Thread: NE Senator Wightman's Views on Immigration

Senator Wightman sets sight on taxes and education

Wightman is on the appropriations committee and as such is partly responsible for how Nebraska spends its cash.

One of the big issues facing the appropriations committee this year is how to fund programs. Because Nebraskans are tightening their belts, Wightman wants to focus on a zero-growth budget. He said bills to increase taxes with be very few and far between.

“We are one of nine states not in a deficit situation,â€

Perhaps Senator Wighman needs to go to www.FAIR.org for information about the costs of illegals in his state. Cutting back on services for legal citizens while financially catering the illegals is yet another scam being perpetrated on the American people.

This information was taken directly from www.FAIR.org, anyone wanting to know the reality of the costs of illegals on tax payers, can benefit from this well-documented web site.


Immigration Impact: Nebraska


State Population (2006 CB estimate)
1,768,331

State Population in 2000
1,713,426

Average Annual Change 2000-2006
0.5%

Foreign Born Population 2006 1/
97,280

Foreign Born Share 2006
5.5%

Foreign Born Population 2000
74,638

Foreign Born Share 2000
4.4%

Average Annual Change 2000-2006
4.8%

Population Projection 2010
1.76 million

Population Projection 2025
1.81 million

Population Projection 2050 (FAIR)
2.28 million


All numbers are from the U.S. Census Bureau unless otherwise noted. Additional Census Bureau, INS, and other immigration-related data are available for Nebraska.

Population Change
Nebraska’s population increased by 8.6 percent between 1990 and 2000, and by 3.2 percent between 2000 and 2006, bringing Nebraska total population to approximately 1.76 million.

Approximately 41.2 percent of the total population increase between 2000 and 2006 in Nebraska was directly attributable to immigrants.

FAIR estimates the illegal alien population in 2005 at 39,000.This number is 62.5 percent above the U.S. government estimate of 24,000 in 2000, and 550% above the 1990 estimate of 6,000.

According to an estimate of the Pew Hispanic Center, in 2005 there were an estimated 35,000 to 55,000 illegal aliens living in Nebraska. 2/

FAIR estimates in 2004 that the taxpayers of Nebraska spent $104.1 million per year on illegal aliens and their children in public schools.3/




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FAIR’s projected annual fiscal costs to Nebraska taxpayers
for emergency medical care, education and incarceration resulting if an amnesty is adopted for illegal residents.

Current
2010
2020

$126,000,000
$213,000,000
$367,000,000



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Population Profile

The 1990s was the first decade since Nebraska started keeping records in the 1930s that more people moved into the state than out.4/ Some local economists and demographers have expressed concern that those moving into the state are not as skilled or educated as those moving out. Indeed, many of Nebraska’s fastest growing counties are those where low-skilled, low-wage meatpacking jobs are plentiful (such as Dawson and Dakota counties, which increased by 22 and 21 percent, respectively, 5/ and many of those jobs are being filled by immigrants new to the state.6/

Nebraska’s foreign-born population more than doubled during the 1990s, increasing 165 percent—the seventh highest percentage increase in the country.

Foreign-Born Population
Nebraska foreign-born population increased by 30.3 percent between 2000 and 2006. During that period Nebraska gained over 22,000 immigrants, bringing the total number of foreign-born residents in the state to over 97,000.


Environmental and Quality of Life Profile
Water: Nebraska has seen steady increases in demand for water, as its population has grown. Between 2000 and 2006, the state’s foreign-born population increased by one-third.7/ This contrasts with a two percent increase in the native-born population and that included the children born to immigrants. When the U.S.-born children of these immigrants are included, immigrants account for nearly three-fourths (74%) of the state’s recent population increase.8/ By 2050, the state’s population is projected to rise from about 1.8 million to 2.3 million.9/ With per-capita water demand of 192.8 gallons each day, this expected growth will result in an additional need of 93.3 million gallons of water each day.10/ Ultimately, the resulting increases in water consumption could pose serious issues for the state’s prosperity.11/

According to the High Plains Center for Sustainability, Nebraska is exploiting the High Plains/Ogallala Aquifer like a coal mine. “Once gone, we can never expect it to be replenished,â€

As we know, when politicians spout "enforcement needs to be at the federal level" this means they support illegal aliens over American workers.

Originally Posted by Populist

As we know, when politicians spout "enforcement needs to be at the federal level" this means they support illegal aliens over American workers.

Wightman has stated that he thinks the illegals are good for our economy. Unfortunately the editorial that he said this in was not found anywhere online or I would have posted it. It was only in the print edition of our newspaper.