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Show DAILY AS Blue dogs who led the holm, group when he was in Congress and keeps in close contact with House Democrats. to moderate the policies the party puts forward." The group's clout lies in its Continued from A l numbers and its reach into districts that proved crucial to Stenholm opposed Pelosi's the Blue Dogs, which includes 2002 ascension to the ranks Democrats' November victory. Rep. Jim Matheson, of House leadership, believing With just a have played a key role in majority in that she was philosophically the House, Democrats cant afhatting an emerging plan to ford to alienate their conservaplace strict conditions on war too far to the left and dismissive of moderate points of tive flank. funding. Their revolt helped beat back that proposal, by view. Many Blue Dogs and The reality was reflected Pelosi ally John Murtha, other moderates are still wary in the priority list Leaders are now considering of her, they say privately, Democrats unveiled last year a watered-dowconcerned that Pelosi's liberal and pushed through the House version. views and tendency to side in January a minimalist They started the year with a major victory, when Demowith her mostly left-o- f center agenda designed to attract confidants could earn their broad support, including from crats adopted strict budget rules that party an extremist image that the Blue Dogs. Blue Dogs have advocated for will cost them their seats Winning the majority has and Democrats the majority. forced Democrats into a "general-years to block measures that But many now also say that election would deepenjthe deficit. setting" where Pelosi is bowing to the political they need to appeal to a broadSoon after, their insistence realities that landed her in her er base in order to garner the that a catchall spending measure stay within strict budget post. "The country has moved 218 votes needed to pass anylimits helped Democrats pass to the center. Nancy underthing, said Rep. Allen Boyd, the bill along with boosts for stands that, and she listens to a leader of the group. the Blue Dogs, and I take a lot veterans, health research "Iraq is a good example," and education Boyd said. "The majority of handing the of comfort in that," Stenholm the caucus would say, "Let's party its only substantive win said. Blue Dogs so far this year. with their be really strong in forcing the The group's next major test right-o- f center views, conserpresident out of here.' Well is likely to come when Demosome of us are really uncomvative districts and hawkish tendencies crats look to pass a budget. share a more fortable playing general and natural rapport with Majority you're going to see that reMany in the party are pushLeader Steny Hoyer, flected in what we vote on." ing for tax increases to fund The more sizable liberal who they see as their most education, health and other priorities. prominent advocate in leadwing of the party is chafing at House leaders now see the the Blue Dogs' influence. ership. Still, they say Pelosi support of the group partic- has made an effort to include Rep. Lynn Woolsey, a member of the "Out them a testament to the ularly its nine freshman memof Iraq" caucus that favors bers, whose victories over group's political importance. She awarded members of the forcing an end to the war, Republican incumbents in coalition some plum commitconservative districts helped complained in a recent Web to hand Democrats the House tee spots and stays in regular interview that Blue Dogs "are contact with them. as a prerequisite for any bragging that they have nine "She has her point of view measure they bring before the new members." In the interview with the liband we know that, but she House, senior aides said. "It should be obvious that has also been willing to listen eral group Progressive Democrats of America, she pointed and to reach out,' said Rep. very little is going to pass in out that the Progressive CauDennis Cardoza, the House that a majority of , a Blue Dogs do not support," member of the coalition. "We cus can boast the same numsaid former Rep. Charles Sten are playing a role in trying ber of freshmen. 32-se- D-P- Thursday. March 8, 2007 HERALD Colorado may put inmates to work on local farms Chase Squires THE ASSOCIATED PRESS . six-poi- n ., if ficers to cooperate with federal transportation and guards while they are working. immigration agents. Some worry that many Normally, perhaps 10,000 some convicts are city dwellers who migrant farmworkers to work on lack the know-holegal some illegal come a farm and are unaccustomed through Colorado each year, to the backbreaking work. planting, cultivating and harPrutch, for one, said he fears vesting such crops as onions, he will constantly have to train peppers, melons and pumpconvicts how to recognize a kins, said Larry Gallegos, an advocate for farmworkers in ripe pepper, how to distinguish a pepper plant from a weed, the state Labor Department. But he predicted their numbers and how to wield a hoe without will be down as much as 40 damaging the roots. State prison off icials say the percent this year. Prutch, like other small program could help inmates learn a trade, practice teamfarmers, said the labor shortwork and develop a work ethic age is dire. The five to 20 that will help them return to somigrant workers he and his family typically counted on for ciety. It would be open strictly minimum-securit- y decades nave disappeared, and to low-rishis peppers yent unharvested inmates who volunteer. "We're very excited about last faU because he couldn't - . find anyone to pick them, it," Corrections Department "Our problem in Colorado . spokeswoman Alison Morgan is we chased them off," said said. "We probably have 4,300 to 4,500 inmates who would Prutch, who farms 250 acres. "Legal or illegal, we made qualify for this." Colorado inmates already them feel unwanted. These work at a dairy that provides people just want to work." all of the milk for the prison Migrant farmworkers in Colorado are typically paid $8 system, and build furniture, tame mustangs and export to $9 an hour. Under a plan unn fish. But those der consideration by prison and enterprises are run by the state agricultural officials, farmers or nonprofit organizations. would pay the state an hourly This would be the first time wage $10 is one rate under Colorado convicts have been discussion for each inmate. The inmates would get the put to work for private busistate's standard nesses, Morgan said. In Arizona, state inmates credit for prison labor, while have been working on private the rest of the money would go toward their housing, food, farms for more than a decade. Arizona egg farmer Clint Hickman said he is thrilled with the program, which delivers up to 50 inmates a day to work for him. He said he would jump at a chance to hire inmates to work at an egg farm his family just Farmer VINELAND, Colcv isnt sure about putting Colorado convicts to work in his fields this summer. But then again, he says, he doesn't have much of a choice. Somebody has to pick the crops. Prutch has 15 acres of rotting peppers to show what happens if someone doesn't. Faced with a severe shortPhil Prut ch age of migrant farmworkers that many blame on Colorado's crackdown on illegal immigrants, state officials are considering an experimental program that could have prisn oners laboring on a farms by May. The idea has horrified some activists, who see it as a return to the plantation system. "It's just chain gangs and slave labor. It's been tried before," said Ricardo Martinez, of Denver-basePadres Unidos, an immigrant rights organization. "It's not like there's mental giants at the state Capitol developing solutions here." Colorado has enacted one of the nation's toughest crackdowns on illegal immigrants, denying most nonessential services to people in the country illegally, requiring more identification to get driver's licenses, and putting pressure on state and local law enforcement of half-doze- d j farm-grow- bought in Colorado. Austin Perez of the National Farm Bureau said the farmworker shortage is nationwide as the government cracks down on immigration. Both legal and illegal immigrants find it easier to land steady jobs in landscaping or construction than take a chance traveling from state to state with the growing seasons, he said. "We can't replace those people. People may think it's mm eigAE3ANE APPAREL ft unskilled labor, but it's not unskilled," he said. "Get up on a ladder 20 feet in the air to pick apples or stay up all night calving, to help a dairy cow give birth, it is not unskilled." Prutch he worries not only about the cost and the need for training, but the possibility that the inmates might be casing his place to rob it someday. But he said he will take any help he can get, and suggested the publicity might force lawmakers to come up with a guest worker program so he can get his skilled crews back. "Probably the farmers are more skeptical about this than anybody. We're skeptical about everything," he said. "No way is it going to fix the problem. It might not even be a ) Tfe Band-Aid.- " Hurry In For The Best Selection! Investigation Continued from Al January, to determine whether Ladies', Perites' & Dillard's Woman Apparel Men's Apparel Juniors' Apparel Children's Apparel Sleepwear & Accessories Men's, Ladies' Children's : & Shoes Non-Continui- ng (( SELECTION VARIES BY STORE. LIMITED TO STOCK ON HAND. ' in Basic, i oft of original prices. Sale prices merchandise it not included. Sorry, no price adjustments given on previous purchases. We cannot accept phone or mail orders on clearance merchandise. APPLY TODAY! ' Earn Dillard's Reward Points J Every Time You Shop ' Blackburn inappropriately accepted gifts from Epic Engineering. The company, which contracts with the city, did not return calls for comment. Blackburn has denied wrongdoing and acknowledged receiving pheasant and elk hunting trips from the ' company. "i Councilwomah Heather 'Jackson said she had accepted no gifts in her tenure on the Cxjuncil. She said gifts were governed by a city ordinance regarding conflicts of interest. City officials directed Dairy Herald questions about the ordinance to city recorder Gina Peterson, who did not return phone calls. Councilwoman Linn Strouse said she had been given money from friends and neighbors upon the death of her husband from cancer, "and if anyone is trying to characterize that , as anything other than char- ity, that would be despicable" She also said she had accepted copies of the Utah State Code donated to the city by state . Sen. Mark Madsen, Mountain, which are in the city offices. Richardson said he accepted a few Christmas gifts, including nuts, candy and "Leather-man-typ- e pliers set." He also ... said he had asked dry staffers not to accept any gift worth more than $50. . 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