The Department of Homeland Security issued a Supplemental No Match Rule yesterday (press release | PDF warning: 100 pages). DHS officials hope the new language will clarify questions that prompted a U.S. District Court judge to issue an injunction against enforcement last year. “The additional information in this supplemental rule addresses the specific items raised […]
One burdensome requirement avoided
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Many industries bringing plant material into the United States will be required to file a Lacey Act disclosure beginning on Dec. 15, according to USDA/APHIS. But thanks to some astute lobbying, the nursery industry will not be among them. The new Lacey Act provision (PDF) was included in the 2008 Farm Bill, approved in May. […]
Comparing their plans for small business
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Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama have been through three head-to-head debates. They have undergone close to two years worth of primary and general election scrutiny. And the people are about to render their decision – in Oregon, ballots are mailed today. But how might an Obama Administration or a McCain Administration affect small […]
You asked about the minimum wage
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When we posted news that the Washington and Oregon minimum wage are going up Jan. 1, 2009 due to automatic increases in both of those states, a reader asked if there is any chance agricultural employers could see legislative relief from this requirement. We asked Oregon Association of Nurseries Government Affairs Director Jeff Stone and […]
Business group calls Oklahoma law unconstituional
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The battle over HB 1804 continues. The Oklahoma law, which punishes state contractors if they are found to have unauthorized workers, has been in legal limbo since June 4. U.S. District Court Judge Robin J. Cauthron issued a court order stating the law is probably unconstitutional and cannot be enforced.Today, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce […]
More where that came from?
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Should employers get ready for a thicket of state immigration laws that don’t offer comprehensive solutions, but instead burden and punish employers? Maybe, according to an analysis by the respected public affairs, communications and research firm Conkling, Fiskum & McCormick: A federal court rebuffed a legal challenge of Arizona’s controversial immigration law, which employers and […]
OAN applauds passage of recovery bill
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Today Congress approved, and President George W. Bush signed, a federal economic recovery bill authorizing the U.S. Treasury to invest of up to $700 billion to calm markets and restore credit availability. And according to OAN Executive Director John Aguirre, that’s good news for Oregon nurseries. “Nursery growers and retailers, like so many businesses across […]
Minimum wage going up in Oregon
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Effective Jan. 1, 2009, Oregon’s minimum wage is going up by 45 cents, Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian announced on Tuesday. Wages will jump from $7.95 per hour to $8.40 per hour, representing a 5.3 percent hike. The increase follows on the heels of a 15-cent increase that took effect Jan. 1, 2008. Measure 25, […]
No-match rule enforcement put off again
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It’s looking less and less likely that the Social Security No Match Rule – currently held up by litigation filed by employer, employee and pro-immigration groups – will be enforced before the new president and new Congress take office early in 2009. On Wednesday (Sept. 10), the Department of Homeland Security filed a motion to […]
Tamar Jacoby visits with the Coalition for a Working Oregon
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The message needs to be, “Fix America’s broken immigration system now.” And the messengers need to be the American people – meaning not just businesses, but everyday citizens. So said Tamar Jacoby, executive director of ImmigrationWorks USA, during a Sept. 8 visit with members of the Coalition for a Working Oregon, a broad-based coalition of […]