http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/g ... 94,00.html

Capitol faceoff over illegal immigration

By Lynn Bartels and April Washington, Rocky Mountain News
July 5, 2006

In a dramatic show of force, Gov. Bill Owens and several members of his administration showed up en masse at a Joint Budget Committee hearing on illegal immigration this morning. The JBC, chaired by a Democrat, had called eight state department heads together to ask them on how much the state is spending to provide services to illegal immigrants. The hearing comes one day before a special legislative session convenes to study the thorny issue of illegal immigrants.

Owens told the JBC this morning that he understood lawmakers need information before Thursday’s special session, but he was frustrated that it was called on such late notice and didn’t include local government officials, who feel the brunt of illegal immigration.

Democrats said they weren’t expecting to be hit with a Republican onslaught this morning, and the tense exchanges between the Republican governor and the Democratic-controlled legislature was further evidence of how illegal immigration has become political dynamite for both parties.

Sen. Dave Owen, R-Greeley, and a 14-year-member of the JBC, ripped his colleagues for calling today’s meeting, forcing state workers to scramble for data over the holiday weekend.

"Right now we’re being used as a political football," Owen said. "I have a problem with that. I don’t think it’s right."

But the JBC chair, Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, said he believed that information was relevant if lawmakers were going to start debating immigration bills on Thursday.

The governor told lawmakers that he believes that most illegal immigrants in Colorado are good people, but that they are costing taxpayers money.

Democrats have criticized the governor for his stance on illegal immigration, saying he did nothing about it during his first seven years in office but now is making it an important issue because it an election year.