The original bill. before it was changed yesterday in the Rules Committee. would have negated the budget agreement and set aside only onethird of that amount for lowincome seniors. But while they have changed a few provisions. many serious problems remain. The Republican majority is playing a pea and shell game with protections for legal immigrants. The budget agreement said that we would restore benefits for all legal immigrants who were in the country prior to August 23. 1996. and who are or later become disabled. This was but a partial solution to the problems legal immigrants face under the 1996 welfare reform law. Todays bill. however. does not follow through on that commitment and would deny any assistance to a legal taxpaying immigrant who suffers a tragedy and becomes disabled after August 1996. This was not the intent or the spirit of the budget agreement and no amount of Republican rhetoric will change that fact. There are a host of other provisions which go against the budget agreement.
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immigrant immigrants