Norman Chamber Forum

City Council candidates

Wednesday, Feb. 20

6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 201 W. Gray St.

By Andy Rieger

Transcript Managing Editor

The business provisions of House Bill 1804, Oklahoma's anti-illegal immigration legislation, may actually help Oklahoma weather the effects of any impending recession, State Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, said Friday.

With the exodus of illegal immigrant workers, jobs should be more available to legal residents, he told Norman Chamber of Commerce members and guests.

However, business groups like the state Chamber of Commerce see it differently. They recently filed a federal lawsuit challenging the new law. Provisions requiring employers that do any business with the state to verify all workers' legal status kick in July 1. Businesses say the crackdown has robbed contractors of many workers.

"Big business has profited handsomely from the abundance of cheap, illegal labor," Terrill said.

A frustrated Norman hotel owner in the audience told Terrill he couldn't find enough service workers to run his business.

"Who is going to do these jobs? I need 10 employees today," Doug Kennon said, noting he couldn't find legal residents to take the jobs.

He said there were 400 such openings in Norman alone. It used to be college students filled such jobs but not any more, Kennon said.

"I think that's insulting. There's not a job in the world that an American won't do," Terrill responded.