Immigration reform’s cost
Title: “Amnesty”
Sponsor: Rick O’Donnell for Congress
Type: TV ad
The message: Attacks Democratic 7th Congressional District candidate Ed Perl mutter as supporting legislation by U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., to give “amnesty” to illegal immigrants. The ad says the proposal would cost more than $50 billion and would grant welfare, Social Security and in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants.
Fact: Perlmutter has said he supports the “broad principles” of a bill that passed in the U.S. Senate but has not passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The ad fails to mention that the bill also is sponsored by a Republican, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona. The bill would open an 11-year path to citizenship for illegal immigrants now in the country who have broken no law other than working here illegally. The Congressional Budget Office analysis of the bill said newly legalized immigrants would claim nearly $50 billion in benefits, such as the earned income and child tax credits, Medicaid and Social Security. Supporters of the bill point out that in the long run, those immigrants would generate additional tax revenues and ease the baby-boom generation’s burden on Social Security. Perl mutter also has said that those immigrants here illegally must find a job, pay taxes and learn English before they are put on a path toward citizenship. Perlmutter also does not support extending Social Security benefits to illegal immigrants but does believe that once those immigrants become citizens, they should be allowed to receive those benefits.
– Christopher N. Osher
