Jul 5, 2006 2:09 pm US/Mountain
Owens Wants State To Stop Illegal Immigration
By Steven K. Paulson, AP Writer
DENVER (AP) ―
-
-
Gov. Bill Owens (file)
CBS4
Colorado should not wait for the federal government to stop illegal immigration bit should implement its own plans, Gov. Bill Owens said Wednesday.
In a surprise visit to the Joint Budget Committee, which called hearings Wednesday to discuss the cost of illegal immigration, the governor said the state is spending about $560 million a year supporting illegal immigrants and children born in the United States, who become legal citizens.
He said the cost is falling most heavily on local governments, which pay for educating and incarcerating people who are in this country illegally, and the federal government is doing little to help.
"I wish the federal government were a better ally," said Owens, who has been a strong supporter of President Bush.
Owens told lawmakers the state can cut down sharply on the number of illegal immigrants in Colorado by setting up a secure identification system, requiring job applicants to present a driver's license or identity card before they could get a job.
The Legislature opens a special session on illegal immigration on Thursday after the state Supreme Court disqualified a proposed ballot issue that would have cut off most state services to people who are in the country illegally.
(© 2006 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments