No More Second Chances For Romney's Lawn Co.
Mitt Romney announced today that he has finally ended his relationship with a lawn care company that employed illegal workers on his property. In a statement issued by the campaign, Romney revealed that he allowed the service a second chance to comply with the law by ensuring that their employees had legal status.
"Today, I fired a landscaping company that I learned was employing people who are not permitted to work here in the United States," Romney said. "After this same issue arose last year, I gave the company a second chance with very specific conditions. They were instructed to make sure people working for the company were of legal status. We personally met with the company in order to inform them about the importance of this matter. The owner of the company guaranteed us, in very certain terms, that the company would be in total compliance with the law going forward. The company's failure to comply with the law is disappointing and inexcusable, and I believe it is important I take this action."
Earlier this year, the former Bay State governor came under fire when news broke of his contract with the company, as he was telling voters that employers who hire them should be penalized. He hasn't mentioned on the trail in the time since, however, that he never cut ties with the group.
Romney's chief opponents in the GOP primary continue to bring up the matter when they can (see Rudy Giuliani and "sanctuary mansion"). With Mike Huckabee's rise in Iowa, Romney's had a rough week, and you can expect this to keep Romney on defense.
No comment yet from the governor's opponents.
(NBC/NJ's ERIN MCPIKE)
Mitt fired them after giving them a second chance. What else do reasonable people expect from Mitt. Everyone deserves a second chance, but now it's time they were fired. I'm glad Mitt is leading by example here.
Agreed! All US citizens should be held accountable whenever they receive services from potentially illegal workers. You say you thought your lawn company only hired legals? Nice try! That hamburger you're eating... made by illegals. Now you can never run for president. Bottom line: Businesses should have carte blanche to hire whomever they please, legal or otherwise. It's the consumers who are at fault. Bad Romney, that'll teach him to ever give anyone a second chance again! Perhaps Romney should follow Gov. Huckabee's example of intentionally giving college tuition breaks to illegals, instead of accidentally employing them.