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Human Rights Commission Follies
By Greg L | 2 August 2007 | Illegal Aliens, Prince William County | 88 Comments
I was asked to provide a presentation to the Immigration Committee of the Prince William County Human Rights Commission this evening on behalf of Help Save Manassas, and took the opportunity to point out procedural problems with these hearings, the utter lack of statutory authority the commission has to conduct these hearings, and the fanciful and outlandish testimony the commission is eliciting. It was an interesting evening.
Immediately after the Prince William County Board of Supervisors adopted Supervisor Stirrup’s resolution on July 10th, Mexicanos Sin Fronteras and their subsidiary the Woodbridge Worker’s Committee requested that the Human Rights Commission immediately commence hearings regarding the resolution, and the American Civil Liberties Union immediately followed with a request that the Commission “oppose” this resolution. Six days later these hearings started with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund leading off with wacky testimony speculating all sorts of doom-and-gloom scenarios that would result from this resolution. No public notice was given for these hearings, and only leftist organizations were initially invited to participate.
Help Save Manassas found out about these hearings and Legislative Director Maureen Wood started attending these hearings in order to learn what was going on and suggest some balance to the list of organizations that would testify. This Tuesday Help Save Manassas received confirmation that it would be allowed to “make a presentation” to the committee, but wasn’t provided with any documentation in regard to the information the committee wanted to obtain, the purpose of these hearings, or even the reason these were being held.
In the absence of any direction whatsoever, we decided to point out what a farce this waste of taxpayer dollars really is.
The Human Rights Commission does not have the statutory authority to provide judicial review over legislative actions by the Board of County Supervisors. The law authorizing this commission charges it with evaluating claims of unlawful discrimination in Prince William County, of which there are precisely zero allegations. Illegal aliens are not a protected class under federal, state or local laws, which makes inquiries into the conduct of county agencies in this regard beyond the legal authority of the commission. To the extent that unlawful discrimination might be discussed, such instances are wild speculation about an implementation plan that hasn’t even been established yet.
The commissioners changed their tune about what the purpose of this inquiry actually is during the discussion that followed, and eventually the chairman said that this inquiry was at the request of County Executive Craig Gerhardt so that the Human Rights Commission could provide the County Executive with guidance regarding the Human Rights Commission’s implementation of paragraph D of the resolution. That’s the portion of the resolution which directs staff to schedule a working group to determine what county benefits must be provided to county residents regardless of immigration status, which benefits are prohibited to illegal aliens under state and federal law, and those which the county may exercise discretion.
What a crock. The Human Rights Commission provides no statutory benefits to any residents, so there is no need to hold hearings about which benefits the Human Rights Commission provides which may be restricted based on immigration status, because there are none to consider. This ridiculous floundering in the face of a simple challenge to the commission regarding it’s legal authority to conduct these hearings is utterly pathetic.
To demonstrate the utter ridiculousness of this, Help Save Manassas was followed by the Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee (VMPAC). Did they testify about what benefits the Human Rights Commission should or should not provide to illegal aliens? Of course not! They said that the resolution oversteps the bounds of local government and violates the supremacy clause of the Constitution, They said this resolution will “leave a terrible scar” and “foster hate”. They called the resolution “an unfortunate, dangerous weapon” and speculated that people would be jailed for weeks pending a response from Immigration and Customs Enforcement about their legal status. Immediately after the Commission backpedals on the purpose and authority of these hearings, VMPAC, which helps operate the Herndon Day Laborer Center as a part of “Project Hope and Harmony”, starts up the circus of wild speculation, sheer conjecture about the future implementation details of this resolution, and calls on the Human Rights Commission to oppose this recently established policy. The circus resumed, as if we weren’t even there.
This is a ridiculous and unlawful farce. It need to end, and Help Save Manassas will be exploring potential opportunities to stop this taxpayer-funded circus before more public resources are wasted in this bizarre effort to allow the Human Rights Commission to act as a court and render a judgment regarding the legality of this resolution, or the implementation plan for it what hasn’t yet been crafted. Without any legal authority, failing to provide adequate public notice, and lacking any rational purpose for doing so, the Human Rights Commission is attempting to transform itself into part of the judicial branch of government in order to defend the failed position of radical organizations which could not gain any support for their position before the Prince William Board of County Supervisors when this resolution was considered.
This mess needs some serious cleaning up.
The opinions expressed here are solely the views of the author, and not representative of the position of any organization, political party, doughnut shop, knitting guild, or waste recycling facility, but may be correctly attributed to the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy. If anything in the above article has offended you, please click here to receive an immediate apology.
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OK, Corey….looks like it’s time to kick this thing off the dime….and find out where the REAL County leadership rests. Would it be with the BOCS, the County Exec, the HRC, the ACLU, or the Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee (VMPAC)?
What in the world is the Human Rights Commission to do with a simple issue as the availability of services to illegal aliens?? This is preposterous. In Europe Commissions such as this one are called to review abuses in prisons, torture, and other like abuses. I don’t see any abuses bestowed on illegal aliens. Is is they who abuse: the system, the people of this country and everything that their communist/socialist agenda inteds to grab.
This power grab from the left needs to be identified for what it is. I have seen this kind of thing before. You can paralyze a country by ordering useless, unneeded forums where every radical and special interest can vent their idiocy.
If we do not call this by the proper name, we will all be swallowed by it. Let’s start suggesting action against this “waste of taxpayer dollars.”
Here is an example of how one sided this farce is. Below is a schedule of groups that have either asked to speak or who were solicited by the commission to speak. You decide, fair or not?
7/20- Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF)
7/25-Woodbridge Workers Committee- they promote illegal’s and run a day labor site
8/1- Help Save Manassas and Virginia Muslim Political Action committee
8/8- IRLI and ACLU
8/15- FAIR and Virginia Council on Human Rights
8/22- NAACP and Central American Resource Center
8/29- Council on American Islamic Relations and Puerto Rican Legal Education and Defense Fund
9/5- Washington Lawyers Council and Muslim Association of Virginia
9/12- Mexican Without Borders
The real idiots in all of this are the elected officials who voted to approve such a group. The “human rights” commission is nothing more than a socialistic group that is attempting to ban free speech if it does not met the approval of the commission.
All you have to do is look at the history of the commission and who has served on it to see why the commision is more a danger to the County then the resolution is. It amazes me that left wing nuts are all for free speech except for speech they find “offensive”.
It sounds like the fox is guarding the hen house.
Who sits on the Immigration sub-committee of Prince William Human Rights Commission and by whose authority does this sub-committee exist?
Why is this sub-committee not published on the website? How am I, as John Q. CITIZEN to know of its existence?
What is the designated purpose of the Immigration sub-committee and what is their authority?
Is there a senior citizen representative on the Human Rights Commission?
What is the ethnicity breakdown of the sitting members of the Human Rights Commission?
Are these hearings closed to the public? Where can I get a copy of the minutes of each of the meetings, should I chose to do so?
It has been speculated that the unauthorized sanctuary policy that set all this off was, in fact, the brainchild of our illustrious County Executive. Perhaps this incident should serve as notice that Gerhardt is out of control and not acting in the best interests of the citizens of PWC, nor at the behest of the duly elected officials representing the citizens. I think it’s time for a firing, with cause, which should help in breaking his contract which, presumably, he has. Of course, the question is…DID someone on the Board of Supervisors authorize his action?
Can an individual supervisor authorize action of this magnitude single-handedly?
The Human Rights Commission has waaaayyyy to much power, from what I can determine.
I wonder why all the Muslim attention to this matter….:(
The Executive is the “General Manager” hired by the “Board of Directors” (Board of Supervisors) to manage the day to day operations of County. Apparently HE has assumed too much power…he has no business getting involved in policy.
Dolph
These meetings are open to the public I went last night. Oh, I think it would be right up your alley.
Maureen
Were Nancy L and/or John S there last night?
AWC
Yeah, Gerhardt is huge part of the problem contributing to the “red carpet” for the illegal aliens. He’s certainly not acting the best interests of we the legal citizen of PWC.
Hey Freedom,
New Mosque in town, new muslim candidate who runs a law firm that protects illegal aliens….
you put two and two together?
Dolph
Correction I went last WEEK, not last night…We’ll talk about this. It’ll get you fired up, trust me. Maybe, we could borrow those “his & her HUMMERS”, and go down to the next meeting together.hahaha!!
Hmmmmmm, wonder if the block vote and Faisal’s support on the board has anything to do with it??
HSM may wish to explore the possibility of a suit against the county requesting an injucnction against the Executive from soliciting input from this commission for the stated purpose.
Time to call in the State Police and/or FBI if this farce is not ended immediately. The people responsible for this also need to be brought up on criminal and civil charges for embezzling our tax money to pay for it. There really needs to be a bright light shined on this ASAP and we will see just how fast these roaches scurry away.
Lafayette,
Do I get to drive the his or the hers model? ho ho ho
I should go out for a drive and check out things in the ‘hood this morning.
Gerhart serves at the pleasure of the BOCS. The BOCS can vote to remove and replace him at any properly called meeting for any reason. That’s in his contract. Corey — where are you?????
Here’s one way to end the farce of the HRC in general - all of the “conservative republicans” on the board need to refrain from appointing anyone. They will then lack a quorum - having only 2 members - and will be unable to conduct business.
We are not mandated by the state to have an HRC. Any “human rights” violations can be handled at the state level. It’s nothing more than a way for liberals to feel good about themselves and spend huge amounts of tax dollars. The head of the agency earns over $80K if I recall correctly. The budget for this office is $500K - for a job that could be handled in Richmond at no cost to PWC taxpayers.
Lafayette,
Nancy and John were not there last night. What I found offensive was that the guy speaking on behalf of the Virginia Muslim Political Action committee
hadn’t even seen the revised resolution. He was speaking in terms of the old one. I would have a hard time taking anything this man said seriously, if he couldn’t even be prepared to speak with the right information.
I wouldn’t rule out an injunction at this point.
First and foremost illegal aliens or their supporters should not be allowed to convene a Human Rights Commission unless a suit has been filed or clear proof of abuses that rise to the level that merits this kind of effort are brought to light.
Whereas a lack of such abuses is established, the Commission should be remanded to the State. There are no grounds for calling such a commission because the services which the illegal aliens would not be able to access has nothing to do with Human Rights. This is an attempt to demoralize and bully and intimidate anyone who tries to assert sovereignship or just tries to enforce the existing laws.
No Human Rights Commission should be called for fact finding. There is no reason for this charade.
Dolph
I’ve checked the ‘hood twice already, Patty spotted an untagged Volvo(this house had another car w/similar violation earlier in the spring or last fall), yesterday. This morning the car had a citation and orange tag on driver’s window for removal. I just went on second run, and thanks to Officer JM it has been towed away!!!
Officer
Thank you a thousand times. This is the kind of stuff that makes are neighborhood look undesirable. We the citizens will continue to call all Co. offices and PWPD. I think it sends a great message to these law breakers…that we are a county and country of LAWS, and breaking the will no longer be tolerated.
Maureen
I know HSM wasn’t offensive. Was there anything besides HSM that wasn’t offensive? haha! I doubt there was. Not prepared with the right information, doesn’t surprise me one bit. Misinformation by the so called “leaders” is a HUGE problem.
There are 2 or 3 vehicles in my development that have had busted driver’s side windows with trash bags over them for going on a year now. I’ve already notified my association about them but they never do anything to enforce rules. It’s high time that they were fixed and they need to be ticketed for safety violations. That kind of stuff is a blight on communities and decreases home values.
park’d
Don’t laugh, but I’m going to ask anyways. Does the city(zoning or PD), have authority there? The HOA’s are NOT doing their part to keep our community desirable, etc.. That’s crap pisses me off royally, there was a truck that was tagged to be towed, and these crafty jokers from Yorkshire were moving it all around West Gate so it wouldn’t get towed. Well, it took numerous calls to the PWPD and after a couple of weeks that thing got towed away. Let’s bust the violators on the few things there are actually real laws on. There are way too many loop holes regarding zoning laws and so on..
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee, if you remember, endorsed Faisal in his campaign for Delegate. BTW, here it is August and he (Faisal) STILL has not been “officially” declared the winner as the Convention is still under “investigation” by the ever viligant Tom Kopko, Comittee of 1!!!!
Faisal supposedly can bring a block of votes to the Republican Party, hence why so many weak-kneed politicians are supporting him. The idiot cannot even organize a picnic - he has no chance in November!!! Heck, a simple look at VPAP will show that the majority of his doners are not even in Virginia, let alone the 51st District. Remember, he DID NOT get the majority of the vote at the Convention, Julie Lucas did. All Kopko had to do was correct a simple math error but the dolt could not even do that.
Just as Faisal’s “supporters” were screaming RACISM everytime the light of truth was shown on him, so do the illegal supporters. And WHY do they share this mantra? Because it is ALSO a known fact that a HUGE threat to Virginia is the illegal MUSLIM community who have overstayed their VISAs. By doing this they “slip under the radar” and while all the attention is being drawn to the Hispanic population, they are overlooked. OF COURSE they (various muslim groups) come out in a show of support. They are afraid that if they don’t, then people are going to start connecting the dots and realize that just as illegal Hispanics are sending money back to Tegucigalpa, illegal Muslims (Pakis, Saudi’s, etc.) are sending money to various Muslim terrorist organizations.
Which leads to this…how can a lawyer open a law firm and in only 2 years have a house that has flipped on him, a BMW, stay at home wife (ONLY important to show that there is only one source of income) , has only worked in govt agencies (which DEFINITELY do not pay well) and is CURRENTLY under investigation AND NOT for the stuff he was supposedly cleared on years ago??? Lawyers do not make money like that overnight, it takes a good amount of time to actually make it…just ask any legitimate one and they will tell you, the first few years are spent paying off bills (school, starting up the firm, etc) and getting your feet wet. Yet, Faisal is able to do all this AND make dontations to candidates all over the state for $1000 each and in one case over $13,000.
Best of luck to you, Greg, and thank YOU to Maureen Wood for all that you are doing to helping keep ALL of us safe!!!!
John Light
I would like to bring to your attention a case that I think is landmark for the illegal and almost illegal bunch of degenerates populating this state.
There is a business in Northern Virginia which has employed a person who came from a non US friendly country. His employement hinged on credentials which were not verifiable. As he was hired for a top position, he soon started himself sponsoring more than 15 of his fellow nationals. These people took the job of americans and people within the company who were not even given the chance to compete for these positions. The company is in clear violation of immigration laws which declare that an alien cannot be considered for a job or offered sponsorship unless his credentials are such that no american citizen or legal resident can fill his position first.
But here is the punchline: the company has access to government structures including part of the critical infrastructure in WAshington DC. And then you wonder why we are not catching these people before they commit crimes?
And then you wonder why illegals come here? because there are idiots who give them a job, the keys to the farm,and soon, the keys to the White House. I would like to know how many federal agencies are hiring illegals. It seems that in the post Katrina disaster, the feds planed in (forget busing or picking them up at street corners) hundreds of illegals.
Any questions???
Beware of Muslim “Republicans”. Karl Rove has Grover Norquist ,who is married to a Muslim, working to get Muslims to infiltrate the Republican Party. It goes along with Bush’s brainless “Islam is a religion of peace” mantra. Bush kowtows to Muslims and Mexicans and doesn’t care about US citizens.
Everyone vote “yes” for this poll: http://www.hb1804.org/
This is the OK legislation.
The Patriot said on 2 Aug 2007 at 11:44 am:
Everyone vote “yes” for this poll: http://www.hb1804.org/
This is the OK legislation.
DONE!!!
This video shows the law firm of Cohen and Grigsby’s immigration law update showing employers how to circumvent the system to exclude qualified American workers from applying for the jobs “that only illegals will do” www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCbFEgFajGU
fed up: I agree with you and it just disgusts me to no end.
Monticup: You are dead on!!! The problem is, Grover USED to be “the man”!! He (co)wrote the Contract for America and helped MANY Republicans get elected so these same people, of out loyality, feel beholden to him. What they fail to realize is that Grover’s allegiance has shifted and he really is NOT someone to be doing business with.
Yes he has the Tax Payer Alliance and with its nice sounding name sounds innocent enough to the average Joe. But remember, the term “family planning clinics” sounds innocent enough as well until you go past the “nice” sounding name and find out that all they are are abortion clinics. It SHOULD be called ANTI-FAMILY Planning!!!
We need to put principle before Party and kick these bastards out!!! It is PAST time to whine and time to roll up the sleeves and say enough is enough. Yes it hurt hearing Bush say “the religion of peace.” EVERYONE knows, but few are willing to admit, that he said that ONLY to “keep” the Muslim vote Republican.
I am and have been a Conservative Republican all my life. I even have my life-membership card on me right now. But THIS Macacca has had enough and from this point forward JUST BECAUSE you have an (R) next to your name DOES NOT guarantee my vote. I am NOT saying that I will vote for the (D), but I WILL say that if you are a supporter of illegal aliens or groups who provide aid and assistance to enemies of the state, you WON’T get my vote!!!
It’s time we send a message to all the Kopko’s, Faisal’s, and Bollings out there that we WILL NOT tolerate this in OUR party or in OUR country. To do so is a disservice to all veterans living and deceased, who put it on the line every day to protect the AMERICAN way of life.
http://www.upholdourlaws.com/thanks.asp
Everyone…DEMS want us to pay for illegal immigrant healthcare. Fill out this petition to stop this!
I agree with Greg that such a hearing was not within the proper role of the Human Rights Commission. However, I disagree with those who attack its very existence. Such a local body serves as an initial point of contact regarding violations of Title VII, and hence, serves a very valuable role as a “gatekeeper” regarding enforcement of violations of civil rights laws.
Having a local body such as this thus serves the end of keeping government local. Thus, while someone suggested that this is best done through similarly-charged bodies at the state level, I would think that a local office reflecting local values doing work (within its proper role, of course) locally would be something that Conservatives could strongly endorse.
John Light,
You said “people are going to start connecting the dots and realize that just as illegal Hispanics are sending money back to Tegucigalpa, illegal Muslims (Pakis, Saudi’s, etc.) are sending money to various Muslim terrorist organizations.”
Why is it that you don’t think that foreign-born Muslims here, in or out of legal status, don’t also send money home to families? Why is it that you think most contribute to terrorist organizations? Are you equating Muslim with terrorist or terrorist supporter? Does that go for American born Muslims too? As for focusing all attention on Latino illegal aliens who crossed the land border, as opposed to all the other kinds of illegal aliens who overstayed visas, well that would be the predominant perspective on this blog. So don’t blame anyone else if that is the focus.
http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=557255
We need a “Sheriff Joe”!
Really, James Young, why should we fund these commissions locally? Isn’t it a federal problem concerning federal laws? Also, the Human Rights Commission is apparently only concerned with some human’s rights. They are left of left, and not unbiased, therefore, should not be consulted by the BOCS.
http://www.immigrationcounters.com/
This is why we must control illegal immigration! Look at the numbers!
Patriot
You are so RIGHT!! Where’s our “Sheriff Joe”?
I also voted YES on your prior link. Thanks for both of them.
Glad to see you’re posting those GREAT links for us.
Did you by any chance see the unplated Volvo on King George?
You seem to see the same things I do….How about those storm doors?
Anon: you missed the point. What I am doing is pointing out a fact that is overlooked and missed in the debate. Yes I am sure that there are probably Muslims who send money back home just man of the Latino’s. But, what is missed in the debate is how illegals make up MORE than just the Hispanic community (on another thread I had spelled out a good number of countries where they come from [China, Ireland, Pakistan, Lebanon, to name a few]) and I also am bringing to everyone’s attention that it IS possible to be here illegally yet have come INTO this country LEGALLY.
I am NOT blaming anyone for anything other than blaming those who either chose to SUPPORT illegal aliens or are here illegally themselves. Personally, I don’t care WHERE you are from as long as you ARE here legally. The ONLY TIME I care about where you send your money IS WHEN it is to terrorist supporting organizations, of which Greg is shining the light on so well thru Help Save Manassas.
I hope this clears up any confusion.
Patriot: GREAT link to the counters…excellent post!!
That is certainly a concern, k. o’toole, and I acknowledge that many of those involved tend to be of the Left. Certainly a part of that is the failure of Conservatives to appoint Conservatives at the local level. And I certainly agree that the HRC — what unfortunate initials — has no role here, agreeing with Greg. While it is a “federal problem concerning federal laws,” I hope that you can see the utility and wisdom in local enforcement, particularly since it is specifically authorized by the statute to which I referred.
And JL commented that “The problem is, Grover USED to be “the man”!! He (co)wrote the Contract for America and helped MANY Republicans get elected so these same people, of out loyality, feel beholden to him.”
I agree. Much better to follow your example, and p*** in the face of those whom had previously considered you to be a friend.
Here are our Federal elected officials and their “terrible” immigration related grades. Browse around. Tom Davis, John Warner, and Jim Webb need a lot of help! http://grades.betterimmigration.com/delegation.php3?District=VA
These grades deserve detention!
JY wrote: “I agree. Much better to follow your example, and p*** in the face of those whom had previously considered you to be a friend.”
THAT coming from someone who throws his friends “under the bus.”
Patriot: When will they learn??? Detention indeed.
Has anyone noticed that there is not one single candidate in the Dems’ court and only one in the Reps’ court that is even willing to consider the illegal immigrant issue?
If only one of this yahoos would realize how many votes they would get by standing up to the abuses of illegal immigration, they may even forget about the non votes that the illegal immigrant will not cast in the next election.
Oh, i forgot, the catholic church is putting pressure on the government to safeguard the illegals’ rights (isn’t that an oximoron?). Now i thought that the catholic church was just rebounding from the molestation scandals!?
As a catholic, I think that I will not see the inside of a catholic church for a good long while.
Gentleman(Patriot & JL)
I agree dentention indeed. I love the idea of EXPULSION even better!!! Let’s not half a** like those leaders, let’s get rid of the those with “terrible grades” all together.
Patriot,
re: Dems want us to pay for illegal heath care….
That sight looks suspicious to me…like a good way for some toad to get your name and address.
I have heard of no such bill but that doesnt mean there isnt one. Do you have a bill number or name?
Dolph
Dolph,
Candidate Eric Cantor is the guy it is associated with.
New York seems to be having trouble with illegals: http://www.amny.com/news/local/crime/am-asbe0802%2C0%2C6821420.story?coll=am-topheadlines and http://www.amny.com/news/local/crime/am-asbe0802%2C0%2C6821420.story?coll=am-topheadlines as well as NC: http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/219454.html
Lafayette - no arguments here
fed up, U.S. Rep. Steve King this morning mentioned how the Catholic Church was pushing him to support the American DREAM Act that would require in-state tuition for illegal aliens. King, who is Catholic, told the church leaders there in Iowa where he is from that he wouldn’t have a problem with the church passing the plate to collect money to subsidize the illegals tuition. After that, they stopped pushing him to support the bill.
Separation of church and state?
Of course, I see no difference in that and some of the other pressure that has been put on various lawmakers by Churches.
Thank goodness for those who have the nads to stand up to their respective churches.
The Dream Act doesn’t support in-state tuition. It gives legal residence to those kids who were brought to this country illegally(If they have graduated from High School in the US). So they get in-state tuition if they enroll in their state colleges but first they receive a form of amnesty
You don’t pull on Supeman’s cape,
You don’t spit into the wind,
You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger
and you don’t mess around with Greg!
“Having a local body such as this thus serves the end of keeping government local. Thus, while someone suggested that this is best done through similarly-charged bodies at the state level, I would think that a local office reflecting local values doing work (within its proper role, of course) locally would be something that Conservatives could strongly endorse.”
It is called DUPLICATION OF SERVICES at DUPLICATE COST to taxpayers. There is NOTHING conservative about that.
Anon,
Northern Virginia has always been isolated from the rest of the state. Do you really want local issues solved by outsiders?
To remain truly autonomous, sometimes you have to pay for it.
Nice reference Batson.
TH,
Many kids these days come alone to join parents already here. So, they are fully aware of the fact they are breaking the law. I am sick of hearing about these poor kids that did not have a choice or say in the matter. If that is the case, they can return to their Native Country.
However, there is a new scam these days. Because the border patrol will not return kids they find alone, many families, when approached by the patrol will scatter knowing their kids will either be placed with existing family already in the Country, or placed in foster facilities in attempt to place them with new families. There was an article in the Washington Times a couple of weeks about this new scam. Pretty amazing parents would do that to their own children-leave them alone along the border.
citizenofmanassas
I’d sure like to see that article from the Times. That is INSANE,
those parents should be sent right back to a jail in their native
country.
I talked to Beth F. today, I need one of stickers and flags. I’ll fly it proudly on ole Lafayette!!!!!!
Dolph,
Here is the article about the health care. While it is not directed solely at illegals, the Dems were able to drop the Federal requirement that said illegals were not able to use the program.
——————————————————————————–
Article published Aug 2, 2007
House triples SCHIP funding
August 2, 2007
By Sean Lengell - The House yesterday tripled to $75 billion funding for a popular health insurance program for low-income children, surviving Republican efforts to rein in what they call a push to socialized care.
Republicans, who support the program but oppose expanding it to middle-class families, failed in several attempts to limit eligibility requirements and keep spending around President Bush’s requested $5 billion expansion of the program.
The House bill to extend the 10-year-old State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) passed by a vote of 225-204. Only five Republicans voted for the bill, with 10 Democrats voting against it.
“With this [legislation], we are not going to fail America’s children — we are championing them,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat. “This legislation has fiscal soundness, it has a values base, and it should have the support of everyone.”
The Democrats’ bill proposes a $50 billion spending increase for the program over five years, for a total of about $75 billion. The plan would add an estimated 5 million children to the 6 million already enrolled in the program, which expires Sept. 30.
“For this Congress, this [bill] is perhaps the greatest opportunity we will have,” said Rep. John D. Dingell, Michigan Democrat. “It’s not only a humanitarian and a compassionate concern of this nation, but rather it’s the future of this country.”
A Senate version of the bill, which is expected to be voted on today, would spend an additional $35 billion over five years and would cover 3 million children not currently enrolled.
The White House says it will veto the legislation if it exceeds $30 billion.
Republicans say the legislation would undermine the marketplace by offering coverage to children already insured privately and try to do so by cutting Medicare benefits to the elderly.
They add the measure would extend coverage to families with incomes as high as 400 percent above of the federal poverty level — even if the majority of children in those families already have private coverage.
“Many say this SCHIP bill is a back-door tactic to get socialized medicine in America. That’s not true,” said Rep. Paul D. Ryan, Wisconsin Republican. “This is a front-door tactic to get socialized medicine in America.”
Republicans also say the Democrats’ bill is too costly and would severely strain congressional budgets.
“This is about allotting a new permanent entitlement program — no matter what the majority will say,” said Rep. Jeb Hensarling, Texas Republican.
But Democrats said expanding the program is necessary for the world’s wealthiest nation to ensure no American child goes without medical care.
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland said Republicans have “needlessly politicized” debate over the SCHIP reauthorization in an effort to prevent Democrats from claiming a legislative victory before the August congressional recess.
“They are afraid that Democrats are getting too much done for the American people, and will do anything to prevent passage of legislation that provides health insurance to 11 million children,” Mr. Hoyer said.
SCHIP, which is a joint federal-state partnership, subsidizes the cost of insuring children living in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford private insurance. The federal government pays for about 70 percent of the program, and the states pay the rest.
States are allowed to set eligibility guidelines, with some opting to expand coverage to as much as four times above the poverty level, or about $70,000 for a family of four. Some states also have extended coverage to some adults.
To pay for the plans, House Democrats proposed a 45-cent per-pack cigarette-tax increase and cuts to the Medicare Advantage program for seniors.
The Senate version calls for a 61-cent per-pack cigarette-tax increase but no cuts to Medicare Advantage.
Republicans say the House Democrats’ plan unnecessarily pits children against seniors. Democrats deny the Medicare cuts will hurt any needy seniors.
The cigarette-tax increase is strongly opposed by many Republican lawmakers, particularly those from tobacco-producing states.
Lafayette,
Here is an article about the children. It is from ABC news, rather then the Washington Times. About four paragraphs into the story is where it mentions what the parents are doing. Warning, it will piss you off….
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3401339
COM
Thanks. I am not sure how I feel about this new legislation. One of my problems with it in Virginia is that in order to enroll a child, that child has to be without insurance for a year before they go on schips. (or at least that is the way it used to be). I have a real problem with this restriction. Thaat more or less defeats the purpose if a family is stretching an already thin budget to insure their children. Having to go off for a year….what’s the point?
As for not restricting children of illegal immigrants….are we not paying anyway? It seems to me that if my insurance costs go up to cover those not able to pay, I am paying for it….although perhaps not directly, but I am still paying. I am paying if they go to the health department. I just don’t know.
As for medicare plus…I never understood that part of medicare in the first place. I know it is a little less expensive than getting Medicare A, B, bridge plan and rx plan. Of course, medicare is so damn confusinig as it is you need a ph.d to figure it all out. To get really decent medicare coverage, it costs about $250 a month.
Dolph
The program as it stands has been extended to families that are above the old financial level even if they already have private insurance. Illegals should not be entitled to it, and you bring up a good point. Since of course it is an incentive to come here illegally and still reap the benefits of a legal immigrant. We have to stop the incentive for them to come here, and everyone we take away is a step in the right direction.
One thing the supporters of illegals like to say is the illegals are a net plus, well the hidden costs of insurance either medical or car is one they never bring up.
Park’d, your HOA dues can be put into an escrow account pending the HOA taking corrective action. You are meeting the legal obligation for payment while insuring that the HOA meets theirs. The situation in my community also got myself and others on the board. Is there a possibility that you could join the board in your development?
This really is disgusting! Why can’t the border patrol turn them over to the Mexican government and let Mexico put them in foster care. I bet that would put a stop to this pracitce!
My lat post refers to citizenofmanassas said on 2 Aug 2007 at 8:41 pm
COM
You’re right, the hidden cost are NEVER mentioned. I’ve said before, we can’t put a pricetag on the loss of quality of life around here.
Sounds like Mr. Gerhart and Chief Dean need to go. I am amazed that the county exec is orchestrating these HRC hearings where the participants obviously are biased against the resolution.
Greg, shall we ask for a house cleaning project from our Board?
I think these employees need to hear from the citizens who pay their salaries that we are not happy with their job performance. Sounds like grounds for termination. What do you all say?
COM
You’re right, the hidden cost are NEVER mentioned. I’ve said before, we can’t put a pricetag on the loss of quality of life around here.
I’d like to say thanks for the article. Boy, that has me LIVID.
More insanity, it never ends!!!
In my previous post, I do not mean to imply that hispanics are the only ones causing skyrocketing health care increases. Anyone without health care insurance who lacks the ability or the desire to pay for their medical expenses is making my costs soar. And lets face it. Medical costs are so expensive, even if people want to pay, most can’t pay out of pocket expenses…just in case I sound too harsh.
As long as we have a sizable portion of the population not paying for their own medical expenses, it is going to really run the bill up for those of us with insurance. Last year, Potomac Hospital and Prince William Hospital had to eat $50 million dollars in bad debt. Guess who will ultimately pay that price?
When we have schips for kids, medicaid for the poor, medicare for seniors, and $50 million in bad hospital debt locally, I am wondering why *I* am shelling out the big bucks for my coverage.
Perhaps it is time to stop looking at national health care as ’socialized medicine.’ We already have it for a large percent of the population. I am about ready to be included in the count. Why should *I* be shelling out $500 bucks a month.
Had to Say
I have to say, I’ve left a question for you under Dumb Ideas from Illegal Aliens.
[…] Letiecq writes about an unelected body in Prince William County that seems determined to assert the authority to qu… I was asked to provide a presentation to the Immigration Committee of the Prince William County […]
I just heard that the health care for illegals bill passed, but Bush says he will veto.
I was at the Manassas Journal Messenger site on the 1st and tried to add a reply to the story about the illegals planning to protest. There are plenty of people posting under “anonymous” who were crying racism. I tried to point out the Duke study that showed that illegals are racists against blacks and they never posted it. I think it might be time to picket in front of their place just like the illegals do to us.
Dolp,
Do you support illegal aliens? If not, why do you want to provide another incentitve for them to come here, and or stay here? Yes, we are paying for their health care in a round about way, but just think how much lower our health care would be if we did not allow them to suck of the system?
No I do not support illegal immigration. I support controlled legal immigration.
We are paying for a lot of other people’s health care also. I do not see the abuses only in terms of legal vs illegal immigration.
Once an employer is no longer footing some of the bill for health care, one starts paying a great deal more attention to the true magnitude of the problem.
I agree that runaway, uncontrolled immigration is making a bad situation worse, but lets not pretend all was well before the latest wave hit.
The bottom line is, we are paying for it. We can pay for it in unrecovered debt being attached covertly to our premiums, we can pay for medicaid, or we can look at plans that include all people, rather than just some. It is a complex problem and there are no simple answers. I refuse to listen to sound bites from either end of the political spectrum. This issue is going to get worse.
If all we can reduce this discussion to is ‘dems support illegal aliens health care’ then we are truly in worse trouble than I thought.
Which if my “friends” have I ever “thrown under the bus,” JL? Specifics, please. I’m fairly certain that virtually any of my friends — at least those who, unlike you, have not cast aside friendship in the interests of the political convenience of the moment, and engaged in ad hominem attack — will attest to the fact that they have no more faithful friend than I (certainly, I aspire to that). Similarly, I can be quite faithful on the other side of the coin, as well.
Or is your comment just another one of those convenient general aspersions that those who can’t take a little heat for disagreements and/or my choice of other than their preferred Republican candidate like to lodge against me?
I can say with absolute assurance that I’ve (still) never attacked you publicly and personally the way that you’ve attacked me here.
Dolph,
If you do not support illegal immigration, why do you support programs that end up supporting illegals? How many illegals who live in overcrowded homes send their kids to public schools? Well, guess who pays for that? How many illegals do not pay taxes, local or Federal? Yet, they are able to take advantage of programs that are funded by taxes.
Just because we have our own criminals and health care cheats, does not mean we need more from outside the Country.
COM,
Which programs specifically are you referring to? I need to know this before I answer.
You mentioned public schools so I will go forward with that one. Yes, I support public schools even though they have been severely impacted by immigration (legal vs illegal is not differentiated in schools) and the No Child Left Behind Act. I am not ready to suggest we do away with them because an illegal immigrant might get to attend. In fact, I support them attending because we don’t need another entire generation growing up totally illiterate.
The reality of the situation, as I see it, is that until the federal government ensures that our borders are secure, we will continue to have uncontrolled immigration. If we don’t have the manpower to accomplish securing our borders, then we need to pull every soldier out of Iraq and put them on our borders. Securing our homeland is the most important job of the federal government and the President has failed to do this.
Having an entire generation of illiterates is not my idea of doing away with costs.
Dolph
Dolph,
If there are more than one family living in a single home, that home still only produces one tax bill. Yet, if there are children in each of the families living in the house that attend public school, they are using more in services then they are paying, since the home is only producing one tax bill, that is spread out among mutiple families.
We already talked about health care. What about fire and rescure? The police etc. Those are freely used by illegals. Yet, for those illegals that either live in overcrowded homes, or are being paid in cash, they are paying their full share of the costs.
I agree the Federal Government can do more and should. However, until that happens the State and Local Government must be able to do it.
COM,
I am not in favor of single family homes being used for multiple families. However, there is a lot of that going on in the Prince William area that isn’t being done by hispanic folks. I suppose it is hard to find where to draw the line when discussing families. A mother and father living with a family? Not unusual. A single brother or sister living with a married brother? Not unusual. Young adults renting a house and sharing costs? Not unusual. A couple having 7-8 kids? A little more unusual but not unheard of. That family certainly is going to be using more than their fair share of house allocated resources. I had a family of 13 children living very close to me for about 15 years. Perhaps I am just immune. Not all 13 of the kids were at home, only 9 or 10. I lost count.
I am more concerned about single family homes are being converted into boarding houses/motels. This behavior clearly violates zoning laws and it brings an unhealthy atmosphere into neighborhoods. I don’t like bunches of unattached young men living in an area where my grandchildren are playing…for obvious reasons. Additionally, parking becomes a problem. In general, men who are unused to our community standards just have a tendency to create problems in general. If that is sexist…sorry. Just an observation….
As I have said on here many times, I am more concerned over behavior than I am over legal vs illegal. I have no way of verifying one’s immigration status for sure. I do have a way of verifying behavior I find unacceptable and I am far from being a stickler for good neighbor habits.
Dolph
Dolph,
I said illegals who overcrowd should not be able to do so, because it does put an unfair burden on others. Illegal is illegal, I don’t understand how and why some people are unable to grasp it. We have an estimated 250,000 illegals in the Commonwealth, that is a pretty sizable population. The fact hispanic groups are leading the protests seems to suggest most illegals are hispanic, but of course not every hispanic is illegal.
I don’t care if you and I do know how to spot an illegal or not, that is why the resolution or ordinance was done, so that immigration status can be checked, and help prevent illegals from receiving services they are not entitled too.
COM,
I believe that you and I just have a different focus. I am certainly not going to stand in the way of those who chose to focus on the issue of illegality. I personally just don’t see how I, sitting in Prince William County, have any real control of the immigration situation if that is my only focus.
What I can do, realistically, is monitor my own neighborhood for zoning and housing violations and network with those who know more than I do. Right now, that is pretty much the only power I have and that is darn little.
The ordinance is a starting point. I don’t expect it to be a magical panacea that cures all of our immigration woes. Until our national government listens to the will of the people and controls immigration, our national resources will continue to be drained, both for the short term and the long term.
Dolph,
I guess I look at it from a couple of different ways. Just like the war against drugs, I believe the best way is to not only go after the drug dealer, but also the drug user.
You can do something about illegal immigration. Vote for elected officials who will pass bills and or ordinances that target illegals.
COM,
Securing the border would be a good way to wage war against illegal drugs also. Just a thought.
I am not a single issue voter. But alas, I do have my litmus tests. My problem always ends up being narrowing the field to say 5 issues I consider important. It is darn hard to find a candidate who sees things my way on 5 issues.
I wonder how many people here are grossly disappointed in the performance of the candidate they voted for in the last presidential election? Until our borders are controlled, I see very little that can be done about any of our immigration problems. We cannot have uncontrolled immigration. Nor can we be a patchwork of local ordinances if we truly want to get a handle on the situation.
Dolph,
You are right about the dual benefit of a controlled border. It would not only cut down on the illegals but also drugs. Just think how putting a dent into those two problems would greatly enhance the quality of life here in America.
I don’t see the local level being patchwork. Every town can and will pass laws as it sees fit to take care of a particular issue. I see illegal immigration as being one of those issues. A town like Manassas may have a worse problem with illegal immigration then Erie PA does. Erie may decide to not pass any laws since they feel they may not have a problem. Yet, we know Manassas sure does.
I do not feel protecting our rights and laws is promoting hate. I think it is basic common sense, and any that want to give our country away or allow it to be torn apart and made a third world country by illegals that care nothing for our laws, should remove themselves from this country. Why stay here if you care nothing for her? If we can afford 2.5 trillion to allow the illegals to receive amnesty, we can secure our borders. King George wants to do away w/all our rights as a soveriegn nation, and allow his big business buds to rule 3 countries instead of just ours. If Bush is for it, then usually it’s bad for America.
Unfortunately, I can’t disagree with that.