Real Issues from Real People #3

The problem that those supporting cheap labor don't want fixed...


 I spoke with a man the other day who I made contact with while going door to door in the district. He is a union foreman who also prepares bids for construction projects. He was concerned because he sees an abuse of our system that allows unscrupulous contractors to hire illegal workers to win bids against US workers who play by the rules.
 This is how it works. A project RFP is published and the qualified construction firms prepare their bids based on the job specifications. The Union companies are paying their workers the prevailing wage that is an assurance of the skill and quality of work from their organization. But some contractors who are registered and legitimate companies sub-contract aspects of the job to independent companies who use a loophole in hiring to replace qualified workers with illegal labor. They relegate finishing work for example to ACME (a fictitious example). ACME hires for the job using 1099 or self employment forms for the pay. These forms are issued to the illegal workers who may or may not ever file for taxes. They are employed at a much lower wage which of course translates into a lower bid for the ACME proposal. As a result of this ACME gets the job and the legitimate companies who played by the rules are out of work. If ACME is confronted or questioned about having used illegal labor, they simply default to the explanation that they used a sub-contractor who is responsible for the workers they hire. The subcontractor in turn falls back on the use of the 1099 form claiming that their responsibility ended when they issued the forms to workers.
 In the last 10 years we have watched while the illegal labor issue has been used to pass laws aimed at punishing immigrants. But at the same time that these laws are passed the motivation for the illegal labor is intentionally ignored.  Immigrants come to the US because they can find work. They can find work because the laws surrounding hiring have built in loopholes that not only allow them to be hired but encourage and depend on them breaking the law to acquire this work.
 The obvious question here is how are our elected representatives getting away with passing laws that seem tough on immigration violations but at the same time encourage illegal hiring? The answer is that they hide behind the idea that passing regulations that hold employers responsible makes doing business harder. But the truth is that it is left alone to accomodate cheap labor.
 There are only two ways this will ever be corrected. One would be for the contractors themselves who hire to be concerned about the fair hiring and illegal immigration. But they are not. They like it because it is making them money. They want the loophole so they can profit and they don't give a damn about lost jobs by US workers. Neither do the legislators supporting these practices. They will pass the most punitive laws to punish illegal workers while simultaneously protecting illegal hiring under the guise of avoiding "burdensome regulation".
 The solution to this problem was actually introduced by the majority in Missouri in their effort to disenfranchise voters. They need to make it law that anyone hiring using a 1099 must submit a current MO approved picture ID and a legitimate social security number for the worker before they can be approved to work. If it is not too much to ask for voters who have lived in the same house for 40 years and voted in the same precinct to produce a current photo ID, it shouldn't be an issue asking workers who are now assumed legitimate to produce identification for themselves and their employment. Otherwise, we are encouraging illegal labor and undermining workers who are trying to make a living. We either do the right thing because it is right, or we have rules. The current hiring practices of illegals show clearly that without a check system in place, some are NEVER going to willingly do the right thing.
 I believe most businesses who employee using 1099's would have no objection to running a check before hiring. We don't have to create a new agency to accomplish this. We simply need the courage to do what is right.

Real Issues from Real People #2

 While out knocking on doors in Excelsior Springs today I was amazed at how many people were aware of the state Historic Preservation Tax Credit program and how important it has been in the redevelopment of the downtown area. Sonya and I went to the west side today and it is a beautiful area of town. Huge old Red Oaks and a variety of architecture with construction ranging from the teens to the late 50's.
 The state historic tax credit program was part of what enabled investment in the Oaks Hotel, a blighted property that is now apartments and a source of pride for the community. There used to be a distinct separation of identity in Excelsior with those living on the west side viewing the downtown like the wrong side of the tracks. However, this is improving as there was a nearly unanimous feeling that things were on the upswing in Excelsior and redevelopment in the downtown was cited in nearly every instance.

The Missouri Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program is currently under threat. Although this program creates skilled jobs and adds more revenue to the state than it costs it was reduced two years and and is on the chopping block.
Please read more about this vital program and my position on this important area issue by going here.
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 I was stopping here to make a few notes while knocking on doors in Excelsior Springs. Photo by Sonya Morgan who went along with me today and is my great helper.  ____________________________________________________________________

 It was inspiring to me to hear the number of people I spoke with who's concerns were not for themselves but for others. I spoke with a young mother today who has a friend that is a single mother with two children. She works yet is unable to get any assistance such as food stamps. Although her employment is full time, her wage is too low to adequately keep up with the bills. This frustration with the way the system is structured is a common theme among people I speak with. It is almost as if it punishes those who are being responsible but under employed. It also points to the huge segment of our society whose needs are not being discussed in the Missouri House of Representatives. When it is discussed, the conversation centers around those who are already eligible. The huge swath of our society that is underemployed, uninsured and ineligible is simply left out of the discussion.
 In an election year and in the current economy, one would think that the problems directly impacting the lives of so many would be front and center. But instead the topics of focus are all centered around partisan issues that are designed to divide people and force them to chose a side. The deterioration of our political process has left people out of the equation. That isn't right and it is my intention to change this conversation. We need realistic talk not partisan talking points. The problems of the people in our area are not going to get closer to being solved by mimicking those in Washington DC. We can do better than this and it starts with putting people first.
 Please go to my website and sign up to receive my communication about people in the district, and my campaign to bring their issues to the table.

Real Issues from Real People #1

Yesterday while I was going door to door I spoke with many people who were more than willing to share their concerns about life in 2012. Between now and November I will continuing to talk with people in the district and I will share some of these things with you. Although I am not going to use the names of these individuals, I will share their concerns because they are as real as they get.

Yesterday I spoke with a woman in the the 38th District. When I asked her what concerns she had that were affecting her life she told me that she has a serious health concern that she had been advised was reason for her to stop working. She was told that she could go on disability and because of the seriousness of her health, she would be accepted quickly. She has 4 children and both she and her husband are working. Neither of them have health insurance through their employer.
Between the two of them, they are managing barely to pay the rent, utilities and provide food for their kids.
 Although her health problem is enough of a threat to potentially kill her, she is afraid to stop working now. She told me that because of the threat of benefits being slashed she was afraid that they would not be able to make it on disability. She said she had always worked and that she had no desire to be on assistance but that she knew her days were numbered at her job because of her health. One fear she had was that if she took her doctors advice and applied for disability, it would mark her as a health risk and she might never be able to work again. On the other hand, if her health continued to deteriorate, she might lose her ability to provide for her family.
 She is stuck between a rock and a hard place and for her there is no solution.
 In Missouri, problems like hers and the health needs of millions of other uninsured workers isn't even being discussed by our state legislature. They will tell you that the poorest of the poor are covered. But they avoid even addressing the estimated 900,000 + people who are not on assistance and cannot afford health insurance. They will work like the devil to defeat a national health care policy, but they haven't any solutions of their own. I think we owe it to ourselves and the people of Missouri to stop politicizing our problems and start talking about them realistically and working for real solutions. "I don't care" is not a solution and it is not responsible to Missouri. Regardless of how tough these problems are, there are too many people affected to ignore them.


-Kevin Morgan 
Candidate for State Representative 38th District Missouri