Hastings on Mexico

Hasting On Mexico. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. Our neighbors to the south play a large role in the ag industry of the Pacific Northwest. Everything from labor to exports, besides Canada, Mexico has a major influence on agriculture. Washington Congressman Doc Hastings has been discussing some of those major issues including comments made by Mexico's President, Felipe Calderon about immigration reform. HASTINGS: There has been no legislation at all introduced in the House in fact the House in the last 2 ½ years have not even had a hearing on any pieces of immigration reform so I suspect that will simply not be the case now. There's talk in the Senate but even that has been suggest that there's simply not enough time before the election to accomplish that so time will tell, we'll see. Mexico's President told Congress that he strongly opposes a tough new immigration law in Arizona. Calderon said Arizona police can now legally use racial profiling to enforce the new law and told congress comprehensive immigration reform is "crucial to securing our common border." According to Hastings, Calderon didn't mention the trucking issue. HASTINGS: My understanding was that this is one of the issues that was going to be talked about, he obviously did not say anything about that in his speech. Ironically when he did speak he said that there ought to be a lot of economic activity between the two countries. I find it hard where there is this tariff facing certain parts of our economy especially the tree fruit industry and the processed potato industry in our areas so you know it was kind of a mixed message here but he did not say anything about it in his speech. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.