I, personally, say "wasting" because, of course, the root of it is none of these people are supposed to be here for any reason, thus no money should be expended on them, save that required for their deportation.
When we arrive at a fiscal point where we can't afford services for those who are here legally, how can we possibly spend money on those who are not?
Many of these illegals have heart-rending stories. Many more citizens who can't get the services THEY need have more compelling stories, and here's how I triage it:
The least deserving citizen is more deserving then the most deserving illegal alien.
It's simple, really. But our government can't seem to grasp that we simply don't have the money needed to take care of our own while simultaneously taking care of those who have no right to receive any service of any kind.
Who suffers the most because of this?
Those who have the right to these services but can't get them because we blow $300 million on those who should have no rights at all?
Or those who have no right to services, period, but who we foolishly provide services to anyway... only to find those services cut because of our budget reality?
Anything that can be cut from illegals must be cut. We must end this nonsensical, moronic "destination resort" attitude that has resulted in this massive population of illegals that we're frequently, and idiotically, told that we can't do without.
What say we give it a shot, shall we?
Comments (0)
E-mail article
Print
ShareState budget cuts to be felt by illegal immigrants
As the state Legislature looks for ways to close a $5 billion budget shortfall, lawmakers are eyeing millions in cuts that could reduce or eliminate services used by illegal immigrants. Washington is projected to spend more than $300 million over the next two years on services illegal immigrants can tap, primarily welfare and health care for children, the seriously ill and pregnant women.
Illegal immigrants and state programs
Washington state estimates it will spend more than $300 million over the next two years on services illegal immigrants can tap, not counting K-12 education. A breakdown:
PREV
$125 million on health care for 7,400 pregnant women ineligible for Medicaid because they can't prove they are here legally. This program can't be changed, because of federal restrictions.
$73 million on welfare for children. The federal government requires proof that the children are here legally, but not their parents. This program also can't be changed.
$59 million for medical and dental coverage for 25,000 children from low-income families ineligible for Medicaid because they can't prove they are here legally.
$24 million for kidney dialysis and cancer treatment for 1,300 low-income people ineligible for Medicaid because they can't prove they are here legally.
$15 million for in-state tuition subsidies for students who have lived in Washington for at least three years. The state does not check legal status.
$5.6 million in nursing-home care for low-income undocumented residents.
Sources: State Legislature, Department of Social and Health Services
OLYMPIA — As the Legislature looks for ways to close a $5 billion budget shortfall, lawmakers are examining millions in cuts that could reduce or eliminate services used by illegal immigrants.
Lawmakers already have passed a law that effectively limits the state Basic Health Plan for the working poor to legal residents.
The state estimates around 10,000 people, roughly 18 percent of those on the plan, will lose state-subsidized insurance because they cannot prove they're here legally. It's expected to save $59 million over two years.
As part of a much broader budget-cutting plan, Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire also has recommended eliminating a health-care program for children who can't prove they're here legally.
In both cases, Democrats say the moves were made to save money and were not related to who was using the program. Gregoire's office noted her proposed budget eliminated services used by everyone, regardless of legal status.
Overall, Washington is projected to spend more than $300 million over the next two years on services that illegal immigrants can tap, primarily welfare for children and health care for children, the seriously ill and pregnant women. However, programs that account for most of that spending are effectively off-limits to budget cuts, because of federal restrictions.
I have said it before and will keep saying it, if those in the country illegally expended half the effort correcting corruption and conditions of poverty in their country as they do sneaking across our border, their own countries would be prosperous and we could sneak into theirs for free hand-outs.
ReplyDeleteWell, we would be arrested and deported for sneaking into their country, though.
It is not generosity to turn our backs on our own citizens & taxpayers to care for lawbreakers who knowingly sneak into the country in violation of our laws.