As the White House continues to back President Trump's controversial border wall with Mexico, some states are taking action to block or at least impede its progress.
As the White House continues to back President Trump's controversial border wall with Mexico, some states are taking action to block or at least impede its progress.
NPR reports that California state senator Ricardo Lara, a Democrat, has reportedly proposed a bill which would blacklist companies that participate in the wall’s construction.
Called Senate Bill 30, it would prevent state agencies from doing new or further business with any border wall contractors.
Courthouse News Service notes that Lara told one senate committee, “By not supporting this bill you are consenting to the policies of hate and xenophobia. I’m asking you to be on the right side of history.”
Despite having the support of other organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council, the bill is being opposed by the contractors themselves, with Felipe Fuentes, a lobbyist for the group, saying, “What we're doing here is very dangerous in that we're creating a slippery slope and hand-picking projects that are not politically favorable to the California Legislature.”
Meanwhile, the New York Post reports that Public Advocate Letitia James has proposed a similar blacklist for New York City, saying, “Companies have a choice — help build the wall, a monument to racism and xenophobia, or do business in New York City. We won’t allow you to do both.”
While hundreds of firms are said to have inquired about the wall project, CNN is reporting that many of the top companies already doing work for the government have refrained from putting in a bid out of fear that it could hurt their business in the future.
As the White House continues to back President Trump's controversial border wall with Mexico, some states are taking action to block or at least impede its progress.
NPR reports that California state senator Ricardo Lara, a Democrat, has reportedly proposed a bill which would blacklist companies that participate in the wall’s construction.
Called Senate Bill 30, it would prevent state agencies from doing new or further business with any border wall contractors.
Courthouse News Service notes that Lara told one senate committee, “By not supporting this bill you are consenting to the policies of hate and xenophobia. I’m asking you to be on the right side of history.”
Despite having the support of other organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council, the bill is being opposed by the contractors themselves, with Felipe Fuentes, a lobbyist for the group, saying, “What we're doing here is very dangerous in that we're creating a slippery slope and hand-picking projects that are not politically favorable to the California Legislature.”
Meanwhile, the New York Post reports that Public Advocate Letitia James has proposed a similar blacklist for New York City, saying, “Companies have a choice — help build the wall, a monument to racism and xenophobia, or do business in New York City. We won’t allow you to do both.”
While hundreds of firms are said to have inquired about the wall project, CNN is reporting that many of the top companies already doing work for the government have refrained from putting in a bid out of fear that it could hurt their business in the future.
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