Lawsuit overturns immigrant-worker law
20.05.12
But a recent district court decision altered the scope that requirement.
The legislation, signed into law by Gov. Bobby Jindal in July, would have required that companies bidding on public-works contracts use the federal E-Verify system, an electronic database that cross-checks employee information with Homeland Security and Social Security databases to confirm an employee’s legal status.
“The philosophy behind it is to protect the Louisiana work force and to give businesses a defense against getting in trouble for hiring an illegal alien. … It protects big business and working-class citizens,” said outgoing Rep. Damon Baldone, D-Houma, who coauthored the bill. “If a contractor wants to get around the system, they don’t have a right to bid on public contracts that are paid for with taxpayer money.”
The Governor’s Office supported the legislation.
“We agree with the Legislature that it makes sense to make sure taxpayer dollars aren’t going to people who came to our country illegally,” said Frank Collins, the governor’s press secretary.
Source: Houma Courier