Homebuilders, Bob Perry, and Business change tune on immigrant bashing.

[johncoby2]

ANYONE ELSE SEEN THE HOMEBUILDERS COME TO THE DEFENSE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION?


Bob Perry, the head of the not so swiftboaters, and the largest single donor in the country has changed his tune on illegal immigration. Prior to the election I wrote "Immigrants the GOP Pinata" (http://bayareahouston.blogspot.com/2006/07/immigrants-gops-piata.html)and now that the elections and their anti immigrant rants are over, homebuilders are now realizing their profit margins depends on the illegals.

Read more at my shameless plug at
http://bayareahouston.blogspot.com/2007/02/homebuilders-business-and-perry-cave-on.html

From Bob Perry:
Neither the immigrants here today nor those we will need in the future should have to live in the shadows. These are good people with good values doing work that we need done, reaching for the American Dream and helping make it a reality for all. As we value the work, let us value the worker – and let's fix the law so that it serves all Americans.

And from the homebuilders website, look at their recommended letters to elected officials in Texas.

I work in the construction business in Houston Texas. I am here to tell you that we cannot find enough American citizens willing to labor in the hot sun!

Our company does not ask anyone to work for minimum wages. We have a starting labor wage of $9.00 per hour, and our average labor wage is over $14.00 per hour. We have immigrant workers that started as laborers, and are now working in supervisory positions. We provide workers comp, and group health insurance. Our employees are eligible for our 401K plan. In addition, we match SS/MC taxes. We also pay unemployment taxes, property taxes, and state Franchise taxes, now replaced by the Perry tax plan!

[babylonsister]

1. It's all about values, Perry's values and what's in it for him.

Sounds like a real rethug to me, and I'm not even getting into the immigration issue.
I know you can hear "Ka-Ching" all over SE TX.

[Solo_in_MD]

2. Interesting RW logic

1) New home prices are well above the reach of most Americans. Reasons include regulations, land, labor and material costs.
2) Non union wages in construction are well below those of union workers.

So...non union labor, mostly immigrant, is requried to produce homes that Americans can afford...

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. how many of the baying freepers

who spew hatred of immigrants both legal and illegal, will do a 180 and say that they are necessary, since Perry has said so?

It never ceases to amaze me how many conservatives decry illegal immigration but don't want to punish the people who employ illegals. Last Friday's Law & Order episode was about illegal immigrants, and the murderer turned out to be a rich white contractor who was exploiting them. One fellow on a L&O message board objected to the stereotype, and three of us jumped on him, explaining in no uncertain terms that the reason we have an illegal alien problem is that so many Americans think it is ok to hire them.