If there is one thing Coloradans agree upon in the often-fractious debate over illegal immigration, it’s that employers are part of the problem and they have to be part of the solution.
A statewide poll commissioned by The Denver Post shows that opinions on immigration matters run a wide range, except that Coloradans with one voice believe that employers ought to be severely penalized for hiring illegal immigrants.
Those surveyed – of all political stripes, and both Hispanics and non-Hispanics – expressed strong support for a November ballot measure that would deny a tax deduction to employers who don’t verify immigration status.
The message for those tallying the winners and losers emerging from the recent special legislative session on immigration is that statehouse Democrats earned public support for proposing a punishment for employers who knowingly hire illegals. Poll numbers show 56 percent think employers who do that should be severely penalized.
However, clarity and unanimity quickly dissolve when the public weighs the balance between problem-solving and political posturing. A startling 71 percent of Hispanics surveyed thought Gov. Bill Owens was playing games with the issue. Even 36 percent of Republicans thought so.
That speaks to the political volatility of the immigration debate and the potential land mines it presents. Prominent Republicans fear the GOP could alienate Hispanic voters by pressing too hard to punish or deport immigrants.
There is a powerful message in the Colorado poll. Coloradans are clearly saying that they see significant problems and costs stemming from illegal immigration. They see a role for state government to play in solving them – good news for Democratic leaders and Owens, who worked hard to reach a constructive compromise last Monday. Actions that target employers are key to solving citizen concerns. The poll did not ask about border security, but we’re confident that most Coloradans feel that federal efforts have been inadequate and that border enforcement is an essential reform.
Coloradans are a practical lot who frame the immigration issue in a nuts-and-bolts fashion. There is a message to Washington in that.
