#NCGA: Another bill watering down E-Verify introduced in House
In 2013, Gov. Pat McCrory lost a veto fight with the legislature over the use of E-Verify for checking citizenship of workers in North Carolina.
Late last week, some Republican House members — Riddell, Whitmire, Brody, and Dobson — filed a bill to amend Article 2, Chapter 64 (Verification of Work Authorization) of the North Carolina General Statutes. That statute currently reads:
10 (3) Employee. – Any individual who provides services or labor for an employer
11 in this State for wages or other remuneration. The term does not include an
12 individual whose term of employment is less than nine months in a calendar
13 year.
The bill filed last week is entitled:”A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT ONLY TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES IN THE
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR DO NOT HAVE TO BE COUNTED FOR PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHETHER AN EMPLOYER MUST USE E-VERIFY.”
Here is what the proposed amendment to NCGS Article 2, Chapter 64 says:
(3) Employee. – Any individual who provides services or labor for an employer
11 in this State for wages or other remuneration. The term does not include an
12 individual whose term of employment is less than nine months in a calendaryear.
13 year who works in the agriculture, agribusiness, landscaping, or forestry
14sectors.
As I read this bill, it is tightening up things from what Tillis and crew did last year, not loosening them. For example, illegal alien construction workers, doing jobs that Americans do indeed want, are now exempted from e-Verify, but if this bill passes, will be covered by e-Verify. It seems like a move in the right direction, although it could be a bigger move. I wonder if Tillis will give it his famous green light and allow it to be considered?
Why exclude just those industries? I mean, why bother?
The fact that this 9 month provision was pushed and passed by Republicans (and Tillis) is simply disgusting. Farmers in NC have purchased politicians so they can act illegally and cheat the labor market – that’s not what government is for.
If you cant make enough money and get your product out legally, without buying government power to tilt the game in your favor… then maybe you shouldnt be in that business.
Oh, I agree with you. It was outrageous that the bill went through last year to gut e-Verify. I see no reason that farmers or anyone should be exempt. Tillis, as usual, is in the hip pocket of special interests.