Thread: PA: Senate panel backs proof of residence for benefits

Senate panel backs proof of residence for benefits
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
BY JAN MURPHY
Of The Patriot-News

A state senator hopes to make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to obtain public benefits such as welfare, unemployment compensation or housing assistance in Pennsylvania.

In a 6-4 party-line vote on Tuesday, the Senate's State Government Committee passed Republican-backed proposal that would require proof of legal residence and birthdate to access government benefits. It now moves to the full Senate.

"It's an issue of fairness for the taxpayers of the commonwealth to make sure their dollars are going to not only Pennsylvania citizens but legal aliens here in the commonwealth," said the bill's sponsor, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson.

A similar proposal, sponsored by Rep. Scott Perry, R-Dillsburg, has been idle for months in the House Health and Human Services Committee. Proponents such as Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, suggest there may be at least 102 votes in the House to pass the bill, but the trick is getting it out of committee with Democrats in the majority.

Gov. Ed Rendell and some lawmakers take the view that the proposals are unnecessary, because citizenship is already required to access benefits. Scarnati's bill, however, would impose penalties for accessing benefits.

Some suggest the best place to impose reform is at the federal level, but Scarnati said the federal government's failure to act has forced states to tackle the issue.

Citing statistics from the Pew Hispanic Center and the Federation of American Immigration Reform, Scarnati said it is estimated that between 125,000 and 175,000 illegal immigrants live in Pennsylvania.

Opponents of the bill say no evidence of a problem with illegal immigrants improperly receiving benefits was presented at an October hearing on the measure.

They also noted the $300 million figure that Scarnati suggests this problem costs the state is misleading. Those figures reflect federally mandated services or programs such as public education, emergency health care and incarceration, they said.

"This kind of conversation is about fear-mongering, hate and demagoguery, and that's why they need to oppose this kind of issue," said the Rev. Neil Harrison of Harrisburg-based Lutheran Advocacy Ministry.

Louise Hayes, supervising attorney for Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, said the initiative would potentially deny benefits to legal citizens who might not have the required forms of government-issued identification to access them.

Scarnati said that although an amendment to his bill by the State Government Committee would expand the list of acceptable forms of identification, "you can't loosen it any further without losing the integrity of the bill."

Hayes said a similar proposal in Colorado cost $2 million and resulted in no savings.

"Why spend lots of money to impose new red tape when there's no documented problem?" she said.

www.pennlive.com

Louise Hayes, supervising attorney for Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, said the initiative would potentially deny benefits to legal citizens who might not have the required forms of government-issued identification to access them.

So Americans living in Pa. need not have proper identification? Here in NY it's required. well unless you can fake not knowing any english etc..

We see this all the time

What I don't understand is why so many of the panderers
continue to block these from becoming law

after all , In their own words "there is no problem"

Then why are they so worried if it passes

Opponents of the bill say no evidence of a problem with illegal immigrants improperly receiving benefits was presented at an October hearing on the measure




There is only "no problem" because nobody has bothered keeping facts and figures on how many illegal aliens have attempted to obtain benefits, or have gotten them only to later be found out.

And how many illegals have used false documents and actually gotten away with it to obtain benefits they have no business receiving?

That is why these laws are so necessary.....they are a wonderful deterrent.



This kind of conversation is about fear-mongering, hate and demagoguery, and that's why they need to oppose this kind of issue," said the Rev. Neil Harrison of Harrisburg-based Lutheran Advocacy Ministry


This again? I find it sickening that those who oppose illegal immigration and try to do something about it are repeatedly accused of racism, yet it is always...ALWAYS....the pro-illegal crowd who injects the race card into any discussion.

When will they understand....no one is listening to this crap anymore?





Louise Hayes, supervising attorney for Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, said the initiative would potentially deny benefits to legal citizens who might not have the required forms of government-issued identification to access them.


This is another crock.

If one does not have birth certificates or other documents needed to access benefits, nor the means of getting them, the particular agency which needs them will obtain these things themselves. They are kept on file with the agency and the applicant does not receive them.

Of all people, Hayes should know this.

Mother's freind in gettysburg, pa up until illegals accidently caught building on fire had mostly illegals who only paid 100$ a month and the government paid the rest.The catholic church urges illegals to come there,help them get on social programs for free medical and dental for thier kids,heating oil,rent progams and even helps them pay electricity bills.After the fire she got off the program from government ,maybe governmnet found out it was not safe enough for illegals ,only ok for americans.