Arizona CEOs tell Senate President to let the Feds handle immigration law

[Article 15]

Dozens of major Arizona employers are urging state lawmakers to not pass additional legislation targeting illegal immigration, saying it would damage the economy and tourism industry.

CEOs urge Arizona to forgo immigration measures

Senator Russell Pearce, Senate President
Arizona State Senate
1700 W Washington, Room S-205
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Dear President Pearce,
Thank you for your willingness to serve Arizona as a Member of the Arizona State Senate. We, like you, are concerned about the challenges facing our State, particularly the need to address our structural deficit and insure an economic environment that attracts and retains high quality jobs.

While we recognize the desire for states like Arizona to fill the leadership vacuum left by federal inaction on immigration, we strongly believe it is unwise for the Legislature to pass any additional immigration legislation, including any measures leaving the determination of citizenship to the state.

We agree with you that our borders must be protected first, and now. We also believe that market-driven immigration policies can and should be developed by the federal government that will sustain America’s status as a magnet for the world’s most talented and hard-working people and preserve our ability to compete in the global economy.

If the Legislature believes it is worthwhile to debate the question of citizenship, we believe that debate is best held in the U.S. Congress. Already, Senators David Vitter of Louisiana and Rand Paul of Kentucky have introduced legislation aimed at amending the 14th Amendment to deny “birthright citizenship” to those born to individuals living in the U.S. illegally. Iowa Rep. Steve King has introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House.

Arizona’s lawmakers and citizens are right to be concerned about illegal immigration. But we must acknowledge that when Arizona goes it alone on this issue, unintended consequences inevitably occur. Last year, boycotts were called against our state’s business community, adversely impacting our already-struggling economy and costing us jobs. Arizona-based businesses saw contracts cancelled or were turned away from bidding. Sales outside of the state declined. Even a business which merely had “Arizona” in its name felt the effects of the boycotts, compelling them to launch an educational campaign about their company’s roots in Brooklyn. It is an undeniable fact that each of our companies and our employees were impacted by the boycotts and the coincident negative image.

Tourism, one of our state’s largest industries and employment centers, also suffered from negative perceptions after the passage of SB 1070. The fact Governor Brewer directed $250,000 to repairing Arizona’s reputation strongly suggests these efforts – whether fair or unfair - are harmful to our image.

Let us be clear: our dissension with legislative action on the state level does not translate to our being “pro-illegal immigration.” To the contrary, we believe Congress must address border security, identity theft, sound and implementable employment verification systems and policies and the creation of a meaningful guest worker program. Therefore, we urge the Legislature to redirect its energy by joining us in pressing the federal government for meaningful immigration reform. Together, we can get results.

Respectfully,

Drew Brown, Managing Director, DMB Associates, Inc.
Philip Francis, Executive Chairman, PetSmart; Chairman, GPL
Ronald Butler, Arizona Managing Partner, Ernst & Young
W. Douglas Parker, Chairman, President/CEO, U.S. Airways Group
Ronald Brown, President, Atrium Holding Company
Richard Dozer, Chairman, GenSpring Family Offices
Stephen Rizley, Sr. Vice President/General Mgr., Cox Communications, Inc.
Daniel Connor, President/CEO, Blood Systems
John Graham, President, Sunbelt Holdings
Peter Fine, President/CEO, Banner Health
Craig Phelps, Provost, A.T. Still University
Jeff Whiteman, President/CEO, Empire Southwest LLC
Thomas Sadvary, President/CEO, Scottsdale Healthcare
William Coats, Chief Executive Officer, The Leona Group
Herman Chanen, Chairman/CEO, The Chanen Corporation
Lee Hanley, Chairman/CEO, Vestar Development Company
William Schubert, Chairman, Kitchell Corporation
Jon Pettibone, Managing Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP
Paul Dykstra, Chairman, President/CEO, Viad Corporation
David Bruno, Vice Chairman, Managing Director, DHR International, Inc.
Marty Laurel, Vice President, Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ
James Gentile, President/CEO, Research Corp for Science Adv.
Roger Vogel, Chairman, President/CEO, Vante Medical Technologies
Michael Duran, Vice President, Chief Dev. Off., TMC Healthcare/TMC Found.
F. Michael Geddes, Chairman, President, Geddes and Company
Bruce Beach, CEO, BeachFleischman PC, Chairman, SALC
J. Doug Pruitt, Chairman/CEO, Sundt Construction, Inc.
Brian Johnson, Managing Director, Loews Ventana Canyon
Peter Likins, President Emeritus, University of Arizona
Robert Delgado, President/CEO, Hensley Beverage Company
Michael Kennedy, President, Gallagher & Kennedy P.A.
Bruce Dusenberry, President, Horizon Moving Systems, Inc.
Robert Underwood, Chief Executive Officer, Underwood Brothers, Inc.
Shelly Esque, Vice President, Legal/Corp Affairs, Intel Corporation
Denise Resnik, President, Denise Resnik & Associates
Vince Roig, Chairman/CEO, Helios Foundation
Constance Perez, Chief Executive Officer, Adreima
Susan Williams, President/Founder, HR Choice
Kevin Sandler, President/CEO, ExhibitOne Corporation
Debbie Johnson, President/CEO, Arizona Hotel & Lodging Assoc
Jim Click, Jr., President, Jim Click Automotive
David Cohen, Executive Vice President, Team BeachFleishman PC
Donald Pitt, President, Campus Research Corporation
Alan Klein, Board Chair, So. Arizona Lodging & Resort Ass.
Michael Kasser, President, Holualoa Companies
Linda Hunt, Area President, CHW Arizona, President/CEO, St. Joseph’s Hosp
John Zidich, CEO/Publisher, Arizona Republic
Howard Fleischmann, Owner, Community Tire & Auto Repair
Nancy Stone, President, ILX Resorts, Inc.
Janice Cox, Retired CEO, Carondelet Foundation
Don Budinger, Chairman/Founding Director, The Rodel Foundations
David Anderson, President, Off Madison Avenue
Steven Wheeler, Chairman, Greater Phoenix Chamber
Bill Calloway, Plant Manager, Nestle-Purina, Flagstaff
J.R. Murray, Chairman, Flagstaff Forty
Kenneth Lamneck
Frances Merryman
The following inclusion of names is authorized, but signatures were not available at the time of printing.
Reginald Ballantyne III, Senior Corporate Officer, Vanguard Health Systems, Inc.
Gerrit van Huisstede, Regional President, Wells Fargo Bank
Earl Petznick, Jr., President/CEO, Northside Hay Company

CEOs on Immigration Letter | Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce

 

[LostAmerican]

Dozens of major Arizona employers are urging state lawmakers to not pass additional legislation targeting illegal immigration, saying it would damage the economy and tourism industry.

CEOs urge Arizona to forgo immigration measures

Senator Russell Pearce, Senate President
Arizona State Senate
1700 W Washington, Room S-205
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Dear President Pearce,
Thank you for your willingness to serve Arizona as a Member of the Arizona State Senate. We, like you, are concerned about the challenges facing our State, particularly the need to address our structural deficit and insure an economic environment that attracts and retains high quality jobs.

While we recognize the desire for states like Arizona to fill the leadership vacuum left by federal inaction on immigration, we strongly believe it is unwise for the Legislature to pass any additional immigration legislation, including any measures leaving the determination of citizenship to the state.

We agree with you that our borders must be protected first, and now. We also believe that market-driven immigration policies can and should be developed by the federal government that will sustain America’s status as a magnet for the world’s most talented and hard-working people and preserve our ability to compete in the global economy.

If the Legislature believes it is worthwhile to debate the question of citizenship, we believe that debate is best held in the U.S. Congress. Already, Senators David Vitter of Louisiana and Rand Paul of Kentucky have introduced legislation aimed at amending the 14th Amendment to deny “birthright citizenship” to those born to individuals living in the U.S. illegally. Iowa Rep. Steve King has introduced similar legislation in the U.S. House.

Arizona’s lawmakers and citizens are right to be concerned about illegal immigration. But we must acknowledge that when Arizona goes it alone on this issue, unintended consequences inevitably occur. Last year, boycotts were called against our state’s business community, adversely impacting our already-struggling economy and costing us jobs. Arizona-based businesses saw contracts cancelled or were turned away from bidding. Sales outside of the state declined. Even a business which merely had “Arizona” in its name felt the effects of the boycotts, compelling them to launch an educational campaign about their company’s roots in Brooklyn. It is an undeniable fact that each of our companies and our employees were impacted by the boycotts and the coincident negative image.

Tourism, one of our state’s largest industries and employment centers, also suffered from negative perceptions after the passage of SB 1070. The fact Governor Brewer directed $250,000 to repairing Arizona’s reputation strongly suggests these efforts – whether fair or unfair - are harmful to our image.

Let us be clear: our dissension with legislative action on the state level does not translate to our being “pro-illegal immigration.” To the contrary, we believe Congress must address border security, identity theft, sound and implementable employment verification systems and policies and the creation of a meaningful guest worker program. Therefore, we urge the Legislature to redirect its energy by joining us in pressing the federal government for meaningful immigration reform. Together, we can get results.

Respectfully,

Drew Brown, Managing Director, DMB Associates, Inc.
Philip Francis, Executive Chairman, PetSmart; Chairman, GPL
Ronald Butler, Arizona Managing Partner, Ernst & Young
W. Douglas Parker, Chairman, President/CEO, U.S. Airways Group
Ronald Brown, President, Atrium Holding Company
Richard Dozer, Chairman, GenSpring Family Offices
Stephen Rizley, Sr. Vice President/General Mgr., Cox Communications, Inc.
Daniel Connor, President/CEO, Blood Systems
John Graham, President, Sunbelt Holdings
Peter Fine, President/CEO, Banner Health
Craig Phelps, Provost, A.T. Still University
Jeff Whiteman, President/CEO, Empire Southwest LLC
Thomas Sadvary, President/CEO, Scottsdale Healthcare
William Coats, Chief Executive Officer, The Leona Group
Herman Chanen, Chairman/CEO, The Chanen Corporation
Lee Hanley, Chairman/CEO, Vestar Development Company
William Schubert, Chairman, Kitchell Corporation
Jon Pettibone, Managing Partner, Quarles & Brady LLP
Paul Dykstra, Chairman, President/CEO, Viad Corporation
David Bruno, Vice Chairman, Managing Director, DHR International, Inc.
Marty Laurel, Vice President, Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ
James Gentile, President/CEO, Research Corp for Science Adv.
Roger Vogel, Chairman, President/CEO, Vante Medical Technologies
Michael Duran, Vice President, Chief Dev. Off., TMC Healthcare/TMC Found.
F. Michael Geddes, Chairman, President, Geddes and Company
Bruce Beach, CEO, BeachFleischman PC, Chairman, SALC
J. Doug Pruitt, Chairman/CEO, Sundt Construction, Inc.
Brian Johnson, Managing Director, Loews Ventana Canyon
Peter Likins, President Emeritus, University of Arizona
Robert Delgado, President/CEO, Hensley Beverage Company
Michael Kennedy, President, Gallagher & Kennedy P.A.
Bruce Dusenberry, President, Horizon Moving Systems, Inc.
Robert Underwood, Chief Executive Officer, Underwood Brothers, Inc.
Shelly Esque, Vice President, Legal/Corp Affairs, Intel Corporation
Denise Resnik, President, Denise Resnik & Associates
Vince Roig, Chairman/CEO, Helios Foundation
Constance Perez, Chief Executive Officer, Adreima
Susan Williams, President/Founder, HR Choice
Kevin Sandler, President/CEO, ExhibitOne Corporation
Debbie Johnson, President/CEO, Arizona Hotel & Lodging Assoc
Jim Click, Jr., President, Jim Click Automotive
David Cohen, Executive Vice President, Team BeachFleishman PC
Donald Pitt, President, Campus Research Corporation
Alan Klein, Board Chair, So. Arizona Lodging & Resort Ass.
Michael Kasser, President, Holualoa Companies
Linda Hunt, Area President, CHW Arizona, President/CEO, St. Joseph’s Hosp
John Zidich, CEO/Publisher, Arizona Republic
Howard Fleischmann, Owner, Community Tire & Auto Repair
Nancy Stone, President, ILX Resorts, Inc.
Janice Cox, Retired CEO, Carondelet Foundation
Don Budinger, Chairman/Founding Director, The Rodel Foundations
David Anderson, President, Off Madison Avenue
Steven Wheeler, Chairman, Greater Phoenix Chamber
Bill Calloway, Plant Manager, Nestle-Purina, Flagstaff
J.R. Murray, Chairman, Flagstaff Forty
Kenneth Lamneck
Frances Merryman
The following inclusion of names is authorized, but signatures were not available at the time of printing.
Reginald Ballantyne III, Senior Corporate Officer, Vanguard Health Systems, Inc.
Gerrit van Huisstede, Regional President, Wells Fargo Bank
Earl Petznick, Jr., President/CEO, Northside Hay Company

CEOs on Immigration Letter | Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce

Hmmmm? A list of people who don't live in neighborhoods overrun by Mexicans. Yeah!!! Let's trust their opinion.

 

[California Girl]

Could the left please make up their collective mind.... is it acceptable for business to influence politicians or not?

Jeeeez.

 

[Article 15]

Could the left please make up their collective mind.... is it acceptable for business to influence politicians or not?

Jeeeez.

Sup, Rat.

Just an FYI ... I am one person. I represent myself and not "the left."

Also, please post a link to me saying that it is unacceptable for business to influence politicians or shut your fat mouth.

Thanks in advance.

Your pal,

A-15

 

[Stephanie]

Seems to me these "businesses" don't want to lose the MONEY they are making off illegal immigration.

Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy.

 

[Mad Scientist]

Could the left please make up their collective mind.... is it acceptable for business to influence politicians or not?

Jeeeez.

This.

Business only want's the Fed to handle immigration because they know the Fed won't.

 

[LilOlLady]

CEOs?? I get it. Cheap labor.

 

[Angelhair]

Of course it's cheap labor. Since when are CEOs happy with paying a good wage with benefits????

 

[LilOlLady]

Seems to me these "businesses" don't want to lose the MONEY they are making off illegal immigration.

Doesn't that make you feel all warm and fuzzy.

And to hell with tax payers who are footing the bill for education, welfare and housing, law enforcemenet and incarceration for illegal aliens? We may as well GTF up and go straight to amnesty, open the border and save the money spent on enforcement to balance the budget? Put illegal aliens on equal footing and watch businesses deal with no more cheap labor.

 

[Anachronism]

So far as I'm concerned the Governor's first response should have been to inform these CEO's that their opinions as CEO's hold no more weight thanany other citizen. As is is not generally the place of the Government to be involved in the day-to-day operations of a private business, nor should it be the place of any Business to be involved in the day-to-day political decisions of the Government. Therefore, sending this letter with their titles attached should have made it worthless to the Governor.

 

[LilOlLady]

We will eventually give up on enforcement altogether because it cost too much. That will be the best excuse for amnesty.


The High Cost of Immigration Enforcement

 

[Two Thumbs]

Art,

Are you for this?

This doesn't make any sense beyond these people wanting to hire illegals at crap wages and no benefits.

Personnaly I'd advise the FBI and the local cops to investigate all the signers.

 

[Modbert]

But wait, the collective thought by the right in this thread is the CEOs are just out to make more money for their companies. I thought corporations had the best interest of the average American in mind? Am I being told now that corporations are greedy and are merely looking out for their own self-interest?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds this amusing.

 

[Two Thumbs]

But wait, the collective thought by the right in this thread is the CEOs are just out to make more money for their companies. I thought corporations had the best interest of the average American in mind? Illegals are not Americans. Am I being told now that corporations are greedy and are merely looking out for their own self-interest?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds this amusing.

That's b/c that's what you want to see.

We are also humanitarians that also care about the law.

We don't want illegals here and we also don't want to see them abused.

here's something funny;

The left wants to keep them here, knowing they are used and abused.

oh, wait, that's not funny.

 

[LilOlLady]

Could the left please make up their collective mind.... is it acceptable for business to influence politicians or not?

Jeeeez.

Sup, Rat.

Just an FYI ... I am one person. I represent myself and not "the left."

Also, please post a link to me saying that it is unacceptable for business to influence politicians or shut your fat mouth.Thanks in advance.

Your pal,

A-15

Link was posted idiot. read and comprehend.

CEOs on Immigration Letter | Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce

But you need more;


How Corporations Influence the Government
© Marc A Triebwasser, 1998
http://www.polisci.ccsu.edu/trieb/InfluGov.html



Who decides American foreign policy?
http://www.helium.com/items/473625-who-decides-american-foreign-policy

 

[Terral]

Hi Article:

....While we recognize the desire for states like Arizona to fill the leadership vacuum left by federal inaction on immigration, we strongly believe it is unwise for the Legislature to pass any additional immigration legislation, including any measures leaving the determination of citizenship to the state ....

In other words, all of those companies want to be left alone and allowed to undercut their competition using all the illegal aliens they want and knowing full well that the Federal Government will continue looking the other way. The state of Arizona has handled this immigration situation badly from day one. Instead of trying to pass their own laws, they should be bringing suit against the Federal Govt for refusing to enforce the perfectly good immigration, employment and document fraud laws already on the books. Every illegal alien picked up should be handed over to the Feds and the Feds should be charged every dime it takes to house and feed each illegal alien that their non-enforcement allows to stay in this country illegally.

The Feds should be taken to court over every Arizona citizen that is harmed by any illegal alien that the Federal non-enforcement policy allows to stay and thrive in this country illegally. Twenty-five US citizens are killed every day by illegal aliens that are allowed to run around loose everywhere and the Federal Government should be forced to pay the families of each victim, until they finally realize that enforcing our laws is the best avenue for their pocketbook.

All of the companies that signed on to this document of lawlessness should be boycotted and run out of business, so the legitimate companies hiring law-abiding US Citizens can have a larger share of the market.

Terral

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Arizona CEOs tell Senate President to let the Feds handle immigration law

CEOs endorsing overly cheap labor. Get outta town....

 

[Uncensored2008]

Hmmmm? A list of people who don't live in neighborhoods overrun by Mexicans. Yeah!!! Let's trust their opinion.

It's a list of people seeking cheap labor from illegals.

 

[LostAmerican]

Hmmmm? A list of people who don't live in neighborhoods overrun by Mexicans. Yeah!!! Let's trust their opinion.

It's a list of people seeking cheap labor from illegals.

............many of which donate to LA RAZA type organizations!

 

[LilOlLady]

If illegal immigration is so good for our economy that we are not going to deport them or prosecute them, then other illegal operations is as well. Prostitutes and pimps earn lots of money and purchase lot of products and services, drug dealers earn lots of money and purchase lot of products and services so why not stop prosecuting these illegal operations and the economy should thrive. It cost too much to enforce immigration laws against illegals and it's just as costly to go after prostitutes, pimps and drug dealers and to incarcerate them. They don't pay taxes and neither does illegals.
20 million illegals are in this country earning and spending money but still our economy is failing miserable. Education system, healthcare system and social services system is broke so where are illegals helping our economy? Do we need more to help our economy to recover. More prostitutes and pimps? More drugs dealers?