U.S. Chamber of Commerce sues Janet Napolitano over immigration law

Posted Wed, Aug 8, 2007 at 8:53 pm
I'm flipping back and forth deciding who not to root for, but eventually I'm going to have to side with Janet:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday joined businesses suing Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano over the recent law she signed that will revoke business licenses for companies caught twice with undocumented workers.

"Anyone who knowingly hires an undocumented worker is violating the law, but violating a federal law, subject to federal sanctions," said Robin Conrad, executive vice president of the National Chamber Litigation Center representing the U.S. Chamber. "Our members do not want to be subject to a patchwork of state and local requirements, particularly when they are in compliance with federal law."
They say they're going to "aggressively defend" it, but I wouldn't entirely bet on that given Napolitano's history. The US CoC joined an earlier suit from the Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform and the Arizona Contractors Association, which also includes:
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Wake Up Arizona! Inc., which includes former Phoenix Suns CEO Jerry Colangelo; Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Arizona Farm Bureau Federation; Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association; Associated Minority Contractors of America, based in state; Arizona Roofing Contractors Association; National Roofing Contractors Association, based in Illinois; and the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association

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janet napolitano

Comments

Unhyphenated Am... (not verified)

Thu, 08/09/2007 - 11:01

While the law will certainly add cost, effort and time to employers efforts to hire people, the CoC effort should be seen for what it really is. Just as the LaRaza types cry that immigration law is within the federal domain, the CoC is using this excuse as cover for a victory by stalemate approach. Which is to get some judge to rule it unconstitutional and place the new law into the legal time pit.

Hesiod (not verified)

Thu, 08/09/2007 - 13:50

"Our members do not want to be subject to a patchwork of state and local requirements, particularly when they are in compliance with federal law." But, they aren't in compliance with Federal Law.

petty bourgeois (not verified)

Thu, 08/09/2007 - 14:03

Using federal preemption doctrine to undermine state sovereignty is nothing new. Fortunately, there can be no federal law enforcement scheme which requires states to be invaded by a hostile, third-world narco-terrorist state like mexico. Napolitano is just reacting to the political wind. She has always been open borders, and always will be. She is doing this to remain in office.

Smitty (not verified)

Thu, 08/09/2007 - 16:53

I'm convinced all our chambers of commerce are really unsanctioned government propaganda tools, COC's aren't democratic, as a small business person who makes money on the margins I don't advocate competing with businesses that employ illegal aliens, I'd much rather compete only with legal Americans. I think behind every COC is a gaggle of public employee unions and GSE's pushing the state line of embracing illegal immigration.

american1 (not verified)

Tue, 08/28/2007 - 20:58

There is a HUGE Hispanic population in Arizona. If they stop spending, the local AZ economy will head for recession. You may not feel the impact immediately, but eventually it will hit everyone here even if you are LEGAL. Even if you are a blue collar worker thinking you'll magically get better wages if all the illegals leave. A very negative one eventually. When businesses start to shrink with the economy, you will get fired. So as the new law goes, POWERPLANTS and HOSPITALS can be SHUT DOWN in Az if in violation of the new law. Imagine no A/C in AZ and your hospital surgery gets aborted because of one bad hiring and the new law. Janet Napolitano (D) is so smart.