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County will consider a rule to check residency
Big contractors could be required to verify all employees’ legal status
Saturday, August 15 | 10:39 p.m.
BY MICHAEL ANDERSEN
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER
Clark County is considering requiring its biggest contractors to sign on to a federal system designed to prevent the hiring of illegal immigrants.
Like other employers, Clark County already requires applicants to provide a Social Security number before taking a county job.
The online E-Verify system goes beyond that to immediately check the validity of each worker's Social Security number.
"We have a responsibility to the people of the county to see to it that the people who work for us are also legitimate" residents, said County Commissioner Tom Mielke, who has been pushing for the new requirement.
The rule would only apply to public works and services contracts of $1 million or more.
Companies' subcontractors would also be affected.
Commissioners will consider the proposal at a 6 p.m. public hearing on Sept. 1 in the sixth-floor hearing room of the county Public Service Center.
Big federal contractors will soon be required to use E-Verify, said Prosecuting Attorney Curt Wyrick.
Mike Bomar, a spokesman for the Building Industry Association of Clark County, said his board will probably discuss the proposal soon.
"In general, we support E-Verify," Bomar said. "[But] if contractors have to verify that their subcontractors' employees are legal, we get concerned."
Mike Carnahan, secretary-treasurer of the Clark Skamania West Klickitat Central Labor Council, said his organization of local unions has not discussed the issue and has no plans to do so.
"Most of us, when we go to work, we try to work with the human beings that are there … and let the people that are way above us and have pay grades worry about the details," Carnahan said.
Mielke said Friday that the county already uses E-Verify for all its employees. County Human Resources Director Francine Reis said that's not true.
Michael Andersen: 360-735-4508 or michael.andersen@columbian.com.
Big contractors could be required to verify all employees’ legal status
Saturday, August 15 | 10:39 p.m.
BY MICHAEL ANDERSEN
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER
Clark County is considering requiring its biggest contractors to sign on to a federal system designed to prevent the hiring of illegal immigrants.
Like other employers, Clark County already requires applicants to provide a Social Security number before taking a county job.
The online E-Verify system goes beyond that to immediately check the validity of each worker's Social Security number.
"We have a responsibility to the people of the county to see to it that the people who work for us are also legitimate" residents, said County Commissioner Tom Mielke, who has been pushing for the new requirement.
The rule would only apply to public works and services contracts of $1 million or more.
Companies' subcontractors would also be affected.
Commissioners will consider the proposal at a 6 p.m. public hearing on Sept. 1 in the sixth-floor hearing room of the county Public Service Center.
Big federal contractors will soon be required to use E-Verify, said Prosecuting Attorney Curt Wyrick.
Mike Bomar, a spokesman for the Building Industry Association of Clark County, said his board will probably discuss the proposal soon.
"In general, we support E-Verify," Bomar said. "[But] if contractors have to verify that their subcontractors' employees are legal, we get concerned."
Mike Carnahan, secretary-treasurer of the Clark Skamania West Klickitat Central Labor Council, said his organization of local unions has not discussed the issue and has no plans to do so.
"Most of us, when we go to work, we try to work with the human beings that are there … and let the people that are way above us and have pay grades worry about the details," Carnahan said.
Mielke said Friday that the county already uses E-Verify for all its employees. County Human Resources Director Francine Reis said that's not true.
Michael Andersen: 360-735-4508 or michael.andersen@columbian.com.
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