Thread: Sen. Reid not listening NV constituents

New Nevada Zogby Poll and FAIR Cost Study Show Harry Reid Promoting Unpopular and Expensive Immigration Policies

LINK: http://www.hola-arkansas.com/news_pr.php?nid=13617

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new statewide public opinion poll conducted by the Zogby International polling organization finds that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is failing to represent the interests of the vast majority of his Nevada constituents on immigration policy. Sen. Reid's consistent obstruction of immigration enforcement efforts is also taking a huge toll on Nevada's state budget. A new study by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) finds that illegal immigration costs Nevada $630 million annually.

With Nevada facing massive budget deficits, and a state unemployment rate of 9.1 percent, Sen. Reid took the extraordinary step of stripping safeguards from the economic stimulus bill intended to ensure that jobs created with $800 billion of taxpayer money went to legal U.S. workers. A reauthorization of the E-Verify program, which allows employers to verify workers Social Security number electronically, and a requirement that companies receiving stimulus money use the system, were blocked by Sen. Reid. He also took a lead role in removing them from the House-Senate conference bill that was passed and signed by President Obama.

The Zogby poll conducted among likely Nevada voters in late January found that:
-- 77.7% of Nevada voters wanted E-Verify protections included in the stimulus bill.
-- Nevada voters oppose amnesty (54.5% to 33.9%) for illegal aliens, an idea promoted by Sen. Reid.
-- 76.5% of Nevada voters believe illegal immigration has a negative impact on the state budget.

Voter's perceptions of the impact of illegal immigration on Nevada are rooted in reality, finds a new cost study by FAIR. The Costs of Illegal Immigration to Nevadans finds that taxpayers bear a $630 million annual burden as a result of illegal immigration, or about $763 per native-headed household in the state. The report finds that Nevadans spend:
-- $515 million a year to educate the children of illegal aliens.
-- $85 million a year on unreimbursed health care for illegal aliens.
-- $31 million a year to incarcerate criminal illegal aliens.

"At a time when Nevadans are facing record unemployment, free-falling home values, and a state budget crisis, their senator -- the majority leader -- is working against their interests," said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. "As majority leader, Sen. Reid will certainly have the political clout to steer stimulus money to Nevada, but there will be no protections to ensure that the jobs created will go to Nevadans who desperately need them.

"With the release of this public opinion poll and The Costs of Illegal Immigration to Nevadans, it is clear that the most powerful member of the Senate is ignoring the concerns of the people who elected him as well as the devastating fiscal impact of illegal immigration on his home state," Stein concluded.


About FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform