Thread: Schwarzenegger Don't blame state budget deficit on illegal

Illegal aliens are a factor in California's budget math

George Skelton, Capitol Journal

February 2, 2009 From Sacramento -- Based on my e-mail, a lot of folks think the solution to California's state budget deficit is to round up all the illegal immigrants and truck them down to Mexico.

Wrong. Even if it were logistically possible and the deportees didn't just climb off the truck and hitch another ride back up north, their absence from the state wouldn't come close to saving enough tax dollars to balance a budget that has a $42-billion hole projected over the next 17 months.

Painful cuts in education, healthcare and social service programs still would be needed. Sharp tax increases would be required.

That said, let's be honest: Illegal immigration does cost California taxpayers a substantial wad, undeniably into the billions.

But it hasn't been PC for officeholders to talk about this for years, ever since Gov. Pete Wilson broke his pick waging an aggressive campaign for Proposition 187. That 1994 ballot initiative sought to bar illegal immigrants from most public services, including education. Voters approved the measure overwhelmingly, but it was tossed out by the courts.

Wilson was demonized by Democrats within the Latino community. And many think the Republican Party never has recovered among this rapidly growing slice of the electorate.

So it's not a topic that comes easily to the tongues of politicians, even Republicans.

Besides, most of the policy issues are out of California's hands. The federal government has jurisdiction over the border. Federal law decrees that every child is entitled to attend public school, regardless of immigration status. And every person -- here illegally or not -- must be cared for in hospital emergency rooms.

But the state does add a few benefits that aren't required.

And as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders dig into the books trying to find billions in savings, at least a brief look at what's being spent on illegal immigrants seems in order.

First, nobody seems to know exactly. Numbers vary widely, depending which side they come from in the ongoing angry debate over whether people who entered the country illegally to work should be allowed to stay or loaded on the southbound truck.

But here are some no-agenda numbers:

* There were 2.8 million illegal immigrants living in California in 2006, the last year for which there are relatively good figures, according to the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. That represented about 8% of the state's population and roughly a quarter of the nation's illegal immigrants. About 90% of California's illegal immigrants were from Latin America; 65% from Mexico.

* There are roughly 19,000 illegal immigrants in state prisons, representing 11% of all inmates. That's costing $970 million during the current fiscal year. The feds kick in a measly $111 million, leaving the state with an $859 million tab.

* Schools are the toughest to calculate. Administrators don't ask kids about citizenship status. Anyway, many children of illegal immigrants were born in this country and automatically became U.S. citizens.

If you figure that the children of illegal immigrants attending K-12 schools approximates the proportion of illegal immigrants in the population, the bill currently comes to roughly $4 billion. Most is state money; some local property taxes.

* Illegal immigrants aren't entitled to welfare, called CalWORKs. But their citizen children are. Roughly 190,000 kids are receiving welfare checks that pass through their parents. The cost: about $500 million, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.

Schwarzenegger has proposed removing these children from the welfare rolls after five years. It's part of a broader proposal to also boot off, after five years, the children of U.S. citizens who aren't meeting federal work requirements. There'd be a combined savings of $522 million.

* The state is spending $775 million on Medi-Cal healthcare for illegal immigrants, according to the legislative analyst. Of that, $642 million goes into direct benefits. Practically all the rest is paid to counties to administer the program. The feds generally match the state dollar-for-dollar on mandatory programs.

So-called emergency services are the biggest state cost: $536 million. Prenatal care is $59 million. Not counted in the overall total is the cost of baby delivery -- $108 million -- because the newborns aren't illegal immigrants.

The state also pays $47 million for programs that Washington does not require: Non-emergency care (breast and cervical cancer treatment), $25 million; long-term nursing home care, $19 million; abortions, $3 million.

Schwarzenegger has proposed requiring illegal immigrants to requalify every month for Medi-Cal benefits, except pregnancy-related emergencies.

There also are other taxpayer costs -- especially through local governments -- but those are the biggies for the state. Add them all up and the state spends well over $5 billion a year on illegal immigrants and their families.

Of course, illegal immigrants do pay state taxes. But no way do they pay enough to replenish what they're drawing in services. Their main revenue contribution would be the sales tax, but they can't afford to be big consumers, and food and prescription drugs are exempt.

My view is this: These people are here illegally and shouldn't be, regardless of whether they're just looking for a better life. Do it the legal way. And enforce the law against hiring the undocumented.

On the other hand, they are here. We can't have uneducated kids and unhealthy people living with us. We have moral obligations and practical imperatives.

The Obama administration and Congress need to finally pass an immigration reform act that allows for an agriculture work program and a route to citizenship.

Meanwhile, California should be honest about the costs. Illegal immigrants are not the sole cause of the state's deficit. But they are a drain.

george.skelton@latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/ ... 500.column

The Obama administration and Congress need to finally pass an immigration reform act that allows for an agriculture work program and a route to citizenship.

I thought there were all kinds of ag work programs in place, although no one seems to comply these days. And again with the path to citizenship! Those here illegally are here for one thing: MONEY! They will not learn English or be able to pass any citizenship exam like legal immigrants need to. They do not need to do anything except work illegally and hope for an amnesty.
On CSPAN this morning was an interview with CA senate president pro tem who got a lot of calls about what illegals were doing to the budget, and he seemed to blame the feds about not passing comprehensive immigration reform and set people on a path to citizenship. Most callers from around the country corrected the error of his ways.

this is the monologue on the terry anderson show this evening on KRLA in Los Angeles

The George Skelton article above from February has been posted at least 2 previous times:

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-144918-budget.html+math
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-144842-schwarzenegger.html

Can see the reason for bringing this article to our attention, since it relates to this thread, however perhaps a couple lines from the article and a 'related' link would be suffice to help cut down on our dups.

Thank you.

Friends of ALIPAC,

Of course illegal aliens are costing our states billions of dollars. That is practically common knowledge now, unless you are California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger!

Please read Schwarzenegger's shocking comments to the Sacramento Bee newspaper. Arnold claims that he is "happy" illegals get taxpayer benefits but feels public workers get too many benefits!

It is time for Arnold to hear from lots of angry Americans from across the nation who know how to express their dismay without going over the top.

Arnold is responding to the massive political pressure building up against his refusal to cut costs caused by illegal immigration. This effects every American as California is now asking for a federal bailout of billions of your tax dollars!

We encourage our supporters to call, e-mail, fax, and write Governor Schwarzenegger to complain and request that he change his stance.

Read his full comments in this article

Schwarzenegger Illegal aliens not cause of California's budget woes

http://www.alipac.us/article-4277-thread-1-0.html

Please read Schwarzenegger's shocking comments to the Sacramento Bee newspaper. Arnold claims that he is "happy" illegals get taxpayer benefits but feels public workers get too many benefits!

The rich elite get everything off on their taxes even the property taxes they pay. Don't BEE fooled by the rich elitest

NC is having a One Billion Dollar Debt due to illegals.

(Below is my email to my local representative, her reply is on top half. This is the same individual that just put a bill forward to up the one time Representative's spousal death benefit to $20,000 from $10,000. Why aren't all NC Citizens entitled to this benefit? Is this their personal burial insurance package?)

Dear Ms.
Thank you for your e-mail. I hope you have also sent it to the Governor and to the Leaders in the House and Senate. Bills to help with this problem were left in committees and never had a chance to be voted on. Many reasons also are because of Federal laws that effect the state laws. I agree with you and will do all I can to help keep funds from going to any illegal person in North Carolina. I am also for the 287 G program.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve.
Sincerely,
Rep.

________________________________


Dear Rep.

I am shocked that no one is talking about over One Billion Tax Payer Dollars going to Illegal Aliens in North Carolina. North Carolina is having to cut jobs and it's budget. The One Billion for the Illegal Aliens must be cut first.

By our state officials overlooking the growing problem of immigration for many years we are facing an invasion of illegal aliens into NC. North Carolina Citizen-Voter-Workers have been displaced by illegal aliens or immigrants illegally.

Currently, the State's Employment Security Commission only E-Verifies Migrate Farm Workers. Why doesn't the ESC E-Verify all Immigrants and their I-9s?

I am super disappointed with the news of illegal aliens getting preferred treatment over North Carolina Citizens. So I am asking for your support against the spending of money toward illegal aliens or immigrants in our state.

Please put our North Carolina Displaced Worker First!

Sincerely concerned,

I know from past comments Arnold protects the illegals and is pro-amnesty. Fox reported today that the healthcare reform is going to cost up to 3 trillion on top of the deficit already. The illegals will be front and foremost to collect the healthbenefits while the american taxpayers continues to pick up the tab. If anyone tries to tell you these people pay taxes, they are out of their minds, the majority do not. The claim way too many dependents and then make a killing when and if they file their taxes. So, people, this will again fall the to working americans to pick up the tab.

Why do you REFUSE to listen to your American voters?
I'm writing to express how shocked I am that Governor Schwarzenegger is "happy" illegal aliens are draining 5 billion dollars out of the state budget, yet he feels public employees are too much of a drain. I think Mr. Schwarzenegger should apologize for these comments, change his stance, and remove the illegal aliens from the welfare recipient lists as other states have done. So, Americans who work for a living should not get a pension or benefits, but if you are here illegally you should get everything for free? What will your pension be, Mr. Schwarzenegger, after your SHORT term as Governor? A senator or congressman gets a full pension and perks even if they serve only one term. A Los Angeles City council member makes $180,000 a year and has nearly an unlimited expense account, eight city cars and 27 staff members. The one I am specifically referring to has a constituency of mostly illegal Hispanics. So he doesn’t really have a legal constituency. If you work briefly for the government it seems you are very deserved of the most generous pensions and benefits, but, if you are an ordinary legal American citizen who works 30 or more years you don’t deserve a pension or benefits? I believe Arnold should be thrown out of office like past CA Governor Gray Davis for these positions. I'm asking my members of Congress to oppose any federal bail out money for CA until Arnold get's the illegal aliens off of welfare!" We would not be having this budget crisis if you had stopped giving away the store to illegals. When are you going to WAKE up?
My husband and I will be leaving California soon. His brother and family left last year. This is not a state to live in if you are an American. You have made it very clear we are not welcome…..so hasta la vista, baby!

Minnesota has the same issue and then they have the balls to try to explain where the money has gone. They just refuse to admit that illegals are costing us a fortune. You cannot believe how many times I've called and sent them proof of how much it's costing the tax payers of my state.