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Utah Senate passes bipartisan resolution urging federal action on employer-sponsored guest-worker program
Summary
SCR 1 asks Congress to establish an employer-sponsored guest-worker program modeled on a Salt Lake Chamber plan. Supporters called it bipartisan and practical; opponents warned it could undercut wages given Utah's lack of a prevailing-wage statute. The resolution passed and will be sent to the House.
The Utah Senate passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 urging the federal government to establish an employer-sponsored guest-worker program. Senator Jenkins presented the resolution on the floor as a bipartisan attempt to prod Congress to act on a persistent labor issue.
Senator Romero spoke in support, saying the resolution recognizes a real labor need in the state and asks the federal delegation to pursue comprehensive reform. Senator Stevenson also voiced support, describing the resolution as bipartisan and saying costs and monitoring should be borne by employers and employees rather than shifted to taxpayers.
Senator Davis asked whether the resolution or its implementation could undercut wages for resident workers in a state that does not have a prevailing-wage law. The sponsor and supporters replied that SCR 1 is a federal-advocacy resolution and does not set wage standards; they said workers admitted under such a federal program would be bound by the same state laws as other employees.
After debate, the Senate adopted SCR 1 by roll-call vote; the clerk recorded 23 yea votes, 2 nay votes and 4 absent. The resolution will be sent to the House for further action.
