Congress slashes subsidy for jailing illegal immigrants

Sacramento Bee ^ | 12/10/9 | Rob Hotakainen

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON – California and other financially strapped states will lose tens of millions of federal dollars that they spend to jail illegal immigrants charged with crimes, under Congress' latest spending bill.

The $1.1 trillion plan, finalized by House and Senate negotiators Tuesday night, combines six of the large yearly appropriations bills passed by Congress to keep the government running.

State officials and members of the California congressional delegation had lobbied hard once again to increase aid to the states for the program, hoping to cash in on California's increased clout in Washington this year.

But their efforts fell flat, with the program set to be cut by more than 18 percent.

"It's a hit to many states, but more so to California because we get the lion's share of the appropriation," H.D. Palmer, budget spokesman for Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Wednesday.

He estimated that the cut could cost California $16 million this year, rising to $22 million on an annualized basis beginning next year. Palmer said the state and its localities receive roughly 38 percent of the money that Congress appropriates for the program each year.

[DoughtyOne]

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