Arizona House Passes Wage Protection
For Illegal Immigrants

May 21, 2002

PHOENIX — When someone works in Arizona, they should be paid, regardless of their citizenship status, according to a bill approved by the House Tuesday.

On a 31-25 vote, the House passed, which requires employers to pay employees due wages regardless of their immigration status or national origin. It now moves to consideration by the Senate, which has not voted on the provisions because they were added in an amendment by the House.

Critics said the bill encourages illegal immigration.

"This almost condones the practice," said Rep. Randy Graf, R-Green Valley. "We need to
find solutions to this. This bill here does not help."

Supporters argued the issue is a matter of fairness, not immigration.
"This says if you work, you get paid," Rep. Ken Cheuvront, D-Phoenix, said. "We value people who work. We will not allow unscrupulous people who hire them to not pay them."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/breaking/5_21_02pay.html