Posted on 07/06/2004 8:24:59 PM PDT by seastay
GOV. Arnold Schwarzenegger has made progress on several fronts in an effort to put California on the road to recovery. But there's a roadblock at the very beginning, and until it's removed, California's recovery cannot move forward. Illegal immigration, more than any other single factor, is crippling major segments of California's economy, from health care to higher education to jobs. That's why, regardless of the security concerns -- and there are many -- Schwarzenegger should not sign any bill granting driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.
This is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue. Exit polls conducted during last year's recall showed that 39 percent of the recall voters identified themselves as Republican. Yet 70 percent told pollsters the license law that was then in effect should be repealed.
Schwarzenegger did the right thing and forced its repeal. Now he should do the right thing and refuse to resurrect it.
There are approximately 6 million illegal immigrants living in California today, a figure that has more than tripled over the past decade despite supposed increases in enforcement.
Why? Because we have made the allure of the Golden State irresistible. Even in the face of legal ramifications and the very real possibility of death or serious injury en route, illegal immigrants continue to come.
A driver's license would be one more enticement. Instead of offering driver's licenses, we must remove the enticements we now offer.
Anyone, whether here legally or not, should not be denied emergency care. But illegal immigrants use hospital emergency rooms for general care. As a result, 82 percent of the state's emergency rooms lost money in 2002, according to the California Medical Association.
The burden from illegal immigrants who use emergency rooms for primary care is so great that hospitals across the state are closing at alarming rates. Such burdens hurt those who can least afford it -- our native working poor who lose access to the only health care available to them.
Illegal immigration also hurts our native working poor's ability to attain Section 8 housing. By state law, illegal immigrants are barred from Section 8 housing. But the law is not enforced. So illegal immigrants fill public housing while a several-generation U.S. mother lives in her car with three children because she's on a six-year waiting list.
In California, illegal immigrants attend state universities at in-state tuition rates. That's grossly unfair to a legal high school student who moves out of California for a year, then returns to attend college. That student will pay $16,956 a year more than an illegal student -- who shouldn't be entitled to attend anyway.
Proponents of giving illegal immigrants driver's licenses say they need them to work. These are the same people who repeat the fallacy that illegal immigrants take jobs U.S. citizens don't want.
More than 8 million Americans are unemployed. Hotel and restaurant jobs -- which used to be filled quite happily by legal U.S. residents and citizens -- are now filled by illegal immigrants who are paid a pittance of what U.S. workers were paid. Construction used to be a time-honored profession passed from father to son in the United States, but U.S. citizens have been forced out by illegal immigrants willing to do the work for minimum wage and no benefits.
With a wink and a nod by employers, illegal immigrants supply forged documents to get a job. Easily forged and fraudulently obtained matricula consular cards are accepted as a free pass on our streets. Illegal immigrants obtain free medical care and heavily subsidized higher education without penalties.
It's impossible to return California's economy to a solid footing without addressing illegal immigration. It's true that the federal government needs to step up enforcement, and I am working with my congressional colleagues to do so. But as long as we offer free health care, jobs, heavily subsidized higher education, subsidized housing and other enticements, illegal immigrants will risk life and limb to come here.
For the health of our state's economy, Schwarzenegger should declare any future driver's license bill dead on arrival and begin reversing state laws and policies that serve as a lure to illegal immigrants.
Rep. Elton Gallegly, R-Thousand Oaks, is former chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Immigration Reform and a senior member of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.
Huh? My home page proudly flies the flag of Arizona. I live in Cochise County, the southeasternmost corner of the state. I can put a rifle shot into Mexico from my front porch.
Sorry, I was doing an impression of Dane from the Bob & Ken thread. He provided hours of free amusement today (IMO).
Yes, but they work so cheap. Disposable employees. Use 'em up. Spit 'em out. Throw 'em away. Let the taxpayers bite the bullet for their well-being, as long as the companies who hire them make a fast buck, pay them no benefits, and incur no work comp costs on their behalf.
I figured as much -- nobody knows from whence he comes and he's too full of chicken feces to 'fess up.
Bet the rent he aint anywhere near the southwest.
Toss up between Pennsylvania, Connecticutt, and Wisconsin. Amazing how many open borders looney toons fly those banners.
Maine seems to attract illegal sympathizers too....
bump and thanks!
Enforcing the laws of the country upsets the undocumented alien lobby and their political patrons. Sometimes I wonder if I still live in America given how the elites wink and nod at law-breaking in the name of hispandering and political correctness.
This is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue. No it's a Republican/Democrat vs. the U.S. citizen issue.
20) Caning of all male offenders ( a feared/respected punishment practiced in Singapore ) for criminal trespass. Ten lashes.
In DC and surrounding areas illegal aliens and many legal immigrants have formed ultra violent gangs. The aim of some is to kill law-enforcement officers, others are primarily home invasion gangs. Politicians, however, in places such as Arlington, VA appear to be either bribed by these gangs or look upon them as soul mates.
It makes no sense to support illegal aliens unless one is a sleeper agent, corrupt, or mentally ill.
Believe me, it's not just out west. Northern Virginia is seeing/feeling the effects of illegal immigration as well.
Well said. It certainly is!
CT is over run with illegals. I'm sure you've seen my posts more than a few times here on FR. Illegals have destroyed many, many legit businesses in my state over the last 5 years.
I could go on and on, but like I said, I'm sure you've read my posts.
CT is 110% saturated.
As I'm told by the propagandists we are a "High Tech" economy that happens to need vast numbers of low wage workers or we are all doomed. I for one am skeptical of these claims, and the Bots hate me.
We be colonized.
High price to pay. For this we must watch our country turn into a third world Mexico clone?
If our elected ones can't come up with a better plan than that, they should resign. It hasn't occurred to them that the sensible way to do this is to cut, cut, cut frivolous government programs that waste billions of our tax dollars, including foreign aid to corrupt regimes. Supporting illegal immigration in California alone costs us billions every year.
It's a sad day in American history when we are told that we must depend on a third world country to survive.
We already have the diversity visa lottery each year. People from most countries can participate.
Thanks for posting this. I agree with Congressman Gallegly, and I am so glad he represents us and doesn't back down on his convictions.
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