Cox to create bipartisan immigration working group of governors as part of “Disagree Better” initiative
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – Following his installation as the new Chair of the National Governors Assn., Gov. Spencer Cox, R-UT, outlined his “2023-24 Chair’s Initiative,” for the nation’s governors that will elevate solutions to politically polarized issues, with immigration, workforce and border challenges in the top tier of the agenda. Gov. Jared Polis, D-CO, is the new co-chair of the governors group.
During the National Governors’ Assn. mid-year gathering, Cox discussed the, “Disagree Better, Healthy Conflict for Better Policy” initiative, which is designed to bridge the current toxic partisan divide, particularly on tough issues like immigration.
“We’re also going to put these principles to work on a real-world policy challenge that needs resolution: the longtime stalemate over immigration. In collaboration with the business community and other stakeholders, our hope is to find enough consensus among governors to identify common principles around immigration policy,” Cox said in a statement.
During the conference, Cox said immigration is “something we are going to work on as a subgroup here at the NGA, helping to give some cover to Congress to figure this out. Because if you look at the polling, most Democrats actually believe in securing the border and most Republicans believe in fixing immigration.”
Earlier this year, Cox and Gov. Eric Holcomb, R-IN, proposed a plan that is receiving bipartisan backing among governors, lawmakers and business leaders and employers seeking more immigrant work visas in response to the chronic labor shortage across the nation.
The plan asks President Biden and Congress to expand the program that exists under current law, to allow states to petition for immigration work permits for individuals who can fill positions where labor shortages exist, as part of a “significant public benefit.”
ABIC Action recently released a letter to President Biden from more than 130 business leaders and employers from across the U.S. which expressed frustration with the chronic labor shortages and congressional gridlock on the issue. They urged President Biden and Congress to allow states to provide work permits for long-term immigrant contributors of our nation and new immigrants to fill labor shortages and reduce inflation for all Americans. The letter was signed by major construction, manufacturing, agriculture, landscaping, and restaurant industry leaders and employers, as well as small business owners and chambers of commerce.
With 9.8 million job openings rising costs, the discussion to expand work authorization for migrants includes new arrivals and long-term residents of the U.S. who have contributed to the national economy for years. This authorization would be similar to what is currently available under the Cuban, Venezuelan, Haitian and Nicaragua program.
In addition to Republican Governors Cox and Holcomb, U.S Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) support the idea, as does New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
“With 9.8M open jobs and stubbornly high costs, Govs. Cox and Holcomb have been instrumental in initiating real solutions, and we applaud the bipartisan support that is gathering around this initiative,” said Rebecca Shi, Executive Director of ABIC Action.
“We continue to hear from industries and employers who are struggling under a serious labor shortage that is very real, even as the economy improves. Until they get enough workers to feed the supply chain for food, goods and services, the current inflationary climate will continue. Even on Capitol Hill, where immigration reform is not likely to happen, Democrats and Republicans see this option as a short-term solution until the congressional gridlock can end,” Shi added.
“ABIC Action understands our nation’s efforts to strengthen our economy, and we know that immigrant workers have long contributed to our economy and communities. We are all ‘Here To Work.’ And when we are united with a common goal, everyone reaps the benefits,” said ABIC Action co-founder Bob Worsley, a former Republican Arizona state senate who is the chair and CEO of NZ Legacy, LLC and ZenniHome, LLC.
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ABIC Action is the political arm of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), a bipartisan coalition of over 1,200+ CEOs, business owners, and trade associations across 17 mostly red and purple states. ABIC Action promotes common sense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens.