The board will consider forming a committee on March 26 that looks at the best ways to keep county funds out of the hands of illegal immigrants.
County Chairman Tim Lee said Commissioner Helen Goreham plans to ask the board to adopt a resolution forming the committee at its end-of-the-month meeting.
“It’s in response to the proposed IMAGE code amendment, inasmuch as three of us felt that was not a good policy, so she just wants to put a committee together to look at the issue to make sure that we as a county are doing everything we should and could be doing that’s within reason and is effective and efficient,” Lee said.
Last month, Commissioners JoAnn Birrell and Bob Ott asked the board to approve a code change that would allow federal agents to review the hiring records of county contractors to ensure employees are legally able to work in the U.S.
The program is called the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers, or IMAGE.
Lee, Goreham and Commissioner Lisa Cupid killed the proposal, however.
One of the arguments Lee used in voting against the proposal was that WellStar Health System had notified him it would not enroll in the IMAGE program even if the county adopted the ordinance. Lee said that would put the county in a bind because WellStar provides medical services to inmates at the county jail at a discount.
Lee has refused to reveal the name of the person at WellStar who told him the system would not participate under IMAGE.
When asked about the issue, WellStar spokesman Keith Bowermaster responded with an email Friday, “Per your phone call today; as you know the Cobb Board of Commissioners voted down the IMAGE program on Tuesday the 26th. Thus, this is non-issue and WellStar has no comment on it.”
Bowermaster did say providing medical services to people incarcerated in the county costs WellStar more than $1 million a year. WellStar has multiple contracts with the county.
While Bowermaster considers it to be “non-issue,” Birrell said she continues to get emails and comments from constituents, the majority of whom believe the code change should be adopted.
“I still support the IMAGE program. I mean it’s already in place. It’s a federal tool to help us make sure that we are in compliance that are contractors are not hiring illegals,” Birrell said. “It’s unfortunate that it didn’t get adopted or approved a couple weeks ago, but I would be willing to look into whatever we can do to help enforce this.”
Birrell said she interviewed the in-house attorney for Chick-fil-A, Kelly Ludwick, who told her what a positive experience it was for Chick-fil-A to enroll in the IMAGE program. The 1,400 employees at Chick-fil-A’s corporate headquarters, which include some restaurants, are IMAGE certified, Birrell said.
“Everybody knows Chick-fil-A is out there in the forefront of almost everything,” Birrell said. “It’s a good Christian-oriented family type business. They’re good corporate citizens wherever they are. They follow the law.”
Birrell said while implementing the IMAGE code change is still her first choice, she will give careful consideration to the proposed creation of the immigration committee.
Lee said he hasn’t discussed with Goreham who should be on the proposed immigration committee yet, but one person he does not want on it is immigration activist D.A. King of the Dustin Inman Society. King led the charge in advocating for the code change to be adopted.
“Committee members need to be open minded to all sides of the issue when evaluating,” Lee said, in describing why he did not want King on the committee. “Therefore, you need people that are less affiliated with specific points of view. Look at from all sides, not just from one perspective.”
For the same reason, Lee said he would not want Rich Pellegrino of the Cobb Immigrant Alliance on the committee.
Lee said he was unsure what the timeline of the committee would be.
“It’s a high profile issue in the community,” Lee said. “We have a responsibility to assure the community that we’re doing everything we possibly can within reason to protect their tax dollars.”
Goreham did not return calls requesting comment.
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King and his supporters have clearly said over and over again that they don't care about the rule of law, or about county resources, or jobs..they don't want more brown-skinned people in Cobb or anywhere in this country. That is their bottom line and the bottom line of those who are honest about this whole issue. It is not and has never been about illegal immigration. (You can read some of the racist comments here but I will be happy to send you a compilation of them from King, his supporters and the white supremacist organizations who helped draft our state immigration laws. (Drop me a line at pilgrim1@mindspring.com and I"ll send the compilation.) I know that not everyone who is concerned about unauthorized immigration is racist however those most vocal about it certainly are and hardly try to hide it.
“We have a responsibility to assure the community that we’re doing everything we possibly can within reason to protect their tax dollars.”
Tim, we will decide what is within reason before you know it. What is that smell?
Yes indeed Helen. Reopen the IMAGE debacle with your absurd committee panic. I agree with the above: GOOD BYE HELEN! and good riddance. I was there when you lied to us about the IMAGE ordinance applying to ALL businesses in Cobb. when it was only for the Cobb contrators. There is a term for politicians that lie to the faces of their voters. They "pulled a Helen Goreham". Helen. Helen. Helen.
Bud Grant, West Cobb Republican
Gets them of the hook.
Georgia’s population of illegal immigrants grew faster than all but six other states’ over the past two decades, according to a new study to be released Friday. That analysis comes as Congress is considering proposals to create a pathway to citizenship for all the illegal immigrants living in the U.S.
The report, expected to be published in International Migration Review this week, estimates that 396,876 illegal immigrants lived in Georgia in 2010 — more than 11 times as many as in 1990.
Nearly two-thirds of the nation’s estimated 11.7 million illegal immigrants lived in Georgia and six other states: California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois and New Jersey.
Yes, sure. We accept that WellStar loses money in Cobb. And Tim Lee and Helen Goreham are honset, Lisa Cupid is smarter than a goldfish and the moon is really molten green cheese.
"Bowermaster did say providing medical services to people incarcerated in the county costs WellStar more than $1 million a year. WellStar has multiple contracts with the county."
There is no better program, as King has said many times. Helen Goreham has good reason to be terrified: She has been EXPOSED and will return to private life because she lacks the courage or the intelect to represnt the people who elected her. It will be funy to see King comment on the nonsense that is sure to come from Goreham's "committee". Tim: avoid the expert at all costs! We can see you Tim!
THANK YOU DA KING! For my new neighbors,To catch up, Goggle "Cobb IMAGE D.A. King" Then see the funny but true Facebook page--- Exposing Helen Goreham!
It's like the red scare
Her Town Hall meeting tomorrow night will be very interesting.
Wellstar appears to have an interesting position on this issue.
Why don't we ask Emory, Northside or Piedmont to bid on Cobb County's medical services.
"The board will consider forming a committee on March 26 that looks at the best ways to keep county funds out of the hands of illegal immigrants." HILARIOUS!
Tim & Helen: You just voted aginst using the best way to stop tax dollars from going to illegals because the business bosses told you to vote NO on IMAGE for contractors! Now you think you can fool us peons with this farce? You may be able to fool Lisa Cupid. She ain't too swift. But not me.
Helen Goreham is outta here when it is time to vote again.
We owe D.A. a debt for what he has done. Hey Helen, getting hot in there? My grandaughter showed me the Exposing Helen Goreham Facebook page. I love it!
Helen Goreham isn't too smart, but it is fun to watch her squirm. Tim Lee is as corrupt as they come. They should let that genius Lisa Cupid pick the kangarro committee so we can all have a bigger laugh.
This is going to be a real hoot. King helps with legislation at the Capitol and has for years. He knows more about this issue than anyone in the South and Tim Lee is careful to say he doesn't want King on any stinking committee. Because he knows too much.
Tim Lee was all for the IMAGE program before election time and is all in against it now. "We want people with a diffrent prespective" says Lee. He should just admit that he wants Jerry Gonzalez, the ACLU and his Chamber cronies to keep on doing what they are doing. Tim Lee has beens exposed. So has Goreham. The sad thing is that we must wait four years to eject Lee. Helen Goreham will be gone soon. That comforts us at my house.
Still, nobody can do anything about the American workers who are watching as the illegals are protected by these corrupt stooges. Thanks to D.A. King, we all have a much better view of ur county government.