q
Page 2 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, June 15, 1984
House approves labor unportation
WASHINGTON (AP) - The House ap-
proved a proposal yesterday to legalize
the importation of tens of thousands of
foreign workers to take the place of the
illegal aliens who now enter this coun-
try every year to help harvest crops.
Critics said the proposal, adopted 228-
172, would revive the imfamous
"Bracero" program of the 1940s and
1950s in which Mexican field hands
lived in squalor and were paid little.
THE PROPOSAL, offered by Rep.
Leon Panetta, a Democrat who
represents an agricultural area of
California's central coast, sought to fill
the gap that would be created when a.
pending- immigration control bill
becomes law and makes it illegal to
employ the undocumented workers who
flow across the borders to help plant
and pick crops.
Panetta's supporters said the
existing program, known as the "H-2"
program, is so restrictive that it doesn't
help many farmers when their crops
are ready to be harvested. Only 18,000
foreign "guest workers" are brought in
under the H-2 program.
Opponents claim Panetta's amen-
dment serves the interest of large
agribusinesses which have employed
illegal aliens as cheap labor for years.
They said the field jobs should be
reserved for Americans and for illegal
aliens who have lived in the United
States for some time.
The House also, however, rejected.
proposed labor safeguards to protect
foreigners who would be allowed into
the country to help with the crops.
The debate pitted growers against
labor unions - the growers won.
"This will revive the very famous
'Harvest of Shame' where Americans
had their tables supplied by expolited
workers," said Rep. George Miller (D-
Calif.) after his labor-backed amen-
dment was defeated, 256-134.
It was intended to protect the foreign
workers who will get the jobs now taken
by the thousands of illegal aliens who
stream across U.S. borders to follow
the crops.
A chief safeguard concerned housing
the foreign workers. The immigration
bill provides that growers, who must
now provide sleeping quarters for their
temporary field hands, could give them
a housing allowance instead. Miller
charged the allowance would be
inadequate and the workers would end
up sleeping in the fields.
REP. ROMANO Mazzoli (D-Ky.) the
bill's chief sponsor, said the safeguards
Miller proposed were unneeded. His
bill, as drafted, is "sane, safe, proper
and workable," Mazzoli said.
Under another provision of the bill,
those illegal aliens would be given the
right to become permanent residents,
and ultimately citizens.
That proposal, known as "amnesty,"
was expected to reach a vote today. The
House bill would offer legal status to
illegal aliens who have earned a living
in this country since 1982.
Reagan renews push for arms talks
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Reagan said last night or anything," he said. He also pointed out that the Soviets has
that he is willing to meet with Soviet leader Konstantin Cher- used harsh rhetoric about the United States.
nenko without any prior assurances that such a session would The chief Kremlin spokesman said Thursday his gover-
produce concrete results, but that the Soviets so far have nment would like a U,S.-Soviet summit, but echoed White
been unresponsive. House statements that such a meeting must be well
"We are in contact with their people trying to establish a prepared. He made clear there are no specific plans for a
basis for the talks," he told a news conference - his third in meeting.
two weeks and 25th since becoming president. The questioning turned to another matter - whether his
Unlike earlier pronouncements on the subject, Reagan did campaign aides in 1980 had broken the law by obtaining
not insist upon reasonable certainty that the meeting would documents prepared for briefing President Jimmy Carter for
be fruitful. And Reagan said a Soviet return to the nuclear his crucial television debate against Reagan.
arms talks at Geneva is not a precondition to such a meeting. He said the documents that reached his campaign
Reagan was not specific about the "quiet diplomacy" that
he said was under way to arrange a summit. He did not say staff were merely position papers.
who the participants are, how long they have been in contact, Reagan also said he can understand the uneasiness of
or how frequently they are in touch. ' Hispanic-Americans over the immigration control bill pen-
The president shrugged off a suggestion that the harsh ding before the House of Representatives which they fear will
things he has had to say about the Soviets and the communist lead to job discrimination against dark-skinned applicants.
system of government from time to time may have caused But the law is necessary, Reagan said. "The simple truth is
the Kremlin to be cool to talks. that we've lost control of our own borders. And no nation can
"I don't think I've gone out of my way to call them names do that and survive," the president said.
I
4
I
I
ye
wi
wi
re
th
co
sp
to
Jo
co
M
wz
st4
pr
pr
m
Utility to submit completion plan for
LANSING (UPI) - Consumers Power Company Public Service Commission chief of staff Roger calling on Gov. J
'sterday cancelled a scheduled negotiating session Fischer said Wednesday he believes it is "too early" talks. Three law
ith critics of its Midland nuclear plant, but said it in the negotiations to cancel the project. nor should appoin
ill present a new plan for competing at least one "We believe tI
actor next week. ANOTHER coalition member, Assistant Attorney now needed in
The announcement added fuel to speculation that General Hugh Anderson, refused -to speculate on realistic conclus
e company will attempt, at least temporarily, to what the board might do. But he said there would be the future econo
ntinue construction on the project beyond today's little point to developing a completion proposal unless company statem
ecial meeting of the firm's board of directors. the company's management planned to recommend However, a s
IT MAY change the whole tenor of things continuing construction. Scott, said Blan
morrow," said Michigan Citizens Lobby Director Consumers has proposed cancelling one unit of the their current foi
seph Tuchinsky, one of the members of the twin-reacter plant and capping the cost to customers progress." Scott
alition bargaining with the company over the of the finished plant at $3.5 billion, plus an additional chard
idland plant's future. $800 million for the unfinished reactor. The coalition "The Governoi
He said there is "little point in them coming for- has endorsed a plan where the entire project would be istill not taking
ard with a new completion plan if they have already abandoned in return for some rate increases and an Anderson saic
opped construction." agreement by Consumers to temporarily freeze stock create "a lot of
Earlier in the week, a top Consumers official dividends, would take a me
edicted the board would probably cancel the Each side has rejected the other's plan. fact that by law t
oject today if no substantial progress had been
ade in the negotiations. MEANWHILE, Consumers added its voice to those final decision.
(Jiernenko
... challenged by Reagan
Midland
James Blanchard to intervene in the
makers Wednesday said the gover-
nt a mediator.
he governor's direct involvement is
order to reach a reasonable and
ion in this matter which is so vital to
mic well-being of the state," said a
ent.
pokesman for the governor, Tom
chard supports the negotiations "in
rm" as long as they are "making
also dismissed reports that Blan-
e plant is not needed.
has not taken a position on that and
a position on that," Scott said.
d Blanchard's intervention would
problems" because of the time it
diator to "get up to speed" and the
he PSC is charged with making any
HAPPENINGS
Friday Procedures," 9:30 a.m., 130 LSA Cinema II-Diner, 7:30 & 9:30 p.m., Nat. Sci.
Performance Network-Play, One Flew Over the AAFC-The Big Chill, 6, 8, & 10 p.m., MLB 3 Cinema Guild-Life of Brian, 7, 8:45, & 10:30 p.m.,
Cuckoo's Nest, 8 p.m., 408 W. Washington. Cinema Guild-Coal Miner's Daughter, 7:30 & 9:45 Lorch.
Lesbian/Gay Pride Week-"Lesbian Images in p.m., Lorch. African Christian Student Fellowship-meeting, 6
Photography 1850-1982," 8 p.m., Kuenzel Room, Cinema II-Juliet of the Spirits, 7 p.m.; Nights of p.m., 1634 McIntyre.
Union. Cabria, 9:30 p.m., MLB 4. Ann Arbor Go Club-meeting, 2 p.m., 1433 Mason.
Korean Christian Fellowship-meeting, 9 p.m., Lesbian/Gay Pride Week-Rally, 1 p.m.; Parade, 2
Campus Chapel. p.m., Federal Building; Dance, 9 p.m., Pendleton
Chinese Christian Fellowship-meeting, 8 p.m., Saturday Room, Union.
Trotter House. Performance Network-Play, One Flew Over the
Board of Regents-meeting, 9 a.m., Fleming Bldg. Cuckoo's Nest, 8 p.m., 408 W. Washington.
HRD-course, "Payroll Office & Timekeeping AAFC-War Games, 7:30 & 9:45 p.m., MLB 3.
Send announcements to Happenings, The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.