FedUpInNebraska's note:
This is an open letter Governor Dave Heineman sent to all Nebraska newspapers yesterday, March 3, 2007
Opinion - Opinion

Gov: Legislature should reconsider illegal immigration bill
by Gov. Dave Heineman - 3/3/2008

This session, I worked with Attorney General Jon Bruning to develop a legislative proposal designed to prohibit illegal immigrants from receiving state and local benefits in Nebraska.

LB 963 was introduced in the Legislature by Sen. Mike Friend of Omaha and is a targeted and measured approach to an issue that Nebraskans care deeply about. The federal government has failed to enact changes that would address the issue of illegal immigration and as a result, states have begun to respond with their own proposals.

The policy being pursued in Nebraska centers on a single concept: Illegal immigrants should not receive state and local benefits.

This proposal is limited to an area over which state and local governments have control. It would help ensure that the benefits available to U.S. citizens are preserved for those who truly qualify for assistance.

Under LB 963, state and local agencies would be required to verify an applicant’s legal status with the federal government as part of the benefit enrollment process. Anyone applying for benefits would sign an affidavit declaring they are either a U.S. citizen or a resident alien. Agencies would check that information against a federal database, and applicants determined to be in the country illegally would have their applications for benefits denied.

Enacting LB 963 would prohibit an illegal immigrant from obtaining state or local retirement benefits, welfare, health, disability, public housing, postsecondary education, food assistance, and unemployment benefits.

This bill outlines a single, uniform process to be used by all state agencies and every entity of local or county government to determine eligibility for benefits. It’s important to point out this bill would not impact K-12 education, emergency medical assistance and short-term emergency disaster relief. These are mandated to be provided by the federal government.

LB 963 had a hearing before the Legislature's Judiciary Committee recently. Sen. Friend, the Attorney General and I testified on the merits of the bill. We were joined by a room full of Nebraskans who came to the State Capitol to share their opinions on this bill. Despite the fact that few had the opportunity to testify, nearly every person stayed for the entire six-hour hearing. Yet, 24 hours later, the Judiciary Committee voted to kill LB 963.

The citizens of Nebraska deserve to have this issue debated by the full Legislature. Attorney General Bruning and I have urged the committee to reconsider their vote to advance LB 963 to the full Legislature. I applaud Sen. Pete Pirsch of Omaha, who was the only member of the committee voting to advance the bill.

Solving the problems facing our country with regard to illegal immigration will require action from federal leaders, but this bill is one thing state and local governments can do immediately to ensure that the benefits provided to our residents are preserved for those who truly qualify.

http://www.northplattebulletin.com/inde ... ectionID=5