It is not whether they are eligible but whether they are getting more than they need. They have to fill out all kinds of papers and they now have to say. "I am not lying on the appication." If an American citizen has to do that. I see no reason why an illegal alien should not have to go through a similar process. I hope we will have all States sign up for this program. giving them a method for the first time since I have been a Senator to be able to account for these people and as a result the States can determine whether they should give them the State benefits. It is twofold. I cannot say enough about how shocked I think American citizens would be if they knew how easy it is for illegal aliens to get benefits. aid for dependent children. unemployment compensation. Medicaid. and food stamps. at a time when we are in rooms all over this Capitol having meetings trying to come within the budget. trying to cut a million here and a million there. I am giving the Senate an opportunity to cut billions. not millions. I think it was Everett Dirksen. a distinguished Senator who served in this body. who said. "A billion here. a billion there. and soon we are talking about real money." We are talking about real money. I also think we are talking about a companion to employer sanctions. It is simply a reenforcement of the effort to stem the flow of illegal aliens into this country and to save a lot of the taxpayers money as a result of evaluating an aliens eligibility for these benefits. I certainly do not want to deny them to anyone who is eligible. We have language in the amendment when. if there is a question. we will allow the applicant to continue to receive the benefits until it can be documented once and for all that they are not.
Keywords matched
illegal alien illegal aliens