Apr 7, 2007

Will the Guest Worker Arrive Here Via Donkey or Elephant?

The ads have finally ended and the people have exercised their right to have their say in who will lead the nation for at least the next two years. Those who took the effort to vote wanted something different done, or perhaps, more importantly, they simply wanted something done! The months of debate and endless television critics rehashing the inaction of the last Congress eventually wore down the patience of the people. Time has now delivered a new set of players to attempt to do what the last Congress could not do: find a common package of legislation that all can agree on to send to the president. So, where does this leave those of us in agriculture?

The first reality that will face this new Congress is that nothing has changed. We still have 10 to 12 million people in our country illegally. We are faced with a very uncertain workforce to do the various tasks of farming. It is believed that of those who are illegal, many have been here for a decade or more. These people own homes and have given birth to children, who have the right to call themselves U.S. citizens. The airwaves continue to be occupied by threats from those outside our country who wish to harm us through acts of terrorism. Homeland security is still a huge issue. The new Congress will quickly learn that while the faces have changed, the issues remain unsolved.

The second fact a new congressman will need to understand is that this is a very “disposable” society we now live in. One cannot assume that just because he has won an election that those back home will automatically vote him back into office. News does not remain news, but for a fleeting second. In the days of FDR, newspapers and radio were the tools of choice. The diversity and quantity of opinions was not as prominent as it is today. In 2006, we have seen communication rise to be instantaneous with occurrence. People are informed by instant and diverse means. This means it is easier for the voter to obtain the reports on the day’s activities from the “experts” they trust. This population demands action or they will make changes. This Congress needs act decisively.

This leaves us in a good position to assert our opinions on which way Congress should act. The necessity for agriculture to have a sound guest-worker program is no longer even a question. The question is, in what form will this be delivered to us? Last year’s version from the House was heavy toward border security and had large penalties for those who did not comply, either workers or employers. Many felt the Senate version was too liberal financially and needed to be toned back to meet the “budget” of the people. It at least spoke to the salient matters of how we would design an immigration policy. In October, the president signed HR 6061, which authorized 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. Now, the issue is how to deal with those we permit inside this wall and what to do with those already here.

The good news for agriculture is that we have not linked our programs to party platforms. We have developed effective relations with all the members of Congress. The president may find that in spite of a shift in party leadership in Congress, he will be able to receive a guest-worker package to his liking. The issues of a guest-worker package are less cumbersome to deal with when addressed outside of the enormous needs of a new immigration policy for this country. Agriculture should push to have the guest-worker issue resolved in advance of the total immigration reform package. It’s common sense for the new Congress to resolve this issue to illustrate that it is capable of setting public policy. It would be in the best interest of Congress if the accomplishment was carried in on a bipartisan wagon pulled by both a donkey and an elephant.

Paul Baker is executive director of New York State Horticultural Society.