Colorado’s candidates for governor each found something to love in Gov. Bill Owens’ call for a special legislative session on immigration reform.
Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Beauprez and Democrat Bill Ritter agreed employers should be required to verify whether the workers they hire are legally in the United States.
“I’ve been saying for months and months and months, that’s a direction we need to go,” said Beauprez. “There are, as the governor implies in his call, those verification tools available. There is no doubt that the Social Security Administration needs to update its technology, but that’s another discussion.”
Ritter noted that business leaders are worried about the possibility of penalties for hiring an illegal immigrant.
“But at the same time, if there are verification tools out there that can be utilized, then we should require businesses to utilize them,” he said.
The candidates continued to differ, however, on whether Initiative 55 – the citizen-sponsored ballot measure that would have restricted state spending on nonemergency services to illegal immigrants – was a good idea.
Ritter said it was a “symbolic” gesture that would have little impact. Ritter said he prefers passing state laws that would strengthen enforcement of laws that already prohibit spending on illegal immigrants.
Beauprez said he thinks voters should have a chance to decide the matter after a lengthy public debate of the issue.
He doubts legislators will spend the time it takes to flesh out the topic.
“If they can get done in the confines of a special session, great,” Beauprez said. “I’d be a little surprised if they want to spend that much time and be that exhaustive.
“I hope that they give the voters the right to speak.”
Staff writer Mark P. Couch can be reached at 303-820-1794 or mcouch@denverpost.com.
