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Immigration enforcement debate muddies farm bill
 
By Associated Press
Published: 9/9/2007  1:59 PM
Last Modified: 9/9/2007  9:12 PM

HUTCHINSON, Kan. -- Consumers could see the price of fruits and vegetables double if the nation does not address a looming farm labor shortage in the wake of tightening immigration enforcement, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson said Saturday.

Peterson, D-Minn., told producers attending the Kansas State Fair that the agriculture committee will focus on the immigration issue as it strives to do its part to make sure there is adequate labor. He said some crops will not be harvested this year unless something is done.

Peterson said after the forum that he has talked with judiciary committee leaders in an effort to hold either separate or joint hearings on the issue within the next two weeks.

“We are going to let producers come in and tell their stories, what they are concerned about. We think there could be significant increases in food prices caused by this if we don’t fix it,” Peterson said.

Farmers need a realistic guest worker program, he said.

“Everybody recognizes something has to be done in agriculture, but one of the problems we’ve got is that people don’t want to fix our problems without fixing the rest of it.

... They feel they may lose momentum to get the overall problem solved,” he said.
By Associated Press

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LM, Cleveland (9/9/2007 6:06:16 PM)
Lower the Tariffs on imported Vegetables...Duh!
Report Comment
rick, (9/9/2007 6:13:18 PM)
Get the people that are on food stamps and leach off the government to start picking the crops. Make the lazy people start to pay their on way by going to work.
Report Comment
SPQR_US, (9/9/2007 6:34:05 PM)
More scare tactics from the racists and their lackey's at La Raza. prices won't go up much and taxes will go lower. Illegals are huge welfare and Emergency Room hounds. they are also getting 100% free healthcare gratis our tax dollars.

Big farming and corrupt corporate lobbyists keep spiing these whoppers. Get rid of illegals and we'll save tons of money. BTW 80% of the food harvested in the US is done with LEGAL FARM LABOR not illegal immigratns.

Report Comment
rusty , tulsa (9/9/2007 7:14:36 PM)
Propaganda put out by the government is not new,this guy is full of beans.
Report Comment
tony, sapulpa (9/9/2007 7:38:46 PM)
Yes some thing has to be done! Send the illegals back home then bring them back as farm labors and go through getting here legal then we can talk about comming here like the rest.

I can not see breaking the law and then demand it all

Report Comment
GO, Tulsa (9/9/2007 9:54:03 PM)
Let the price double. I'll gladly pay it just to get rid of the illegals, OR I (and the rest of us) can boycott the entire lot and let it rot. It's just one scare tactic after another. We need to stick together people; the illegals do, and we can do it far better. After all, it's US that buy most of these products, not the illegals.
Report Comment
ron, Tulsa (9/9/2007 10:04:23 PM)
Thats BS and they know it,it's been proven that fruit and veg would not change in price and if it did it would NOT be over 100.00 a year! I would NOT care if they did double, its cheaper then all the millions it cost us with health care,schools,lost of lives due to illegals.we have 9 kinds of work visa's. we would have NO-Shortage of workers. what happen to the days when the newspaper printed something it had better be the truth?
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davidtulsa19yahoo.com, tulsa (9/9/2007 10:37:15 PM)
SPOR_US what a stupid comment!!!all of this comments are full of hate you racist people. like GOTULSA say's "let the price double, i'll glady pay just to get rid of illegals" i would like to see that. why been hate full, because you guys know that one day you guys will be working for a hispanic??? dont hate or went you guys die i will seee you in hell
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davidtulsa19yahoo.com, tulsa (9/9/2007 10:39:49 PM)
and i forget there is my email if you have anyquestions "Webster student"
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White American, (9/10/2007 9:48:24 AM)
I have been following the illegal alien issue for a long time now. What I find to be the case is that most Anti immigration views come from radical propaganda about the immigrants themselves. They are referred to in many vile ways. These people that tend to be against any type of immigration reform, because their true feelings is to close off our borders to any immigration. It is my opinion that, not all, but most are a danger to our society, to our Government, to America.
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E T, tulsa (9/10/2007 10:16:36 AM)
hospitals all over the nation are closing because they have to give illegals free treatments. prices are going up more because of the illegals than they would if they went back to their own countries. Mexico is trying to bankrupt America and they are doing a good job of it.
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Jim C, Adair (9/10/2007 10:42:57 AM)
How about if all the illegals go back to Mexico raise fruits and vegetables there at a very reduced price do to the glut of labor and we can import them and Mexico can pay for it's own peoples social welfare huh! Farmers here can get off the dole too.
Report Comment
ESFS, (9/10/2007 4:42:05 PM)
Do you know what I think? USA problem does not all concerns immigration. What's happening to our nation is mostly related to the fact that we're turning our back on God. Yes, being here knowing that you're not in accordance to basic rules of our country isn't right and I, truthfully wish that there would be a quick and fair solution to this issue. Sending immigrants back it's not going to help this country to get back on its feet. We already have Iraq hating us and it seems that we need other nations feeling the same so we can grow stronger and be more powerful, right??? We have to remember that this issue about immigration, is not only about Mexico, there are so many other countries involved, what do we really gain with this massacre? This nation has been known for many good reasons, now, we're going to be changing it to bads only; Loosing soldiers, gas price increasing, our kids not being to say a prayer, say the name of Jesus, talk about religion in school, that's something we should focus on fighting before it's too late.

We are looking in the wrong direction and trying to hurt or kill the wrong people!!!

Report Comment
grower, tulsa (9/10/2007 8:42:16 PM)
I grow and can my own own vegetables. Cheaper, healthier and tastier.

That said, if the price of crops goes up, it will be countered by the price of allowing non-citizens to take advantage of our country.

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davitulsa19.com, tulsa (9/11/2007 9:18:53 PM)
Dont hate" racist people. live youre life and let others live it. one day we all going to die and we are all going to the same place eather hell or heaven.
Report Comment
ESFS, (9/12/2007 12:09:15 PM)
Who's trying not to live its own life here??? Oh, and I don't "hate" anyone, I'm more to a polite/christian behavior, so I shall say that I disaprove what has been done to "immigrants" as if they were trashy,unworthy, uncapable...I strongly belive that something needs to be done, but in other hand, we should not forget that these immigrants are REAL PEOPLE, WITH REAL FAMILIES just like anyone in this country or any other part of the world.Let's not get confused with the difference between TERRORISTS X IMMIGRANTS... Hope that says all!!

I hope our country will get stronger using he right "tools" , may have peace with the world

and have more and more reasons to be proud to be an american!!

Report Comment
RC, Tulsa (9/13/2007 12:41:56 AM)
We have laws in the USA. If you are here illegally then you are breaking our laws and you need to leave. Come back the legal route and you will be welcomed. We will not change our laws because "you" don't like them. The US will get it 's fruits and vegetables one way or another. Quit breaking our laws. Mexico would not tolerate US citizens breaking their laws, why should we?? And quit playing the "racist" card. It won't work after OJ. And why don't you go back and change Mexico? 99% of the wealth of Mexico is owned by 1% of the population. You can change your government. you have 99% of the people in the same situation. Or go and lobby Mexico to become a part of the USA. Mexico must be an awful place to let their citizens starve and have to break other countries laws to find work.
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pm, tulsa (9/13/2007 10:14:56 AM)
ESFS, I am not sure what country you are living in but america is on its feet. What do you mean get back on its feet? I have to agree to trade food stamp people for crop harvests. Possibly put the inmates in the prisons busy also. There are tons of ways to deal with this. For some reason they try and convince americans that mexico is the only way and that is hog sht. They need to mosy on back to mexico and get in line to pick crops. I have my checkbook ready to pay a higher price. Lets go with it.
Report Comment
ESFS, (9/13/2007 12:31:25 PM)
Tulsa,we're dealing with terrorism everywhere, literally. If u watch the news, here and there, there's a warning about a possible terrorism attack; we're dealing on having to pay way more on gas than about 5 to 8 years ago;we're dealing with a huge amount of citezens,just like u and I, dying everyday becouse of an endless, non sense war;We've been dealing with politicians getting caught for fraude... So, does that answer why we need to get back on our feet? It's not that we're dealing with one major problem, but with several BIG problems, as we never had b4.
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davidtulsa19yahoo.com, tulsa (9/13/2007 11:10:59 PM)
here we go again do you think there only mexicans in the usa that are illegaly. man educate youre self. theres more people from russia illegally than anyother country and its not only mexicans there are from argentina, brasil, uruguay. chile, etc, worry about war, or gas or youre famiy RC, Tulsa.
Report Comment
tulsahotguy19@yahoo.com, tulsa (9/13/2007 11:14:57 PM)
gave thanks to god that you dont have to immigrate to support youre familly. but think just for a little be how those people are feeling about comments like youres RC tulsa. worry about irak there really a big treouble.
 

 
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