Thread: Duncan says state obliged to provide services to illegals

http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20 ... -5810r.htm

Duncan says state obliged to provide services to illegals
By Matthew Cella
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Published November 29, 2005

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Enforcing immigration laws is the federal government's job, gubernatorial candidate Douglas M. Duncan said yesterday, adding that the state is "legally required" to provide basic services such as education and health care to illegal aliens.

"It's up to the White House and Congress to protect our borders," said the Montgomery County executive. "We want them to enforce the immigration laws and the employment laws of this country. We're waiting for them to do that. They need to do that."

Mr. Duncan's remarks came after a noon rally on the steps of the County Council chambers in Rockville to announce that about three dozen federal, state and local officials had pledged their support to Mr. Duncan's gubernatorial campaign. Mr. Duncan faces Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley in the Democratic primary next year. The winner will face incumbent Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., a Republican.

When asked whether a Duncan administration would consider cuts to basic state services for illegal aliens, Mr. Duncan said it would not be an option.

"We're legally required to provide health care. We're legally required to provide an education," he said. "There are obligations and expenses we have that the federal government is not helping us with. So they need to do their job. They need to get their act together and enforce the laws of this country."

The District-based Center for Immigration Studies recently reported that Maryland has about 100,000 illegal aliens, with as many as 45,000 in Montgomery County, based upon birth records.

Mr. Duncan's stance places him at odds with Mr. Ehrlich, who recently proposed cutting the Medicaid program to save $7 million in the budget by denying medical benefits to some legal immigrants. In 2003, Mr. Ehrlich vetoed a bill that would have allowed illegal aliens to pay in-state tuition at state universities.

Mr. Ehrlich also said he would consider supporting a bill that would require day-laborer centers to screen for illegal aliens, deny them services and prevent employers from unlawfully hiring them. And he has supported establishing a task force to study whether illegal aliens should be allowed to get state driver's licenses.

Maryland does not require that those who apply for driver's licenses be legal U.S. residents. Virginia strengthened its requirements after the September 11 attacks when it was learned that several of the terrorists had obtained Virginia licenses. The state now requires applicants -- U.S. or foreign born -- to provide proof of legal presence in the U.S. and two pieces of identification and proof of residency through a walk-in process.

Mr. Duncan also said yesterday that he wants the investigation into an ongoing scandal over building violations in Clarksburg to "move a little more quickly," but he does not think it will hurt his campaign.

"I think it's a problem for the people of Clarksburg," he said. "It's going to be a problem for the people in other parts of the county as the Planning Board just focuses on Clarksburg and doesn't do other things."

It's safe to say that this clown will not win the governorship. Gee Mr Duncan if you like the illegals so much then why don't you pay for their benefits yourself? Why don't we build a day laborer center in your own front yard so the illegals can congregate there? Oh what's that? You don't want that. Oh but you have no problem forcing it on us and making us pay for all this crap. Why is it that these hypocritcal elitiest don't practice what they preach? You know this jerk wouldn't want the illegals to be anywhere near him for a second, but yet he has no problem forcing this invasion on us, he doesn't care if our neighbors go to s--t and we have to pay for the illegal alien benefits, but I don't see him offering his services with his own money.

For crying out loud! Why wait for the Federal government? Other states have taken action. And his excuses are lame.

The federal government dictates that we must give emergency health care -- not just health care in general. And I believe the education thing says we have to let them go to school until they are 16. At that point, oh well.

I guess it's just easier for this guy to whine than to fight, to read the laws, and to find every available loophole to withhold every single allowable benefit. And if their state constitution says they have to bend over backwards for illegals, then perhaps it's time they got busy and re-wrote it.