Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/34477
6A Daily News – Tuesday, June 21, 2011 Opinion D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Congress Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Editor. Now Congress is thinking of cutting the employer's FICA as they've done with the other half, which was a stupid idea. To put more money into the economy. Any money put into our econo- my goes into paying for all the things we buy at inflated prices as it is. They just don't get it. And Biden has a plan to shave a trillion off the debt in 10 years, when it's growing at $1.6 trillion a year now. What college did he go to? That guy has absolutely no sense at all. They should tape his mouth shut and freeze his brain, if he has one. For sci- ence to study when he leaves this earth. President Obama blames this slow recovery on automation? As though automation just recently came into being. Another nutcase, our president or not. Social security and medicare is hurting as it is. Maybe if they didn't borrow from it for years, it might be solvent. I'd love to know how much they've bor- rowed and for what. They con- sistently tackle the wrong side of the issue trying to save money, and it doesn't work, but they go on and on. One thing they do possess is tenacity. Too bad actually. I had retired from writing let- ters, let somebody else do it but when I hear something so stu- pid, I can't help myself. God help us all from these nuts. Bernice Cressy, Cottonwood The Metamorphopurse Editor: Last Thursday, while on a road trip between the SF Bay Area and Portland, Ore,, my mother briefly stopped for lunch in Red Bluff. While she was getting back into her car, she absentmindedly left her purse on the hood of her car, then drove off. Fortunately for her, a good citizen of your city (thank you, kind anonymous stranger) found it on the street and immediately drove it to the police station. Soon after, we were notified of its where- abouts. Good news, you'd think. And aside from the minor inconve- nience of her not having credit cards, phone, reading glasses, etc for the duration of her short visit, it seemed like the best possible result we could expect. All other scenarios were far worse, so we felt very lucky that a kind-hearted person — with an assist from the local police department — came to the rescue. Yeah, humanity. Then we tried to get the purse back. My Kafkaesque journey began on Thursday afternoon, as I returned the initial call from the policeman who first contacted me. After several attempts, I couldn't reach him, so on the following day, I spoke to a dispatcher who said that the original officer involved was now on vacation, so I'd have to deal with someone else. Fair enough. Then I was given a name of someone who was in charge of items in the evidence room. I called and left a number to call me, and yet again no one responded. I called late Friday, and was given two additional names of people to help me, yet they also neglected to return my calls. I called back and talked to another dispatcher, who informed me that the guy who has control of the evidence room will be in on Monday, and to call early Monday to make arrangements for someone to stop by to pick up the purse. Pretty banal stuff, I must admit, yet now it also seems to be spiraling out of control. On Monday morning, I was told that the evidence room guy was actually returning from vaca- tion on Tuesday, and if I could- n't reach him, you can ask for the on-duty sergeant to get the ball rolling. Tuesday is also the day that my mom will be returning to the SF area, so she will be passing through Red Bluff again. So I call Tuesday morning. I reach a dispatcher who indig- nantly informs me that “only one person ever has the key to the evidence room, and he went on vacation yesterday (Mon- day) and won't return for at least a week.” I was told re-contact them (sorry, Mom), not an interna- tional terrorist. It seems that it might be easier getting a guy named Ahmed out of Gitmo than to get a purse back from the Red Bluff Police Depart- ment. Also, since they Your Turn won't ship a purse, the only way for her to get her purse back is to drive 450 miles roundtrip from SF to retrieve it. Nice touch, Red Bluff Police Department. Way to go the extra mile. Franz could've learned plen- ty about exercises in futility by studying the lost-item protocol developed by the Red Bluff Police Department. I know I did. Mark Strek, Portland, Ore. Little League thank you Editor: I would like to extend a huge thank you to Korri and Tom McMahan for the countless hours they spend making our Red Bluff Little League run so smoothly this year. It's the behind the scenes following week to begin the paperwork process, which will take three to five days. Huh? My mom’s a little old lady work that individuals such as Korri and Tom do that make youth sports programs such a success in Tehama County. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Tom, you can chalk my field anytime. teers. Thanks to all youth volun- Brian Dagen, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. E-Verify opponents tilting at windmills Commentary Last week, Alabama Gover- nor Robert Bentley signed legis- lation (HB 56) that requires the use of E-Verify by all state employers. The law also gives Alabama some of the country’s strongest illegal-immigration enforcement tools. Over the last decade, illegal immigration has increased in Alabama by 325 percent. In a statement that underlines how over-immigration hurts American workers State Senator Scott Beason, a HB 56 cospon- sor, said, "This is a jobs bill. We have a problem with an illegal workforce that displaces Alaba- ma workers. We need to put those people back to work. That's the No.1 priority." Another supporter, Republi- can state Rep. John Merrill said he didn’t hesitate to back the legislation because it is "good for Alabama" and will reduce illegal immigration into the state while "providing equal opportu- nities for all because who want to come to Alabama legally." HB 56 requires all businesses, public and private, to begin using E-Verify effective April 1, 2012. Businesses that do not comply face suspension of their license and loss of employee expensing for state income tax purposes. Other features of HB 56 will create misdemeanors for hiring day-laborers when Americans are available, failing to carry an alien registration card, produc- ing fake ID and aiding and abet- ting illegal immigrants. It also will ban illegal aliens from attending state universities and colleges as well as prohibit sanc- tuary city policies. In an effort to determine what the exact costs are of education for illegal alien children, HB 56 requires elementary and sec- ondary schools to request a birth certificate for all enrolling stu- dents. That provision will enable Alabama to determine whether such minors were born outside of the U.S. or are children of illegal aliens requiring English- as-a-Second-language classes. Detractors like the Alabama- based Southern Poverty Law Center’s legal director Mary Bauer quickly labeled HB 56 "mean-spirited, racist, unconsti- tutional and going to be costly." But Bauer and others who oppose strong immigration enforcement measures are tilting at windmills. Enforcement is high on the list of states’ gov- ernment priorities. As many as 30 are considering or currently drafting legislation similar to Alabama’s for the simple reason that they are broke and can no longer afford to provide services and jobs to illegal aliens. Rep. Micky Hammon, the measure’s original sponsor, added that the bill was carefully drafted to be sound constitutionally. Challenges to the Ari- zona E-Verify law may have encouraged Alabama’s meticulous care in determining its language. More important, two recent Supreme Court decisions have upheld states’ rights to enforce immigration laws. In 5-3 decisions, the high court sided with Arizona and Hazleton (PA.) by allowing enforcement of local laws that prohibit employers from know- ingly hiring illegal aliens and confirmed that state govern- ments can force the use of E- Verify even though Congress has never mandated its use. About the court’s decision last month on the Arizona case, Joe Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: "(Federal law) expressly reserves to the states the authori- ty to impose sanctions on employers hiring unauthorized workers, through licensing and similar laws. In exercising that authority, Arizona has taken the route least likely to cause tension with fed- eral law." With the handwrit- ing on the wall, busi- ness lobbies like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce should work with Congress for a national bill instead of allowing each state to have its own version of E-Veri- fy legislation. Guzzardi Joe Guzzardi has written editorial columns—mostly about immigration and related social issues - since 1986. He is a senior writing fellow for Californians for Population Stabilization (CAPS) and his columns have frequently been syndicated in various U.S. newspapers and websites. He can be reached at JoeGuzzardi@CAPSweb.org.