03/17/08

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Idaho lawmakers have killed a measure for
the second time this year that would crack down on employers who
knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

The Senate State Affairs Committee rejected a bill today that is
similar to one that died in the House State Affairs Committee
earlier this month.

It could have suspended or revoked companies' licenses for
employing illegal aliens.

Companies could avoid legal troubles by verifying workers'
eligibility through a federal database.

The proposal is modeled on a law that went into effect in
Arizona this year.

That law has caused scores of immigrants to flee to other parts
of the country or back to their homelands.

Republican Senator Mike Jorgenson of Hayden told the committee
that he didn't expect his bill to pass the Idaho Legislature.

Jorgenson said he wanted lawmakers to introduce the proposal
anyway as a way of starting negotiations with employers in Idaho to
create a guest worker program.

The bill died for lack of a motion.
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(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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