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Don't Play Politics with Our Bail Out!
"On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for too long have strangled our politics." - President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009
President Obama and Senate & Congressional leaders are developing a recovery and reinvestment plan that addresses immediate economic needs, creates jobs and invests in the infrastructure the U.S. economy needs for recovery. While we organize together for an investment in workers and communities that will ease the crisis we're all living, others are playing politics with our bailout.
On January 28 the House passed the stimulus bill with E-Verify Requirement Included.
Calls & E-mails to Senators Reed and Whitehouse needed:
Senator Reed: 1-800-284-4200
Senator Whitehouse: (401)453-5294
"The E-Verify provision in the economic stimulus will harm workers and business alike. Please ensure that the stimulus gives our communities a boost by stripping that provision out of the stimulus package."
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Strip E-Verify From Our Recovery Bill
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I am concerned that required use of E-Verify in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 undercuts the purpose of the package. Please ensure that this provision is stripped from the Act before passage.
E-Verify has been documented to harm workers who are either falsely denied work or are targeted by employers who are abusing the system. It will wrongly cost workers their jobs.
E-Verify has been documented to create substantial burdens for business, sometimes hours more than DHS predicted, creating a real burden for small businesses at precisely the wrong time.
I know that you are working to fight for an economy that works for us- middle and working class people. I need you to represent me in the coming week by focusing on a solution to economic problems. Getting this country out of this economic crisis and immigration reform should be approached seriously and separately.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
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Campaign Launched:
January 29, 2009
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1/29/2009
Economic Stimulus Update: Don’t Play Politics with Our Bail Out!
Yesterday House Appropriations Committee approved the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009" with a provision that would require all businesses and public private entities that contract to receive money from the stimulus package to use E-Verify, the flawed federal program that is riddled with error and has been documented to promote workplace discrimination.
The E-Verify provision in the stimulus will:
- Harm workers who are either falsely denied work or are targeted by employers abusing the E-verify program;
- Create substantial new burdens for businesses, especially small businesses, at precisely the wrong time;
- Send the wrong signal to new voters that the Congress prefers to play politics by enacting symbolic and ineffective immigration "enforcement" measures over serious and effective economic stimulus or serious immigration reform.
Urgent Action Needed: Call RI Senators Whitehouse & Reed:
Senator Whitehouse: (401)453-5294
Senator Reed: (401)1800-284-4200
TALKING POINTS:
· You are extremely disappointed that E-Verify is in the stimulus bill and are asking for the provision to be stripped from the bill.
· Including E-verify in the stimulus package completely undercuts the purpose of the bill and will only be counterproductive for American business, workers and the economy.
· Real solutions to our economic problems and immigration reform should be approached seriously and separately.
· The flawed E-Verify program's database errors will wrongly cost workers their jobs.
Thank you for a taking a few minutes to voice your opposition to playing politics with our bailout. Please take a moment to pass this on to your friends, coworkers and family members. Your phone calls really can make a difference.
The National Immigration Law Center has two great new fact sheets that document the harm caused by E-Verify:
How Errors in the E-Verify Database Impacts Citizens
E-Verify Reality Check on the Impacts on Businesses
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