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EDITORIAL: Illegal benefits

Newly elected Assemblyman Ty Cobb, a Reno Republican, signaled this week that he's not content playing the typical freshman backbencher. On Monday, he announced that he's requested a bill to deny many state services to illegal immigrants living in Nevada.

"Immigration reform was the No. 1 issue that came up during my campaign," he said. "There is a tremendous economic impact on our state."


Mr. Cobb's proposal would require a Social Security number or some evidence of citizenship before an individual could avail himself of state benefits such as unemployment compensation or the Millennium Scholarship. Neither emergency medical care nor public education would be affected by the measure.

The proposal is sure to be controversial among most Democrats -- indeed, a provision to deny the Millennium Scholarship to illegals was quietly stripped from a bill by Democrats last session -- but it shouldn't be. Voters in both California and Arizona have passed similar measures. Lawmakers in Colorado earlier this year banned illegals from receiving state benefits.

"My proposal, in general, seeks to lessen the economic impact illegal immigrants have on our state," said Mr. Cobb.

Most Americans can sympathize with those who come to this country to build a better life. But they prefer that immigrants go through legal channels -- and they reject the notion that those who ignore this country's laws have a right to access our limited taxpayer resources.

Unfortunately, Mr. Cobb will likely receive a rude awakening when the Legislature convenes in February. Democrats hold a significant majority in the Assembly -- and incoming Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, was hardly enthusiastic about Mr. Cobb's bill draft request.

"I'm not sure what the response will be" to the proposal, she said. "All legislation is looked at. But sometimes, too, this type of legislation can backfire."

Translation: If I have my way, the bill will get a hearing in the Assembly when NASA sends a manned spacecraft to Pluto.

Perhaps the assemblyman can persuade one of his cohorts in the GOP-controlled state Senate to introduce a companion measure in the upper chamber.

At any rate, Mr. Cobb should move forward with his proposal. At the very least, it would be a worthwhile exercise to force opponents to reveal the lengths they'll go to prevent an on-the-record, up-or-down vote on this salient issue.