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Comptroller attacks illegal immigration
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Len Lazarick, The Examiner
Jul 6, 2006 5:00 AM (5 hrs ago)
Current rank: # 45 of 13,882 articles

BALTIMORE - Comptroller William Donald Schaefer went on the offense against illegal immigration at a Board of Public Works meeting on Wednesday, triggered by approval of a state grant to test students taking English as a second language.


This latest in a series of comments about illegal immigrants and people who don’t speak English caused one of his primary opponents for comptroller, Del. Peter Franchot, to say they “cast serious doubts on his mental and emotional fitness for the office.”

“If they come here illegally what do we do about it — nothing,” said Schaefer. “I just get so irritated when we just open up the borders.”

Several officials from the state Department of Education were mostly silent as the comptroller went on for several minutes.

“You can’t ask the question about whether they’re illegal?” Schaefer asked.

Under federal law, it’s one question that can not be asked.

The grant approved by the board provided $1.9 million in federal funds and $372,000 in state money for testing of about 31,000 students who come to school without an ability to speak English. Most of the younger ones are born here, education officials said.

“I think the generosity of Americans is wonderful,” Schaefer said. “Nobody worries about the cost.”

The comptroller wondered where the children came from: Mexico, China, Vietnam, Korea?

At one point he mused, “Koreans — all of a sudden, they’re our friends too.” Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery counties all have large populations of Korean natives and their children.

“The best thing to do is not to say anything,” Schaefer said. “We’ll pay someday. I think it’s a shame.”

Franchot, who has often criticized Schaefer’s support of Gov. Robert Ehrlich, raised his criticism to a new level.

“The second most powerful constitutional office in the state is in the hands of someone who is not in control of himself,” Franchot said.

“I’ve often expressed admiration for the long record of William Donald Schaefer, but he’s reduced the Board of Public Works to the level of an elementary school playground,” he said.

WJZ-TV-13 contributed to this report.

llazarick@baltimoreexaminer.com

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