Free Republic

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he's "happy" illegal immigrants get state services and says they're not to blame for California's $24.3 billion budget gap. Schwarzenegger, an immigrant himself, says the estimated $4 billion to $5 billion the state spends on illegal immigrants annually is a "small percentage" of the deficit. The Republican governor told The Sacramento Bee's editorial board on Friday that it's easy to "scapegoat" illegal immigrants. But he says the state's budget has a much deeper spending imbalance. He noted the federal government requires California to provide emergency health care and education to illegal immigrants. And he...