Otter Wants to Stop the Shoplift

I actually had a chance to read Governor Otter’s State of the State of the State address and I’ll be honest, it was very good. Not perfect, but I think his ideas for our state our very well-thought out, particularly in changing things like the amount we spend on out of state travel. Idaho made a good choice last Fall, despite my misgiving about the Governor’s grocery tax proposal.

Julie Fanselow takes issue with the following Statement from Governor Otter on immigration:

One of those lessons was the pressing need to secure our national borders. While members of our congressional delegation are working hard to get that done, we must take the initiative here at home to ensure Idaho does not become a haven for those who enter our country illegally. That’s why I support Senator John McGee’s proposal to require every adult to prove they are valid U.S. residents before collecting taxpayer-funded benefits. His legislation provides reasonable humanitarian exceptions, and it will send a clear message that Idaho will not harbor those who shoplift citizenship.

Julie writes:

OK, this covers adults only. That’s good to hear. But as Sharon brought up on yesterday’s open thread, does this mean we won’t use taxpayer funds to immunize non-residents against, say, HIV or avian flu?

We found immunizations for HIV and the Avian Flu? Wow, I learn a lot reading blogs. They better not give illegals the Avian Flu immunization first because I’m a taxpayer and I should get mine first. I don’t know how one makes an argument that we would be inhumane to not provide illegals immunization for diseases for which no immunization exists.

However, Governor Otter said the legislation does provide humanitarian exceptions. Should Idaho provide long term treatment at taxpayer expsene for people who are violating our border? Absoutely not. We do not have unlimited resources to take care of everyone who decides they want to cross into our country. Emergency care, yes. Ongoing, state funded entitlements to folks who are here illegally, often don’t pay taxes, and send much of their money home, no.

As I wrote yesterday, I also am deeply troubled by Otter’s rhetoric in that last sentence: Idaho will not harbor those who shoplift citizenship. Idaho’s agricultural economy – which gave Otter his start to the top – would utterly collapse without immigrant labor. Far from shoplifting citizenship, most illegal immigrants are earning their way toward it one backbreaking hour at a time. When will politicians stop either demagoging or avoiding this issue and find a way to document and integrate hard-working immigrants into society – including citizenship, if they desire it – so we can focus on the people who would really do us harm?

Well, first of all, I wonder how the left feels it’s fair to work to give citizenship to people who break our nation’s laws, while many people who are playing by the rules are on the outside looking in.

Certainly, we can make legal immigration easier at the federal level, while controlling the border. But at the state level, we can make sure that Idaho taxpayers aren’t robbed by those who have no business using government services. Bravo to Governor Otter on this one.

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