Supreme Court upholds Arizona’s employer sanctions law. Was New York’s 26th election a Republican shellacking over Medicare plan? Egypt to open border crossing into Gaza Strip permanently. Orange County journalists’ roundtable.
Supreme Court upholds Arizona’s employer sanctions law
Today, in a 5 to 3 split decision, the U.S Supreme Court upheld a 2007 Arizona law that would impose sanctions on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. That law also requires Arizona employers to utilize E-Verify, a federal program to check the immigration status of potential employees. Employers who violate the statute could lose their business license for 10 days if they’re found in violation once, or permanently for bigger infractions. Opponents, including the U.S Chamber of Commerce, say the law amounts to a death penalty for Arizona’s businesses but the Court’s ruling declared that the law fits within the powers of the state and doesn’t infringe on federal law. What affect will this decision have on employers in California and other states that depend on immigrant labor? How might this ruling influence the way you hire workers for your business?
Guests:
Kris Kobach, Kansas Secretary of State; Constitutional law expert and former law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; Former counsel to Attorney General John Ashcroft on immigration law.
Lawrence Rosenthal, Professor of Law, Chapman School of Law
Was New York’s 26th election a Republican shellacking over Medicare plan?
The fight within the Republican Party over entitlement reform kicked into high gear this week after the surprise victory of Democrat Kathy Hochul, the now Congresswoman-elect in New York’s upstate district 26. Hochul won 47% of the vote in a district that has been held by a Republican since the 1960s. Some politicos are saying her victory is a referendum on Paul Ryan’s Medicare reform plan. Republicans rushed to defend their drive to cut government health spending, despite possible voter backlash. But on Wednesday, the Senate rejected Ryan’s plan — with five Republicans joining the majority. Dems are celebrating these victories and pledging to make Medicare the defining issue of the 2012 election. Was the New York race a clear referendum on Medicare reform? Is it good strategy for the GOP to stick with Ryan’s plan? Or is it too unpopular with voters to be worth the political cost?
Guests:
Jon Fleischman, Republican Strategist; Founder and Publisher of FlashReport.org
Jonathan Wilcox, Republican Strategist; former speech writer for Governor Pete Wilson
Egypt to open Rafah border crossing permanently
The new leadership in Egypt has announced it will open the Rafah crossing this Saturday as part of efforts "to end the status of the Palestinian division and achieve national reconciliation." The Mubarak regime had restricted the movement of people and goods for years -- in line with Israel's blockade on the Palestinian territory since the election of Hamas in 2007. How will this effect Egypt-Israel relations? What will it mean for the humanitarian situation in Gaza? Will it lead to an increase of weapons smuggled in?
Guests:
Ayman Mohyeldin, Egypt Correspondent, Al Jazeera English
Hussein Ibish, Senior Fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine & Executive Director of the Hala Foundation for Arab-American Leadership
Jacob Dayan, Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles
Orange County journalists’ roundtable
Larry and our talented trio of Orange County journalists riff on the latest news from the OC including stories on the crackdown on nudity and gambling in Little Saigon coffeehouses, public employee unions battle with Costa Mesa City Council, how 75 County execs are prospering while county workers are being laid off, Tony Rackauckas standing against Toyota, the “Godless” billboard in Westminster attracts Bible study group and others.
Guests:
Gustavo Arellano, Managing Editor of the OC Weekly and author of Ask A Mexican
Teri Sforza, Staff Writer for the Orange County Register
Norberto Santana, editor-in-chief of the Voice of OC, a non-profit investigative news agency that covers Orange County government and politics.