Measure 88-supporting politicians disregarded unemployed Oregonians

OregonLive.com

By David Olen Cross

We have included excerpts - click here for the complete article.

Oregon’s continued high unemployment numbers continue to show how Governor John Kitzhaber, Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and members of the Oregon State Legislature who supported Ballot Measure 88 (formerly known as Senate Bill 833), legislation that would have required the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issue driver cards to illegal immigrants, foreign nationals illegally in the state, are politicians hopelessly disconnected from the plight of the unemployed in the state.

An evaluation of the seasonally adjusted unemployment numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, News Release from November 21, 2014 titled “Regional and State Employment and Unemployment — October 2014” revealed the National unemployment rate at 5.8 percent — Oregon’s unemployment at 7.0 percent...

What follows below are complete lists of the names of Democrat and Republican elected officials currently in office...

Gov. John Kitzhaber supported and signed into law SB 833 — represents 36 Oregon counties’ 127,041 unemployed (UE) — 7.0 percent seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (SAUR).

Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian supported SB 833 — represents 36 counties’ 127,041 UE, 7.0 percent SAUR.

Democrat senators (Sen.) who voted for or were sponsors of SB 833 and the senate district (SD) they represent: click here

Republican senators who voted for or were sponsors of SB 833 and the senate district they represent: click here

Sen. Herman Baertschiger Jr. (SD-2) — represents portions of Jackson’s 7,389 UE — 8.5 percent SAUR and Josephine’s 2,989 UE — 9.6 percent SAUR;
 
Democrat representatives (Rep.) who voted for or were sponsors of SB 833 and the house district (HD) they represent: click here

Republican representatives who voted for or were sponsors of SB 833 and the house district they represent: click here

An indefensible argument given by proponents of driver cards for the foreign nationals illegally in the state, are illegal immigrants need to be able drive to work. A reminder for proponents of driver cards, foreign nationals illegally in the country cannot legally work in the state.

Another argument of proponents of driver cards is Oregon U.S. citizens will not work at the jobs illegal immigrants now occupy. This argument is at best a half-truth; Oregon U.S. citizens have historically been more than willing to work in construction, forestry, hotels, and restaurants.

.... estimate of 110,000 unauthorized workers in the state.

....  there are up to 52,880 unauthorized agricultural workers in the state.

Oregon’s 127,041 unemployed should contact their governor, labor commissioner and legislators and tell them in the future to reject the idea of any executive action or legislation that would require the DMV to grant a state issued identity in the form of a driver card to illegal immigrants — foreign nationals illegally in the state — that would allow them to legally drive to work.

Here is how Oregon’s’ unemployed can contact their governor, labor commissioner, and members of the state legislature (See links):

Governor: http://www.oregon.gov/gov/Pages/ShareYourOpinion.aspx

Labor commissioner: http://www.bradavakian.com/contact/

Find who represents me: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-search.html

State senators: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senate/

State representatives: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/house/

David Olen Cross of Salem writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com.