have been in the U.S. for five years, are parents of U.S. citizens or others with legal status, pass background checks, pay fees and start paying taxes. Obama also will give businesses a few things that they wanted: expanded visas for foreign entrepreneurs who meet certain job-creation and investment criteria, and modernization of the labor market test that employers must meet in order to sponsor foreign workers for immigrant visas, for example. Plus, workers with H-1B visas who have applied for legal permanent residence will be able to change jobs more easily. Also, legal status will give undocumented workers in low-wage jobs more opportunities for better-paying jobs. But the president didnt expand work visa programs for either high-skilled or low-skilled workers, one of the business communitys top priorities. The common theme among business groups was that Obamas executive actions are no substitute for more comprehensive legislation. While President Obamas executive action may provide relief for a portion of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S., this piecemeal approach to immigration reform is no long-term answer, said Kevin Kelly, a home builder and developer from Wilmington, Del., who is chairman of the National Association of Home Builders. It could be overturned by a future administration, and it puts employers in a precarious position with regard to uncertain employment verification requirements. The presidents rush to unilaterally and temporarily expand certain programs jeopardizes a long-term fix that is workable for our economy and national security, said Geoff Burr, vice president of government affairs for Associated Builders and contractors. An abrupt, temporary executive action ultimately does more harm than good in fixing our broken immigration system, Burr said. Business groups fear that Obamas actions will reduce the already-slim chance that Congress will enact comprehensive immigration reform. We are concerned that the presidents executive action on immigration will negatively impact Congress ability to accomplish real and lasting reform, said Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. Immigration reform is a highly charged issue that requires deliberate and constructive bipartisan dialogue. Stephen Sandherr, CEO of Associated General Contractors of America, fears that Obamas executive action not only reduces the chance for bipartisan immigration reform, but also likely endangers other legislative initiatives that require bipartisan solutions and cooperation between the Congress and the administration. Those threatened initiatives could include trade deals. Republicans who think Obama overstepped his authority on immigration may be less likely now to give the president Trade Promotion Authority, the ability to negotiate a trade deal and then bring it to Congress for an up-or-down vote without amendments.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 04:50:11 +0000
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