Dems: Staten Island's Malliotakis using 'immigrant children as scapegoats'

Silive.com ^ | January 30, 2013 at 9:30 PM, updated January 31, 2013 | Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance

[moonshinner_09]

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The plight of Hurricane Sandy victims has become a flashpoint in the Albany debate over the DREAM Act.

Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) is taking flak from Democrats for linking taxpayer-funded tuition aid for college-age illegal immigrants with Hurricane Sandy victims.

Ms. Malliotakis says that Albany lawmakers should be more focused on helping storm victims than providing taxpayer-funded tuition aid to the children of illegal immigrants.

"This should not be the focus of the Assembly or the state Legislature," she said. "There are more pressing issues in the state right now."

Among those issues, she said, is helping the thousands left homeless by Sandy rebuild their lives.

[moonshinner_09]

Borough Democratic chairman John Gulino called Ms. Malliotakis' criticism of the DREAM Act "divisive and dangerous."

"This isn't a time to scapegoat children," Gulino said, "it's a time to come together, as one community and bring real, lasting relief to those most in need."

Ms. Malliotakis invited Gulino to walk her devastated district with her.

"I haven't seen him out there," she said. "If he thinks my constituents don't take priority over illegal aliens, he can come out there with me." You Go Girl !!

[muawiyah]

Borough Democratic chairman John Gulino is clearly an ANTI AMERICAN POS ~ it is time to restart HUAC and get to the bottom of this problem some politicians have when it comes to Mexicans.

[jmaroneps37]

Nicole Malliotakis is a wonderful and tough fighter for her constituents. When Sandy destroyed homes in her district she was right there in work clothes helping to pull down soaked wall board and didn’t stop. She worked many 10 hour days. All of the other politicians, Republicans included, showed up in dress clothes and took pictures. Nicole was nowhere near them. She was working - really working. She is the real deal and if she was in a state where Republicans had a chance she could be a US Senator someday.