04/01/08 No Match Update & Transition

No Match Update & Transition. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. The Department of Homeland Security has released a Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking for the No-Match Rule issued back in August. This revised rule attempts to address the three issues cited in the District Court ruling that led the court to order an injunction to the No-Match Rule. The Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking provides a more detailed analysis of how DHS developed the policy. The National Immigration Law Center claims the new rule will hurt workers and the U.S. economy, "causing massive layoffs of employment-authorized workers and U.S. citizens." DHS is holding a 30-day public comment period on the supplemental rule. Once it's adopted the rule will likely take effect sometime this summer. WSHA Executive Director Jim Hazen is moving on. He recently notified the Board of Directors that he is leaving the organization after ten years, accepting a new position with Broetje Orchards as business manager. The WSHA Board is now working on the search process to hire a new executive director. Hazen thanked and credited the WSHA Board members for the progress that the organization has made on a number of issues, from initiating an effective statewide government affairs program to sustaining the educational value of the WSHA Annual Meeting. Hazen will begin his new position May 1. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.