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Michael D. Pitman reports about Butler County, Ohio, politics, county government, countywide issues and Butler County people just like you for Cox Ohio Publishing (including the Hamilton JournalNews, Middletown Journal and several weekly papers in Butler County). He wants your suggestions and questions for more news stories. Leave a comment for him here or e-mail Michael at Home > Blogs > Butler County News and Issues > Archives > 2011 > June > 22
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sheriff Jones: illegal immigration reform = job growth
Sheriff Richard K. Jones sent a letter to Gov. John Kasich Wednesday asking the governor what he has done to address illegal immigration in Ohio. He led the letter stating: “You have been in office for nearly six months now. I heard you say in a speech that ‘…illegal is illegal…’ and ‘…what part of that don’t they understand?….’”
But he questioned the lack of movement on an illegal immigration reform law. Jones cited in the letter that several states have passed legislation “to provide remedies for their illegal population,” specifically stating South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley plans to sign legislation that has passed that state’s House and Senate. In all, eight states have passed or are considering similar controversial laws.
Jones wrote: “It appears that this is not a priority with you and your office. It should be a priority for you if you are looking at jobs, jobs, jobs.”
Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols said the governor welcomes any and all ideas, including ones from Jones that evolve around immigration reform issues.
“The governor agrees we need to do everything we can to create jobs for Ohioans,” Nichols said, “and he welcomes ideas from the sheriff and from everyone else on fiscal policies, tax polices and the workforce policies like those mentioned by the sheriff.”
Cincinnati Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Alfonso Cornejo said Jones’ letter is about “hate, hate, hate.”
“This is exactly the last thing we want to do in a state that’s struggling for growth,” he said.
Shelly Bromberg, a Miami University Hamilton professor who teaches Latin American Studies, said the states Jones refers to in his letter “are in, or entering into, expensive and protracted law suits that are challenging the constitutionality of the anti-immigrant laws, so there’s a drain on scant resources.”
She continues: “Likewise, if this state really does want to make money, you would think they would jump at the chance to collect the myriad fines and fees that legalization would bring along with all kinds of jobs.
She also cited that the Center for American Progress (and other studies) show immigrants “increase job prospects for everyone not vice-a-versa.”
“There are never any hard numbers or facts for these claims,” she said referring to Jones’ comments that illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans. “To my knowledge no one has ever directly linked undocumented workers to lost jobs.”
Jones is known for his plans to curb illegal immigration in Butler County. Here’s a short list of what Jones has done:
• last October he wanted to sue Mexico and was looking for a pro bono attorney to help
• posted a sign that read “Illegal Aliens Here” with an arrow pointed to the county jail
• a few years ago mailed the federal government a $70,000 bill for housing illegal immigrants in the county jail
• two years ago campaigned with Rep. Courtney Combs, R-Hamilton, last year to get an Arizona-like immigration reform bill passed in Ohio. He also traveled to Arizona with Combs.
TweetCommissioners to promote IS manager
Butler County commissioners are expected to promote Information Services Manager Eric Fletcher Thursday morning to director, to fill the vacancy left by Greg Sullivan who retired at the end of May.
Fletcher will get a $6,000 raise, elevating his annual salary to a little more than $82,000, said county administration Human Resources Director Gary Sheets. Sullivan had been making around $110,500, he said.
The difference in the salary will be used to provide pay raises to other positions in a consolidated Information Services Department, which has gone from 23 employees to 19. Sheets said the consolidation and reallocation of salary is being done in hopes “we can retain people who are going to be offered jobs in private industry.”
The county had advertised for the Information Services director position and around 100 people had applied.
Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Butler County, County Commission
TweetWhat’s next with the Board of Elections?
This has been quite a week for Butler County.
I’m sure plenty of people are anxious to comment about this story involving Butler County Board of Elections Director Tippi Slaughter, but until today, June 22 — when actual charges were levied — many of the unanswered questions were speculative. But there is a more clear picture that’s happening, but there are still some unanswered questions that need answers.
Slaughter was indicted earlier today on two counts of theft of office. Slaughter — who was until last Thursday the Democratic Party’s treasurer — had taken what Democratic Party Chairwoman Jocelyn Bucaro called “unauthorized withdraws” from the party’s coffers. She said the party had not authorized Slaughter to take $1,700 from the party bank account, and it was not for party business.
On Thursday, the Butler County Board of Elections will meet to discuss the personnel actions taken last week. In light of today’s indictments, I cannot see the board keeping Slaughter as director. I think the only question is, will she resign or be fired?
The Board of Elections Chairman Tom Ellis had been tight-lipped about this, and likely rightfully so. But there are some questions out there. The first question is what does Chris Hatfield have to do with this? He’s the warehouse employee who was also placed on paid administrative leave at the same time as Slaughter.
GOP Party Chairman Dave Kern isn’t commenting on this, saying “it’s inappropriate” to comment.
Hopefully Thursday will shed some light on all the issues, such as the other outstanding questions, like why did James Schmidt break into the Board of Elections office and Fairfield title office and why did she take $1,700? What did she plan to use it for?
But regardless of all that has happened, it’s just another unfortunate bruise on Butler County politics’ blackened eye — a black eye that tries to heal itself, but for some reason cannot.
Thoughts?
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment | Categories: Board of Elections, Butler County, Butler County Sheriff's Department, County Prosecutor, Democratic Party
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