Benefits for immigrants
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Sponsor: Americans for Honesty on Issues, a so-called 527 independent political group.
The Message: Democratic candidate Ed Perlmutter, running in the 7th Congressional District, sponsored legislation giving taxpayer-supported financial assistance to illegal immigrants.
Fact: In 1997, Perlmutter did sponsor Senate Bill 171, which is cited in the ad. But the bill targeted legal – not illegal – immigrants. SB 171 was passed in response to 1996 federal legislation requiring states to make decisions regarding eligibility of public assistance for legal immigrants. The goal of the legislation was to provide the type of assistance that “would reduce the ultimate burden on the state and local governments for emergency health and welfare needs.” It also was intended to “encourage and support efforts to help foreignborn legal residents of the state of Colorado to become citizens.” The legislation’s only reference to “undocumented aliens” dealt with federally required emergency medical care.
– Christopher N. Osher
