(Orrin) Hatch bill to allow illegal immigrants in-state tuition has $90M federal cost

The Salt Lake Tribune ^ | #/16/2004 | Christopher Smith

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

WASHINGTON -- Allowing some illegal immigrants to attend college at in-state tuition prices and eventually become lawful U.S. residents would cost federal taxpayers $90 million over the next decade and benefit 46,000 immigrants, congressional budget analyst say.

Federal spending would increase from higher participation in Food Stamp and Medicaid programs, according to the congressional Budget Office.

Utah Republicans Sen. Orrin Hatch and Rep. Chris Cannon are primary sponsers of Senate and House versions of legislation to repeal a 1996 federal law and give states direction over whether to offer public education benefits to people who enter the country illegally.

The bills also would allow illegal immigrants who were less than 16 years old at the time of their entry and who have lived in the United States the past five years to adjucst their status to "conditional legal permanent resident" provided they meet several good-behavior criteria.

"snip"

Hatch said allowing upstanding illegal immigrants to further their education and legally secure jobs will benefit the nation economically.

"An average immigrant who completes college will earn $13,500 more annually than her counterpart who drops out of high school," he said before the October committee vote. "As such, the DREAM Act will not only directly improve the quality of life of its beneficiaries, but will also benefit the overall American economy by significantly increasing spending and investment from these immigrants."

"snip"

Although students in the program could not recieve public assistance for the first five years, the Congressional Budget said they would be eligible for college financial aid while enrolled. However the amount would be "negligible" since the students would not be likely to seek student loans. Most would enroll in community colleges where tuition costs are lower, the analyst said in their report, and "they would be less willing to submit financial aid forms for fear of exposing the presence of other family members who remain undocumented.

The first participants in the DREAM Act program would be eligible for federal benifits beginning in 2009, with an estimated 6,000 immigrants applying for Food Stamps and 1,000 immigrants recieving Medicaid benefits that year. New Food Stamp participation due to the DREAM Act would cost $30 million from 2004 to 2014 while new Medicaid costs from the program would be $60 million during the same period.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Excuse the excerpt.

Eh, its only $90 million for 46,000 guys.

[Joe Hadenuf]

It's costing $700,000,000 *PER YEAR* just to jail illegals in California that have committed more crimes.

All this pandering to this never ending flood of criminals will eventually choke this country off.

[farmfriend]

Why are we helping them become citizens?

[Endeavor]

"upstanding illegal immigrants"

these idiot senators should be spending that kind of money to keep out both the upstanding illegal immigrants and the evil illegal immigrants, not using my money to support them. How does one get to be upstanding if he/she is here ILLEGALLY?????? Read my tagline.

[gubamyster]

ping

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

I guess Orrin can use his private helicopter to fly between his walled compounds in a few years.

End of my rope....

[SandRat]

Orrin should be forced to read this http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1102497/posts.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

He won't give up with his "NIGHTMARE" Act. It's the only thing I hear about this guy.

[Paulus Invictus]

This time I'm thoroughly enraged at Hatch (and Cannon)! It's no use writing to these guys as they never answer. I'll attend the caucus on Tuesday and make my disdain known about their proposed law, but do not expect much. I'll not vote for either, but assume both be re-elected....Gag!

[henderson field]

Orrin Hatch used to have some interesting ideas. But now, his mind must have snapped.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

All this pandering to this never ending flood of criminals will eventually choke this country off.

How could you say such a crazy thing (just because California is not only bankrupt, it's $38 billion in the hole)?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[luvbach1]

Outlibbing the libs will never work.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I'll not vote for either, but assume both be re-elected....Gag!

They don't call him Senator-for-life Hatch for nothing. Utah is the worst RINO state I've ever had the misfortune of living in. At least the liberals admit to what they're about. Utah politicians wear the big R while kowtowing to corrupt politicians, illegal aliens, and hammering the citizens with ever-increasing taxes

[TomGuy]

Amazing.

Hatch has no problem allowing the real US citizenry to subsidize illegals in health care and education, but he wants to blow up pc's of those who download music. And he wants to allow foreigners to be able to run for the US Presidency.

Hatch needs to retire.

[LADY J]

Hatch and his buddies are disgusting. They all nit-pick the raises and other things for our military as they give themselves automatic raises and first class flights on the tax payers dollar.

They dump our soldiers off away from home and make them pay their own fares to get home.

They are willing to sell out our country for votes to continue all the perks for themselves to live high on the hog and the H*** with the rest of us.

[GOPrincess]

Meanwhile whoever's writing and editing for the Salt Lake Tribune don't know how to spell "sponsors." Maybe we need to worry about educating our own citizens first...

[joesnuffy]

You wanna take my tax money...that goes to public education...and GIVE IT AWAY to illegal aliens...at the expense of my children?

F.U.

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Whoops! The poor speller would be me. Give me money Orrin!

[Belisaurius]

What's his fricken deal, anyways.

He could publicly fellate Jesse Jackson on the Washington Mall and still see his hoped-for Supreme court nomination fillibustered into submission by the left.