Local First Arizona proud to lead business opposition to anti-business legislation

Local First Arizona Vice President of Business Development Thomas Barr testifying against HCR 2060 on March 8

Local First Arizona is proud to lead statewide business opposition to HCR 2060, an unfunded, anti-business and anti-immigrant bill currently being considered at the Arizona Legislature.

In the days since Local First Arizona was the only business organization to testify before lawmakers against the bill, other organizations have joined the call, including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Greater Phoenix Leadership.

If it passes the Arizona House and Senate, it will proceed directly to the ballot in November.

In the most recent hearing, Thomas Barr, vice president of business development for Local First Arizona, warned lawmakers the legislation will threaten Arizona’s economy by adding extensive penalties and administrative burdens to local businesses.

“Arizona’s economy simply cannot function without the hard work and entrepreneurship of our immigrant community,” Barr testified. “In a time when finding good, quality workers is a challenge for nearly all small businesses, this harmful ballot referral will drive workers, future investments and important business opportunities out of our state.”

Immigration reform should be administered by Congress and the federal government, not small businesses, he said.

“This bill is bad for business. It's bad for families. And it's bad for Arizona,” Barr said.

Quickly sounding the alarm

As soon as the bill was introduced in February, Local First Arizona alerted its coalition members to the risks business owners could face from the proposal, urging them to call lawmakers’ offices to vote no.

“We're facing a critical moment in Arizona that requires the immediate attention and action of the local business community,” Local First Arizona emailed its members on Feb. 21. “HCR 2060 … will put an unnecessary burden on small businesses when worker shortages are at an all-time high. This leaves Arizonans to manage and pay the price for negative and unnecessary legislation.”

Within days, other business groups such as the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Chicanos Por La Causa, Arizona Technology Council and ONE Community voiced forceful opposition publicly.

One of the most concerning proposals in the original legislation would slap a Class 6 felony on any business owner who violated E-Verify regulations, including by hiring contractors and subcontractors. For example, if a business owner hired a plumber who in turn hired a subcontractor who sent someone undocumented to dig a trench without the first business owner’s knowledge, the first business owner could be prosecuted.

Worsening labor shortage, higher costs and unfunded enforcement

In March, Local First Arizona CEO Kimber Lanning noted at a press conference that Arizona could experience an even worse labor shortage and cost inflation if the bill passed. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates there are just 71 workers available for every 100 open jobs in our state.

She added that the proposal included no budget for already overburdened local law enforcement agencies to enforce the law. Arizona taxpayers would ultimately be left picking up the tab.

“The ballot referral includes no money to pay for the demands it makes of local law enforcement agencies. That omission should concern voters,” Lanning said. "When Arizona tries to take a federal issue into its own hands, the people of Arizona pay the price. Our community deserves better.”

Take action against this dangerous bill now

But the legislation can be stopped.

Local First Arizona urges all business owners in opposition to HCR 2060 to contact legislative leaders right away, including:

• Senate President Warren Peterson
  602-926-4136
  wpetersen@azleg.gov

• Sen. TJ Shope
  602-926-3012
  tshope@azleg.gov

• Sen. Ken Bennett
  602-926-5874
  kbennett@azleg.gov

• Sen. Sine Kerr
  602-926-5955
  SKerr@azleg.gov

• Rep. Matt Gress
  602-926-4105
  MGress@azleg.gov

• Rep. Michele Peña
  602 926-3696
  mpena@azleg.gov

• Rep. Tim Dunn
  602-926-4139
  TDunn@azleg.gov 

• Rep. David Cook
  602-926-5162
  DCook@azleg.gov 

Your actions can make a difference. Your voice needs to be heard.