Who kidnapped our Governor... and who did they replace her with: Gov calls for deportation of jailed illegal aliens

First, she comes up with a budget that looks like Dino Rossi wrote it.

Then, she comes up with the idea of actually DEPORTING illegal aliens... jailed or otherwise?

It's almost like someone kidnapped her and stuffed someone with common sense into a Gregoire Suit.

Gov calls for deportation of jailed illegal aliens

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Last updated December 30, 2008 4:58 p.m. PT

By MANUEL VALDESASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

SEATTLE -- To save money, Gov. Chris Gregoire wants illegal aliens serving time in state jails deported.

Her proposal estimates that deporting illegal aliens - who are serving or would serve time in state jails for drug or property crime convictions - will save the state more than $9 million in the next two-year budget.

The state faces a $5.7 billion budget deficit over the next 2 1/2 years, and Gregoire has proposed a no new-taxes budget proposal laden with cuts, including about $200 million from the Department of Corrections, the Attorney General's office, and other public safety programs.

The deportation proposal is modeled after a program in Arizona that has saved the state more than $18.5 million since 2005, said Eldon Vail, Secretary of the state Department of Corrections.

"It's not an ideal choice, if revenue was there, I'd say have them do their time," Vail said. "Is justice better served? It's a tough question to wrestle with when you don't have resources."

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