Council considers E-Verify program
Originally published 08:48 p.m., August 12, 2008
Updated 11:08 p.m., August 12, 2008
Work Session -- The council is hearing a presentation about E-Verify. The Council is expected to vote on a proposal that would mandate the city use the program to screen all new employees. In addition, the ordinance would require those who do business with the city to screen their employees as well.
University of Missouri-Kansas City Law Professor Kris Kobach spoke to the council in favor of the program, saying E-Verify has a 0.5 percent failure rate and most of those happen when a woman does not register her married name with the Social Security Administration.
Almost 20 people signed up to speak about the proposed ordinance when the council discusses it tonight.
6:05 p.m. -- Topeka Mayor Bill Bunten called the meeting to order. By official proclamation, Mayor Bunten declared this week "Pro Amatuer Bowling Week." Find out how 49 Sports Reporter Dave DeCandis did when he became a Pro Amateur Bowler for a day.
6:25 p.m. -- The Council has returned to the topic of E-Verify. Kobach spoke in favor of the program for a few minutes again. Later, Micheal Sharma-Crawford, an immigration lawyer from Kansas City, spoke against E-Verify.
6:48 p.m. -- The Council has begun hearing one of the 17 public speakers scheduled to talk about E-Verify tonight. Like this first one, most are expected to speak against the city's use of the program.
7:01 p.m. -- Christy Caldwell, a spokeswoman from the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, spoke against the use of E-Verify in the city of Topeka. "The Topeka chamber is concerned that the passage of this ordinance will only perpetuate a belief that Topeka is not business friendly," Caldwell said.
7:40 p.m -- Carlos Gomez, president of the Kansas City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, spoke to the council against E-Verify, citing the cost of the program. Gomez said the city will have to hire immigration lawyers and extra human resources staff to deal with the complications that will come with E-Verify. Since 6:48, only 2 people spoke in favor of the city using E-Verify.
7:50 p.m. -- Public comment has ended on E-Verify. Three of the 16 public speakers spoke in favor of the ordinance. The council has begun discussing the matter amongst themselves.
8:18 p.m. -- In response to a question from Councilman John Alcala, acting City Attorney Braxton Copley said if the city were to use the program it would open up a "liability" for the city to be sued for discrimination. "There don't seem to be a shortage of plaintiffs in the city," Copley said.
8:30 p.m. -- Kobach came back before the city council to answer more questions about E-Verify. "If the city decides to sign up for E-Verify and any of these problems result," he said, "the city can just withdraw (from the program)."
8:41 p.m. -- Councilman Richard Harmon proposed the council take out the part of the proposed ordinance that requires those who do business with the city to use E-Verify as well. The motion failed 4 to 5, with Councilman Bill Haynes, Brett Blackburn, Jeff Priesner and Harmon voting yes. The council still has to decide whether or not to use E-Verify.
8:48 p.m. -- The Council just voted on the issue 1-9 to not approve the ordinance. Only Councilman Jack Woelfel voted in favor.
9:04 p.m. -- Council members unanimously voted to establish a Shawnee County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center and have the Sherriff's office oversee that center.
Comments
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Aug. 13, 2008 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)Dog (anonymous)
Topeka City Council has sold out American Workers, why is it so hard to use a free E-Verify Program. Every Federal,State and City Funds should be used for Americans and not Greedy Contractors that may hire Illegals.
Remember if you have proof of Contractors hiring Illegal Workers you can call ICE and the Employer can go to Jail and they can lose everything they have got thru illegal gotten means. This is what Legal Americans can do and its free and when the greedy contractors loses their house,business,cars and it will make a point. Hire American or Legal Workers and use our tax money as it was intended. Make sure you have proof and then call ICE
Aug. 13, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)Dog (anonymous)
According to Federal law, if a state offers discounted, "in-state" postsecondary tuition aid to foreign nationals illegally residing in the United States, it is prohibited from charging any out-of-state student higher out-of-state tuition rates. The state and its public institutions must offer the same aid to all legal U.S. residents regardless of residency.
However, in violation of this federal law, some states currently give tuition breaks to illegal aliens, but charge American citizens from other states higher tuition fees.
If you are an out-of-state student attending any public postsecondary school in one of those states and are paying the higher tuition rates, you may be entitled to a refund.
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