Republicans estimate immigration bill could cost taxpayers billions, Rubio challenges

Ianus · 04-04-2013, 04:53 PM

Hmmm.....Perhaps the Senators might consider an 'entitlement fine' in addition to other immigration fines if they believe cost could be an issue or just to silence the opposition.

Quote:

Senate Republican staffers estimated Thursday that the annual cost to taxpayers of legalizing illegal immigrants could be in the billions, if they use their status to apply for federal benefits from Medicaid and ObamaCare. The claim, though, was challenged by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a key Republican engaged in immigration bill talks.

Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee -- responding to an emerging immigration proposal that includes a path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants -- had estimated that the cost could total up to $40 billion in 2022, "just for Medicaid and ObamaCare."

"The net costs would be enormous and only increase once citizenship is granted," the office of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, top Republican on the committee, said in a statement Thursday. The estimates were crunched by budget committee Republican staff.

Payments from Medicaid and subsidies from the federal health care law represent just a fraction of federal government benefits that a green-card holder or U.S. citizen can apply for.

But Rubio spokesman Alex Conant disputed the numbers, saying in a statement late Thursday that it's simply too early to provide cost estimates.

"Since we don't yet have a legislative proposal, it's not possible to come up with anything resembling an accurate calculation about the potential fiscal impact of bipartisan immigration reform," he said.

Conant added that Rubio is concerned about the "potential fiscal impact" of the bill and will request an "in-depth" budget analysis.

"Senator Rubio has been clear that he will only support legislation that prohibits undocumented immigrants from receiving any federal benefits, and in our negotiations, the Democrats have gone along with that demand -- even agreeing to a partial repeal of ObamaCare to bar undocumented immigrants benefits. In the long-term, there's no question that modernizing our broken legal immigration will be very good for our nation's economy," he said.

Rubio, R-Fla., a key member of the "Gang of Eight" which is drafting a proposal, has stressed that he would ensure there are limits on benefits being applied to these individuals. He told Fox News in January that the first phase for them would be to get a nonimmigrant visa -- not a green card -- "and you don't qualify for any federal benefits under that. You don't get federal benefits."

Their eligibility, though, would change once they get a green card.

Sessions' office voiced concern Thursday that a law -- which dates back a century and was renewed by Congress in 1996 -- meant to prevent immigrants from taking root in the U.S. only to live on the government dole would not be applied here.

That law is supposed to turn away those immigrants who are likely to become a "public charge." But the statement Thursday claimed nothing in the current plan would apply to those already in the country before they are granted legal status.

Further, numbers recently provided by the Department of Homeland Security indicated the "public charge" standard is not aggressively enforced. The department found just one case for most of fiscal 2012 where the claim was leveled at an immigrant. "However, the charge was later withdrawn," DHS reported.

The department blamed "data entry quality" for not having complete information on how many immigrants became public charges.

Despite widespread reports and speculation about the immigration bill being drafted, a bill has not yet been introduced. Senators are working out the details in hopes of bringing it before Congress in the coming weeks.

I still believe that Dreamers could be Naturalized quick enough to be able to apply for their immediate relatives.

Pianoswithoutfaith · 04-04-2013, 05:17 PM

Because illegal aliens don't pay taxes at all

No sales tax or property tax at all

horseblack · 04-04-2013, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoswithoutfaith

Because illegal aliens don't pay taxes at all

No sales tax or property tax at all

Illegal alien do pay tax using ITIN. And everyone pay sale tax.

dude33 · 04-04-2013, 06:02 PM

What a bunch of crock .... our parents have been paying into medicare and unemployment all these years and have never got a penny out of it , this really irks me

ItsKdC · 04-04-2013, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horseblack

Illegal alien do pay tax using ITIN. And everyone pay sale tax.

The sarcasm went right over ur head there buddy. Lol

horseblack · 04-04-2013, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dude33

What a bunch of crock .... our parents have been paying into medicare and unemployment all these years and have never got a penny out of it , this really irks me

how do u know that our parents paying into medicare and unemployment. do u have
a source so i can study?

Pianoswithoutfaith · 04-04-2013, 06:11 PM

it entered one eye and it exited the other

Tortoise77 · 06:32 PM

When people file taxes with ITIN they pay all the same taxes as a citizen but are NOT entitled to any kind of federal aid. There's your proof, horseblack!

I just love it how republicans think we are just waiting for welfare and thats all. These idiots are nothing more than complete idiots. Right, count the"possible" cost of future welfare applicants but hell to the NO, dont count the revenue from application fees and other kind of fees they will ask for and the future taxes we will be paying from working, owning property and owning a business, no , don't fucking count that.. These fucking idiots are just throwing shit out there because they want to keep their right wing public on their feet and on their side. Believe me republicans need some sort of vote of Hispanics to win the white house. NO DOUBT! we are a growing population and they HAVE, TO HAVE TO shift sides they want their whiny whiny party to continue to exist. PERIOD.

also, thinks about it. WOULDN'T WE BE DOCUMENTED BY THE TIME WE ARE CITIZENS AND WORSE COMES TO WORSE WE NEED GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE????

Idiocy at its best!

bigdreamer2010 · 04-04-2013, 06:27 PM

It was sarcasm

But I do wonder if they take into consideration the contributions of those who become naturalized.

Quemiras · 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by horseblack

how do u know that our parents paying into medicare and unemployment. do u have
a source so i can study?

You are some kind of troll my friend. I know you're trolling because you would know that we pay taxes, we just don't get the benefits of it. You're about to get your eyes opened to what immigrants really endure in this country. I suggest you seriously soak it all in and see the hard facts and real life stories they don't tell you in Fox News. You will see that the stereotype is far from accurate.

And just so you know, we don't have to prove anything to you. Everyone here knows the reality of things. We don't sit here and lie to each other. This is about the most honest forum you'll find.

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
					1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31

They need you!

Forum links

Resources

Join our list

National calendar of events

August

Republicans estimate immigration bill could cost taxpayers billions, Rubio challenges