Immigration bills threaten workers

It’s good to see The Register-Guard recognizes the plight of low-wage workers (“Fast food blues,” Sept. 2). However, the editorial seemed a bit disingenuous given the editors’ strong support of government actions that will or would hurt those same workers.

I refer first to U.S. Senate Bill 744, the immigration “reform” legislation, about which columnist Eugene Robinson said, “Of course it’s amnesty.” SB 744 would allow millions more foreign workers to come to the United States and would effectively legalize the work of the 8 million to 10 million illegal immigrants who are already here. Both Oregon senators voted yes on the bill.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates SB 744 would cause unemployment to increase through 2020 and average wages to decline through 2025.

The editors also strongly supported recent state immigration actions. In Oregon, with nearly 160,000 people out of work, Gov. John Kitzhaber and his Democratic allies passed Senate Bill 833. SB 833 lays out the welcome mat for illegal immigrants by restoring their driving privileges.

All Lane County Democratic legislators voted yes on the bill; a petition drive is under way to refer that decision to the voters (www.protectoregondl.org). The beneficiaries of such actions are corporations that seek to pay the lowest wages possible. The victims are primarily low-wage workers who have already suffered badly from the recession. Who’s standing up for them?

JERRY RITTER
Springfield