Thread: Idaho Senate votes to bar public support to illegal ...

Last modified on Monday, March 12, 2007 4:45 PM MDT


Idaho Senate votes to bar public support to illegal immigrants

By JOHN MILLER
BOISE, Idaho - Senators voted 29-6 Monday for a bill aimed at preventing illegal immigrants in Idaho from receiving most local, state and federal public assistance, overcoming objections from a handful of Democrats and Republicans who said it would be ineffective and could be a tool for discrimination.

The bill now goes to the House.

It would require a person to prove lawful presence in the United States before receiving assistance such as Medicare.

Recipients of such taxpayer-financed social assistance would have to use a driver's license or a passport, combined with a valid Social Security number, to prove their right to be in the country before receiving benefits. It carves out exceptions for emergencies, so illegal immigrants would be entitled to benefits in the event of injuries, childbirth or neonatal care.

"It requires people to show they are in this country legally before receiving valuable taxpayer dollars," said Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell and sponsor of the plan.

Sen. Mike Burkett, D-Boise, said he feared the bill could be used by local government officials to target certain groups, including those of Hispanic or Latino ancestry who make up Idaho's largest minority at about 9 percent of the population.

"This will be a tool for discrimination," Burkett said.

It wasn't a party-line vote, however. Four Democrats _ Sens. Elliot Werk, of Boise; Kate Kelly, of Boise; Clint Stennett, of Ketchum; and Diane Bilyeu, of Pocatello _ voted for the bill.

"It moves the dialogue forward," Kelly said of the bill. "I have heard from my constituents that they want to do something."

She said the bill may have to be amended next year, to be more specific about what benefits should require residency verification.

Three Republicans opposed it: Sens. Chuck Coiner, of Twin Falls; Joe Stegner, of Lewiston; and Tim Corder, of Mountain Home.

Corder said he didn't think it was an effective solution to America's _ or Idaho's _ problems with illegal immigration.

"This bill is going to make a lot of us feel good," Corder said. "But it's not going to address a solution."

Meanwhile, Coiner said he believes such legislation is "abhorrent" and could allow local officials with racist agendas to start "monkeying around" with laws to deny certain groups benefits. He also said the benefits that would be denied weren't clearly defined in the bill.

"If you apply for a library card, that's a public benefit. Going to a city park? That's a public benefit," Coiner said. "Where is the definition of public benefit that prevents this thing from getting carried away?"

McGee countered that his bill doesn't make verification a requirement for getting mundane things such as library cards.

While he said he couldn't provide specific instances in which illegal immigrants had been documented taking advantage of social services, he said "anecdotal evidence" from his discussions with state agencies such as the Department of Health and Welfare showed such abuses were occurring.

"Immigration policy in this country is dysfunctional and broken," he said. "It is time for Idaho to take further action."

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/200 ... qscio0.txt

Well, it's a step. Let's hope other states will follow suit.

It would require a person to prove lawful presence in the United States before receiving assistance such as Medicare.

Wasn't the requirement of citizenship regarding the eligibility for Medicare recently inacted as a federal law?

Wasn't the requirement of citizenship regarding the eligibility for Medicare recently inacted as a federal law?

Yes, but sadly like most other immigration laws, ignored.

Well OLIVER, what think you!!
One small step for mankind!! we can take another bow and then start working on the house!! Two small steps in the last week adds up to one average step!! I'll take that!! cause its a tough fight!!

I'm going to start by writing a little note to the ones who voted against it so when the next battle comes up, maybe they will change their mind!!

Happy vacation in that sanctuary city, you will love home even more when you leave there!!

First passed the Senate and now the House
~~~~~~~~~
Mar 22, 2007
Idaho House votes to bar public support to illegal immigrants
BOISE, Idaho - Lawmakers in the state House have approved a bill to bar illegal immigrants in Idaho from receiving most local, state and federal public assistance.

Supporters said the bill was not intended to regulate immigration, but to control spending. Foes argued the measure could do just the opposite, while delaying treatment or services for people in need.

The House voted 47-21 for the bill on Thursday. Senators approved the measure earlier, and it now goes to Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter for signing into law. Otter has said he supports it.

The bill would require a person to prove lawful presence in the United States before receiving assistance, such as Medicare. Recipients of taxpayer-financed assistance would have to use a driver's license or passport, combined with a valid Social Security number, to prove their right to be in the country before receiving benefits.

It carves out exceptions for emergencies, so illegal immigrants would be entitled to benefits in the event of injuries, childbirth or neonatal care.

"I know there's a lot of concern and controversy on this, but I would really like to take the high road on this and propose it as a measure to provide stewardship of public funds," said Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise and the bill's sponsor.

But Idaho doesn't know the cost of providing assistance to illegal immigrants, and bill sponsors don't know what the savings would be if passed, said Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, who voted against the bill.

About 30 other states have approved similar measures. In Colorado, state officials spent $2 million in the first six months of implementing their version, and they still don't know whether they saved any money for the taxpayers, Labrador said.

"If I came to you with that bill information, you would turn it down," he said.

Labrador also raised concerns that lawmakers were willing to fault the immigrants, but not businesses who employ them.

Earlier this session, lawmakers killed a measure that would have required employers who willfully hire illegal immigrants to pay for their health-care costs if those workers get injured on the job.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/200 ... 1f7cg2.txt

This makes me so happy, all the work was certainly worth it, thanks for the good news Jean!!!!

Story published at magicvalley.com on Friday, March 23, 2007
Last modified on Friday, March 23, 2007 12:20 AM MDT

House OKs bill denying benefits to illegal citizens
By Jared S. Hopkins
Times-News writer

BOISE - State Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, the sole Latino legislator and an immigration lawyer, told his colleagues Thursday how he won a case for a client who came to America when she was 8 years-old but who had learned 37 years later that she was not a legal citizen.

"She was shocked," Labrador said. "She had thought all her life that she was a legal citizen."

This was one of several personal examples he cited during a nearly 20-minute plea on the House floor to vote against a bill to withhold publicly-funded social benefits to undocumented Idahoans.

The House voted 47-21 to send it to the governor to sign.

Labrador echoed sentiment expressed by Sen. Chuck Coiner, R-Twin Falls, who gave a passionate argument in the Senate, which voted 29-6 in favor.

The bill would require individuals who want to use public social programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid and other services, to show documents proving citizenship, including a driver's license or a passport as well as authentic social security numbers.

It would apply only to those over 18.

Labrador criticized the legislation for not providing how much money Idaho is losing to illegal citizens or how many people are committing fraud.

"I am talking today versus substance versus symbols," Labrador said. "I'm afraid we're sending the wrong signals as a state."

A spokesman for the state Department of Health and Welfare, which administers–the social programs, said Thursday that such figures are still unknown and the bill is unlikely to affect the agency. It could affect branched groups, however, such as South Central District Health in Twin Falls.

"We either meet or exceed all of the requirements for the check of identification the bill proposes," said department spokesman Tom Shanahan.

Others argued the bill would be costly and ineffective.

They referenced the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, a database that verifies legal status with social security numbers; recent legislative approval of full-time positions to help administer the program, and that the Senate killed a bill to keep employers unaccountable who hire illegal immigrants.

But proponents said the bill was a responsible taxpayer policy, and does not single out Mexicans. Thirty states have passed similar measures.

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter supported the measure in his January State of the State address.

"We don't know how many people would be affected," said Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, "because we don't know how many people are here illegally because we don't' track it."

http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/200 ... 108699.txt

Finally a step in the right direction.. Right on Idaho !!!!!