Coates Wants Illegal Immigrant Work Program

A Republican lawmaker on Monday filed proposed legislation to create a state guest worker program for illegal immigrants.

Senator Harry Coates, R-Seminole, said Senate Bill 995 is designed to re-attract workers who may have left the state following the passage of House Bill 1804, the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007.

"Since the passage of House Bill 1804, we've seen a mass exodus of undocumented immigrants who have taken up residence in Texas and other surrounding states where they pump millions of dollars into those economies," Coates said. "House Bill 1804 did little more than put Oklahoma companies at a disadvantage by sending dedicated, knowledgeable workers to competing companies in other states. Losing that workforce has been devastating for many of Oklahoma's industries, including agriculture, energy and construction."

Read the entire story at www.tulsaworld.com.

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Coates Wants Immigrant Guest Worker Plan

From The Tulsa World ~ A Republican lawmaker on Monday filed proposed legislation to create a state guest worker program for illegal immigrants.

Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, said Senate Bill 995 is designed to re-attract workers who may have left the state following the passage of House Bill 1804, the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007.

"Since the passage of House Bill 1804, we've seen a mass exodus of undocumented immigrants who have taken up residence in Texas and other surrounding states where they pump millions of dollars into those economies," Coates said. "House Bill 1804 did little more than put Oklahoma companies at a disadvantage by sending dedicated, knowledgeable workers to competing companies in other states. Losing that workforce has been devastating for many of Oklahoma's industries, including agriculture, energy and construction."

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Coates Says He's Candidate For President Pro Tem

Senator Harry Coates, R-Seminole, today announced plans to run for Senate President Pro Tempore. He's the first announced candidate for the top leadership post.

Coates is the Senate principal author of landmark legislation including Oklahoma’s “Stand Your Ground” law and “Kelsey’s Law.” He said his professional background and legislative experience will help the Senate move Oklahoma forward.

The President Pro Tempore position will be vacated at the end of 2010 when Senator Glenn Coffee is term-limited.

Coates said his background in business, agriculture, banking, construction and real estate, as well as his ability to build consensus place him in a unique position to lead the Senate.

“In these difficult times, it’s more important than ever that we have leaders who know how to deal with a wide range of issues—not just in terms of creating public policy, but also understanding how it impacts our friends and neighbors back home,” Coates said. “I’m not a career politician. I’m a businessman and father who believes in straight talk and honesty as well as openness and transparency in government.”

Coates was first elected to the Senate in 2002 to represent District 28, a predominantly Democrat area of the state. He was unopposed in his next campaign.

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Coates' Missing File Investigation Called Off At His Request, April 30 Letter Shows

A Department of Public Safety investigation into the disappearance of a confidential file in the possession of Republican Senator Harry Coates has ended at his request, The McCarville Report Online has learned.

A letter from Coates, R-Seminole, dated April 30, reports that the investigation to that point had found nothing conclusive and to avoid additional expense, he asked that it end.

Coates wrote that the number of individuals with access to his office, and the cost associated with interviewing large numbers of people, prompted his request that the probe end. He urged senators to take steps to secure confidential files in their offices.

The letter was sent to senators, with copies to Senate Co-President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, Attorney General Drew Edmondson, Commissioner of Public Safety Kevin Ward, and Senate Chief of Staff Dr. Tom Walls.

The file, which contained email exchanges connected to House Bill 1804, the state's new immigration law, became a controversial topic of discussion over both where it was when it disappeared, and because of its contents. Emails apparently in the file appeared on a blog that has been the center of continued attacks on Coates over his opposition to the new law.

Coates said the file apparently disappeared from his office; those attacking him claimed he or someone else left it where it was found by someone who then sent the contents to the Missouri-based blogger, who then printed excerpts. Christoper Arps, who operates Oklahoma Political News Service, said, "I received them in the mail in a plain manila envelope with no return address."

Asked by a reporter for Fox 25 News if he left the file in a restroom, Coates said, “No, that’s not the way it happened, I promise you.”

After some of those emails were made public, Coates said, “...this is an overt attempt to embarrass and intimidate anyone who does not agree with the immigration law. The Senate is currently conducting an internal investigation in an attempt to discover who is behind this. Once we learn their identity, that information will be turned over to law enforcement, and we would expect it to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

The internal probe apparently involved a review of camera images of the hallway outside Coates' office. That review obviously produced no evidence the file was taken from Coates' office.

Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said at the time that Senate "security breaches" would be addressed aggressively.

"We are trying to find out the facts internally," Coffee said. "At some point, we probably would bring in the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, once we find out what has gone on."

Coates said he does not believe that any lawmakers are behind what he called the theft of the file with the e-mails.

He said the publication of the private e-mails on the blog could stifle debate on issues.

"Some of the material has been taken out of context with the rather obvious purpose of embarrassing anyone who dares to defy those who relish the thought of ridding our state of people who speak another language, legal or illegal," Coates, whose family operates a Seminole roofing company, said.

Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, the author of House Bill 1804, called the incidents "bizarre."

He said he doesn't believe that supporters of his legislation were behind the missing documents.

"The pressure of being on the wrong side of an 80-20 issue has apparently gotten to Senator Coates," Terrill said at the time.

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Regier Retained By CIB In 3-2 Vote

Jerry Regier has been retained as interim administrator of the Construction Industries Board despite a call by two legislators that he not be hired.

The board voted Thursday to retain Regier despite criticism that he got the job as a favor to qualify him for retirement benefits.

The vote by the Construction Industries Board was 3-2 against a motion to fire Regier, who has been defended by board Chairman Larry Shea.

The board also voted 4-1 to hire a permanent administrator at a salary of $85,000 a year, but did not release his name pending further negotiations with the candidate.

Regier defended himself from charges made by Senators Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, and Harry Coates, R-Seminole.

Regier said he is trying to clear up a backlog of work because of delays in hiring an administrator. He said rumors that the board hired him as a favor were not true. "This is a sham job, and none of you did this as a favor for me," he said. "I was asked by you, the board, unanimously to come and assist for an intense short period. I serve at the pleasure of the board. I will serve as long as you ask me to, and if you decide you do not want me to serve, then I am done and you can run this operation yourself until you get a new administrator."

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Wesselhoft Rips Coates, Leftwich

Rep. Paul Wesselhöft, R-Moore, issued the following statement today in response to calls for the firing of Jerry Regier, interim director of the Oklahoma Construction Industry:

“It has been appalling to read the recent attacks on one of Oklahoma’s most honorable sons, Jerry Regier. State Senators Debbe Leftwich (D) Oklahoma City, and Harry Coates (R) Seminole have called into question the merits of the Oklahoma Construction Industry Board’s (CIB) hiring of Regier as its interim director.

“Jerry Regier has an impressive history of success and accomplishment guiding and resurrecting countless programs and agencies. Amongst his accomplishments, Mr. Regier was the founding President and driving force behind the Family Research Council; an early Washington, DC watchdog organization. In Oklahoma, he took the reigns of the Department of Health and Human Services at a time of crisis, righted the ship, and uncovered numerous ghost employees. He appointed me to head Oklahoma’s new abstinence initiative, in which we successfully lowered the teen and out of wedlock birth rates.

“For the State of Florida, he restructured the Department of Children and Families, successfully reducing a backlog of 30,000 social services cases and increasing adoptions by some 150 percent. He put in place a new foster care system which had literally lost children in the past.

“One must wonder why Senators Leftwich and Coates would call for the ouster of the man who in 2001 was named Administrator of the Year in Oklahoma by the American Society of Public Administration (Oklahoma Chapter). They had not said one word about the CIB for the past 8 months since Boyd West had been fired as the Administrator…so why now? Clearly it seems to be politically motivated.

“As the Chairman of the Industry and Labor Committee, in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, I understand the critical need for quality leadership within our construction industry at this point in time. Jerry Regier is the right man, at the right time for this post. He has been a problem solver in a wide range of administrative posts, from local government up to multiple Federal posts under three different Presidents. Many of these agencies were in states of crisis, and Jerry succeeded in bringing each situation encountered to a positive and productive resolution. There should be no doubt that a similar result will occur for the CIB should Mr. Regier be allowed to continue in his capacity as Interim Director. The Board should not allow these Senators to now become Administrators of an Executive branch agency, but should do what is right for the good of the CIB.”

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Senators Criticize Reiger Hiring

State Senators Debbe Leftwich and Harry Coates on Thursday criticized the Construction Industries Board’s (CIB) recent hiring of an interim director. As co-chairs of the Senate Business and Labor committee, the legislators said it’s time for the CIB to quit stalling and hire a permanent director.

“The Board has had months to fill this position and it makes no sense for them to hire an interim director when they’ve had so many good applicants,” said Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City. “It’s my understanding that they were looking at applicants from out-of-state when there are qualified candidates that live in Oklahoma.”

The CIB has been accepting applications for the position for at least four months.

“This agency is too important not to have a permanent director. They’ve already gone without one for too long,” said Coates, R-Seminole. “Further delaying hiring a director only diminishes this agency’s ability to deal with the many issues concerning construction around the state.”

The legislators were also frustrated with the fact that the person hired, Jerry Regier, has already resigned from two state agency positions in Oklahoma and Florida for ethical impropriety.

“This agency is acting like a typical bureaucracy, which has lost its focus and is becoming derelict in performing its duties,” said Leftwich.

“Taxpayers are fed up with with agency directors who are not operating in an ethical manner,” said Coates. “Therefore, hiring someone with a questionable background is extremely irresponsible.”

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Immigration Law Opponents Pin Hopes On Courts

From www.newsok.com ~ Legislative efforts to repeal a contentious anti-illegal immigration law never got much support, so opponents are pinning their hopes on getting the courts to stop implementation of provisions affecting businesses.

"It looks like we are stuck with it unless we can get it thrown out by the federal court in Oklahoma City," said Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, who has tried unsuccessfully to push legislation to repeal the law or provisions taking place July 1 that put new requirements on employers.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, including chambers of commerce in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, have asked a federal court in Oklahoma City to intervene.

The business groups contend the Oklahoma law interferes with federal immigration law. They argue immigration regulation is the purview of the federal government and should not be left to a patchwork of uncoordinated state procedures.

Both sides are awaiting a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Robin Cauthron in the federal lawsuit. Cauthron could dismiss the suit, as requested by Attorney General Drew Edmondson, hold a hearing on the merits or issue an order blocking implementation.

Oklahoma Chamber official Mike Seney said he anticipated the judge will schedule a hearing "shortly."

No matter what the judge rules, an appeal to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected.

"Whatever happens, it is going to be appealed, but maybe we can get a little relief short term," Coates said.

Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, who introduced the legislation, said even if the judge issues an order delaying implementation of the employer provisions, he believes the law will be eventually be upheld.

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Terrill Says Coates' 'Paranoia Starting To Show'

By Barbara Hoberock, Tulsa World ~ The state Senate is conducting an internal investigation into the theft of documents from the legislative office of a vocal opponent of a controversial anti-illegal-immigration law.

Sen. Harry Coates (left), R-Seminole, said printed copies of e-mails were taken from his office and posted on an Internet blog.

Coates is a vocal critic of House Bill 1804, an immigration reform law that passed last session. Efforts by opponents to make changes to the measure have not been successful.

Among other things, HB 1804 makes it a felony to knowingly transport illegal immigrants, creates state barriers to hiring illegal workers and requires proof of citizenship to receive certain government benefits. After July 1, it will require state contractors to check the immigration status of workers.

Coates believes that those who support the bill are behind the stolen documents -- which contained conversations about HB 1804 -- and phone calls made to his office and house. He also said someone posed as him to post comments on a Web site that published a story about HB 1804.

Coates called the theft and other actions an attempt to embarrass and intimidate anyone who does not agree with the immigration law. He said the phone calls contained offensive language but did not threaten bodily harm. The threats were political in nature, he said.

"The Senate is currently conducting an internal investigation in an attempt to discover who is behind this," Coates said. "Once we learn their identity, that information will be turned over to law enforcement, and we would expect it to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

The internal probe involves reviewing camera images of the hallway outside his office.

Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said security breaches will be addressed aggressively.

"We are trying to find out the facts internally," Coffee said. "At some point, we probably would bring in the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, once we find out what has gone on."

Coates said he does not believe that any lawmakers are behind the theft of the file with the e-mails.

He said the publication of the private e-mails on a blog could stifle debate on issues. "Some of the material has been taken out of context with the rather obvious purpose of embarrassing anyone who dares to defy those who relish the thought of ridding our state of people who speak another language, legal or illegal," Coates said.

Rep. Randy Terrill (top right), R-Moore, the author of House Bill 1804, called the incidents "bizarre."

He said he doesn't believe that supporters of his legislation are behind the missing documents.

"The pressure of being on the wrong side of an 80-20 issue has apparently gotten to Sen. Coates," Terrill said. "The paranoia is starting to show a little bit."

Coates has taken a public position against a popular law, he said. "Now, he is feigning shock and surprise that he is hearing from people other than friends, family and employees who disagree with him," Terrill said.

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Coates: Stolen Material 'Taken Out Of Context'

By John Greiner, The Oklahoman ~ A Senate investigation is under way into the theft of the personal e-mail file of Sen. Harry Coates, an opponent of the state's immigration law, he said Thursday.

Coates, R-Seminole, who opposed House Bill 1804 — the state immigration law — said his file on the issue disappeared from his Senate office about two weeks ago.

Contents of the file are being "leaked online a few pages at a time,” Coates said.

"Some of the material has been taken out of context with the rather obvious purpose of embarrassing anyone who dares to defy those who relish the thought of ridding our state of people who speak another language, legal or not,” Coates said.

{Christopher Arps of the Oklahoma Political News Service which published the emails, said, "If Senator Coates thinks the documents are quoted out of context, then I implore him and everyone else who is interested, to go to www.okpns.com and read Senator Coates' comments for themselves."}

He said he's concerned this is an attack at those in business and at the capitol who question whether HB 1804 is going to cause more harm than good.

In February, a lawsuit was filed in federal court over the immigration law by several business groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, The State Chamber and Oklahoma City and Tulsa chambers of commerce. They claimed the law undermines federal immigration law and places unreasonable burdens on state businesses.

Coates said he doesn't think any legislators are involved in taking the file. Instead, he said he believes a small group of fanatics are responsible for leaking the information.

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Coffee Says OSBI May Join Stolen File Probe

From www.okinsider.com ~ A Senate investigation into the matter (of a file stolen from the Capitol office of Senator Harry Coates) is currently under way, and the matter has been reported to the Attorney General's Office. Coates said that they are reviewing surveillance footage to see if anything turns up.

In a separate press conference on the same day, Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, said that Coates had "asked that we make some internal investigations to find out what's going on, and I believe he has also spoken with the attorney general."

"I absolutely am concerned if we have security issues within members' offices," Coffee said. "That's not something that we take lightly, and we will certainly address aggressively."

Coffee stated that, for the moment, he and President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, are just trying to figure out what has happened internally, though he suggested that the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation might get involved.

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OSBI Could Assist Senate Probe

Capitol sources say today the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation could be asked to help investigate the apparent theft of a file from the office of Republican Senator Harry Coates of Seminole.

Email documents in the file, which contained materials involving the state's controversial new immigration law, appeared this week on a Missouri-based political blog and Coates said today the Senate has launched an internal investigation. He said the investigation could eventually involve law enforcement officials.

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Harry Coates: Senate Investigation Underway Into Disappearance Of File From His Office

Senator Harry Coates said today he is outraged that his private correspondences had been taken and used online without permission. He said an internal Senate investigation is underway in an effort to determine who removed a file from his office.

Coates, R-Seminole, said he has also been the target of blogs posted fraudulently using his name, as well as numerous phone calls to his office, home and to other relatives, of an abusive and sometimes obscene nature.

“I know there are those who favor HB 1804 who sincerely believe their efforts will protect American jobs. They are frustrated with the federal government for failing to address illegal immigration,” Coates said. “However, recent events have shown a handful of fanatical supporters are willing to do anything they can to intimidate those who speak out against a bad law. That right, to question or even criticize our government, is the very basis of our democracy.”

Coates said after he came out in opposition to HB 1804, he started receiving hateful and even obscene anonymous phone calls at his Senate office and his home. Other family members were also targeted. Last Friday, someone using Coates’ name blogged on a newspaper website in response to a Tulsa County District Judge’s denial to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the immigration law.

Within the last two days, someone has been posting private emails from Coates online, after a file containing those messages disappeared from his office.

Emails apparently in the file have appeared on a Missouri-based blog which has repeatedly attacked Coates and others opposed to the state's new immigration law.

“Again, this is an overt attempt to embarrass and intimidate anyone who does not agree with the immigration law,” Coates said. “The Senate is currently conducting an internal investigation in an attempt to discover who is behind this. Once we learn their identity, that information will be turned over to law enforcement, and we would expect it to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

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Coates To Address Leaked Emails, Hate Calls

Republican Senator Harry Coates said tonight he will meet with members of the press to discuss the leaking of private communications and hate calls to his office and family members because of his opposition to the state's new immigration law.

The press conference will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, in room 432-B (broadcast room) of the State Capitol.

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Price Outlines 'A Better Way Oklahoma' Goals

By Barbara Hoberock, Tulsa World ~ A top official with Chesapeake Energy Corp. on Thursday confirmed that an effort is being organized to address the “unintended consequences” of a controversial state immigration law passed last session.

Tom Price, Chesapeake Energy senior vice president of corporate development, said the group A Better Way Oklahoma is forming plans and refining strategies for a “potential public education initiative” regarding House Bill 1804.

Price declined a request for an interview but issued a statement regarding A Better Way Oklahoma.

“There has been a lot of discussion from a number of circles in Oklahoma about the unintended social, economic and cultural consequences of House Bill 1804,” Price said in the statement.

HB 1804 by Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, makes it a felony to knowingly transport illegal immigrants, creates state barriers to hiring illegal workers and requires proof of citizenship to receive certain government benefits. After July 1, it requires state contractors to check the immigration status of workers.

Price said a number of organizations and corporations have been discussing concerns about the law that went into effect last November.

“What we are now seeing is the coalescing of religious, cultural, educational, business concerns and others across this state behind the shared goal of constructively and collaboratively working with the Legislature and our governor to address these unintended consequences,” Price said. “At this point, we are formulating our plans and refining our strategies for a potential public education initiative.”

It was not immediately clear what groups are supporting A Better Way Oklahoma.

Lawmakers have said they doubt any changes to the law will be made.

Last year, the State Chamber of Commerce was initially opposed to the bill, said Mike Seney, chamber senior vice president of operations. The State Chamber has joined the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in filing suit against the bill.

“We were opposed to it at first,” Seney said. “We were able to get amendments put on it in the Senate and we were neutral on the bill.”

Terrill said business groups were actively engaged in negotiations on the measure.

“In fact, they helped craft some of the language they apparently now find unacceptable and are challenging in court,” Terrill said. “That is either the definition of irony or bad faith, I’m not sure.”

Price said it was believed that the federal government would address the issue of illegal immigration last year, but those attempts failed.

“The prior lack of action on the federal level was what prompted state legislators to take matters into their own hands,” Price said. “Thankfully, our Legislature opted to delay the enactment of the private component of the law until July 1 of this year, giving time for a thorough review. Upon review of the unintended consequences, a growing number of groups believe it would be prudent to reassess the law.”

Measures by Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, aimed at repealing portions of the law failed to get out of a Senate committee this session.

“It appears any opportunity for repeal of sections of House Bill 1804 may have evaporated,” Coates said.

Terrill said complaints about the bill are premature, adding that the private employment provisions haven’t taken effect. “No representatives from this coalition have visited with me to discuss any specific problems stemming from House Bill 1804,” Terrill said. He said the measure is being monitored to ensure it is not overly burdensome or unworkable. He said if any problems are identified, he would be willing to listen and take steps to address the issues, “as long as the fixes are consistent with the original intent and purpose behind House Bill 1804.” Terrill said the majority of Oklahomans support the law and want it strengthened.

“House Bill 1804 is working,” Terrill said. “It is saving taxpayer’s money. It is also causing illegal aliens to leave Oklahoma and that was its intended purpose.”

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Coates Seeks Repeal Of Parts Of HB1804

From The State Senate ~ Over the past few years, the State Legislature has passed right to work and tort reform measures designed to make Oklahoma more attractive to business, but now the state has a law on the books that negates those efforts.

That’s according to Republican Senator Harry Coates, Co-Chair of the Senate Business and Labor Committee and the only Republican in the Legislature to vote against HB 1804. Coates announced he would file legislation to repeal portions of the bill approved during the 2007 session aimed at illegal immigrants.

“I think people in the legislature, the business community, private citizens and churches of many denominations are beginning to realize that this legislation is having an extremely negative impact on our state in many areas,” said Coates, R-Seminole. “I know there are those who felt this measure would not be good for Oklahoma but they supported it anyway because they worried that a no vote would be used against them in the next election. It was the classic case of good politics resulting in bad policy.”

Coates said the bill would likely include provisions to repeal sections of 1804 dealing with the harboring and transporting of illegal immigrants. He said the bill is causing a tremendous hardship for property and business owners alike. In addition, HB 1804 has caused difficulty for churches and humanitarian organizations although many have said they would continue to help anyone who comes to them for assistance. Coates said he would also file legislation to give some relief to businesses offering jobs that pay at least twice the minimum wage, but can no longer fill those positions.

“This law was passed out of frustration with the federal government for not doing their job of closing off our borders and enforcing current laws,” Coates said. “But one of the reasons for lack of movement on a federal level is the fact that tens of billions of dollars flow into government coffers from social security and from W2 withholdings that illegal immigrants do not claim. And regardless of what HB 1804 supporters say, jobs that pay twice the minimum wage are going unfilled because too many American citizens simply won’t do hard, physical labor.”

Coates said since HB 1804 became law last month he has received numerous phone calls from farmers, business owners and contractors.

“They want to know where the replacement workers will come from to fill the jobs resulting from the recent exodus of the immigrant worker and they are angry with the legislature for putting good politics ahead of good policy,” Coates said. “Furthermore, many of the same legislators who claim to champion the rights of the unborn child have flip-flopped when the child is being born to a mother who is here illegally. How can they not see the hypocrisy of their wish to refuse pre-natal care to those babies and their mothers?”

Coates said it was also hypocritical for lawmakers to claim to be a friend to business and then essentially throw farmers and business owners under the bus.

“I do not believe the citizens of this state sent us to the legislature to focus on getting re-elected,” Coates said. “Our job is to provide leadership in creating public policy that will help, not hurt Oklahomans.”

“It is my deepest hope that my fellow members will have the courage to help correct the many problems we’re already seeing as a result of the passage of HB 1804,” Coates said. “I also hope that my legislation will pass with an emergency clause so the bill can become law as soon as the Governor signs it. We need to reverse the damage while we still can.”

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