Voters OK one immigration referendum

Fernando Quintero, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 8, 2006 at midnight

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Voters have approved Referendum K, which would require the state attorney general to sue the federal government to enforce immigration laws, according to projections by the Rocky Mountain News.

But Referendum H, meant to discourage the hiring of illegal immigrants by denying a state tax credit to employers who knowingly hire them, remains locked in a tight race, with supporters slightly outnumbering detractors.

The measures, both of which came out of legislature, are intended to send a message to Washington that Colorado taxpayers have had enough of the federal government’s failure to enforce immigration laws.

Current law allows businesses to deduct wages as a business expense. If Referendum H passes, employers would have to disclose on the state tax form the amount of wages paid to workers they know are in the country illegally. That amount could not be deducted from reported income.

Opponents of Ref H say it will do little to thwart illegal immigration and only create more red tape for employers and employees. "This will not stop hiring of illegal aliens," said anti-tax crusader Douglas Bruce. "A business illegally hiring will illegally fail to report that hiring."

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