Nixon appoints Director of Economic Development for Missouri who will not support our laws

Missourians Against Illegal Immigration opposes the appointment of Linda Martinez as Director for Missouri’s Economic Development Department. Missourians Against Illegal Immigration (MAII), representing Missourians from approximately 100 cities across Missouri, opposes the appointment of Linda Martinez as Director for Missouri’s Economic Development Department.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 2009, if appointed, Martinez “will be charged with advancing Nixon’s Show-Me Jobs plan, which includes proposals for low-interest small business loans, incentives for expanded employee training and an automobile manufacturing task force.”

Linda Martinez, working pro bono for the Bryan Cave Law Firm, led the fight on behalf of business people and landlords in Valley Park against the ordinances passed by former Mayor Jeffery Whittaker and the Board of Aldermen to prohibit renting to and hiring illegal aliens in their city. Additionally, she organized as many as 20 area attorneys who sued Valley Park over these ordinances at a high cost to the Valley Park taxpayers. In doing so, Martinez “earned the Hispanic Civic Award from the Louis’ Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.” (www.bryancave.com)

Through her actions in fighting against Valley Park for approximately two years, MAII believes Linda Martinez demonstrated her beliefs and her commitment to supporting illegal immigration at the expense of the rule of law of the United States. We see this as a serious conflict of interest in the job of Economic Development Director, especially under our present Missouri immigration law, passed overwhelmingly by the legislative body in 2008, which prohibits employers from hiring illegal aliens in the state. We do not believe that she can perform her duties adequately and fairly. We feel her appointment will dampen Missourians’ excitement and confidence in the Show-Me Jobs program resulting in less commerce and less jobs for Missourians.

Paraphrasing Governor Matt Blunt at a Press Conference in St. Louis in 2008, “While we all acknowledge the great contributions made by immigrants who came to America in times past and while we are all descendents of immigrants, we cannot condone illegal immigration at the expense of the rule of law.”

We feel strongly that Missouri will attract businesses from all over the world because of its strong commitment to family, community, sound fiscal management, and a level playing field for all businesses on which to compete based on our immigration law. Further, businesses will have the sound foundation of the rule of law, the integrity of our civil servants and citizens, and access to the hard-working, law abiding, and innovative workforce of Missouri, comprised of American citizens and naturalized American citizens. Businesses, coming to Missouri, who refuse to hire illegal aliens, should never have to wonder if they are getting a fair shake when it comes to small business loans and other incentives for business handled by the Director of our Economic Development Department.

Based on the above, Missourians Against Illegal Immigration asks our State Senators to reject the confirmation of Linda Martinez as Director of Missouri’s Economic Development Department. We further ask Governor Nixon to appoint another candidate for this vitally important job - a person all Missourians and all business people can have confidence in.