Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Huckabee's Immigration Fumble
Wall Street Journal ^ | 17 December 2007 | JASON L. RILEY

Posted on 12/17/2007 8:40:10 AM PST by shrinkermd

Edited on 12/17/2007 10:38:41 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

Social conservatives especially are exercised by our porous borders, and Mr. Romney sees his surging rival's past positions on immigration as an inviting target. When Mr. Huckabee was governor of Arkansas, it turns out, he supported letting the children of illegal aliens, who met the same academic standards required of legal residents, apply for taxpayer-funded college scholarships. Heavens to Betsy!


(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Arkansas
KEYWORDS: aliens; huckabee; illegals; immigrantlist; romney
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last
To: shrinkermd
Huckabee promotes 'open door' policy at LULAC convention

"Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

By Wesley Brown

Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK - In a impassioned speech before hundreds of influential Hispanic civil rights leaders from across the nation, Gov. Mike Huckabee told a captive audience Wednesday that America is great because it has always opened it doors up to people seeking a better way of life.

"I would hope that no matter who we are, or where we are from, that America should always be a place that opens its arms, opens it heart, opens its spirit to people who come because they want the best for their families ...," Huckabee said as the largely Hispanic audience gave him a standing ovation.

Huckabee was the keynote speaker, along with Tyson Foods Inc. Chairman and CEO John Tyson, at a noon luncheon of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which is holding its 76th annual convention in Little Rock.

About 10,000 political, community and business leaders, along with exhibitors and speakers are in Little Rock attending the convention at the Statehouse Convention Center. The convention started Monday and runs through Saturday.

Although he never actually talked about the U.S. or Arkansas immigration policy, Huckabee made it very clear where he stood on the issue. In his opening remarks, he said the nation will need to address the concerns of the Hispanic community because of its growing influence and population base.

"Pretty soon, Southern white guys like me may be in the minority," Huckabee said jokingly as the crowd roared in laughter.

He told the LULAC delegates that their presence in the state's capital city was very important because Arkansas has one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. "Your gathering is so very significant for our state," Huckabee said. "We are delighted to have you."

Despite several light moments, Huckabee did not stray away from several controversial issues that made him a target of criticism during the recently ended 85th General Assembly. He said Arkansas needs to make the transition from a traditional Southern state to one that recognizes and cherishes diversity "in culture, in language and in population."

"This is an issue that is going to require extraordinary efforts on both sides of the border, particularly those coming from Mexico," Huckabee said of verifying the status of illegal aliens. "But I am confident that our government will recognize that we should accommodate people who wish to provide the best opportunities for their families (and) employers so that we can make sure our economy has the necessary work force."

During the legislation session, Huckabee criticized an immigration bill by Republican senators Jim Holt of Springdale and Denny Altes of Fort Smith as un-Christian, un-American, irresponsible and anti-life. Senate Bill 206, which died in the Senate, would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote and also force state agencies to report suspected cases of people living in the country illegally. Holt, R-Springdale, replied later to Huckabee's comments that Christian charity does not include turning a blind eye to lawbreaking.

21 posted on 12/17/2007 10:28:44 AM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Right Cal Gal
How? Income taxes are paid using social security numbers. Illegals do not have social security numbers, at least not legitimate ones.

If an illegal's SSN doesn't check out, the IRS just assigns a "Taxpayer ID number" and happily collects without informing ICE.

It's sick, but true.

22 posted on 12/17/2007 10:31:48 AM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: curiosity

You know, you keep wondering if the whole talk of a new Civil War over this issue might actually have some teeth to it.


23 posted on 12/17/2007 10:43:12 AM PST by Right Cal Gal (Remember Billy Dale!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman
Fred and Mitt, while far less than entusiastic than Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo about enforcing the borders

To clearify a little here. Tank and Hunter - while talking a lot about the issue - have not had much opportunity to act on the issue. Mitt, on the other hand, vetoed instate tuition for illegals and opposed drivers licenses - making it practically impossible for them to become available in MA. He also ordered the state police to co-operate in deporting illegals.

While he initially made some favorable statements about the direction of the immigration reform bill, he has always favored a secure-the-border first policy and has affirmed that there will be zero amnesty under his adminstration.

24 posted on 12/17/2007 10:48:44 AM PST by mbraynard (Tagline changed due to admin request)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: curiosity
The other side of the coin is that the IRS also distributes Earned Inome Tax Credits (those with children under 17), including a government check, to those who paid no taxes. That's the real incentive for illegals to file their taxes.

Americans living abroad who would have qualified had they lived in the United States are not welcome aboard this gravy train.

25 posted on 12/17/2007 10:50:18 AM PST by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Sloth

Good point!


26 posted on 12/17/2007 10:52:50 AM PST by chicagolady (Mexican Elite say: EXPORT Poverty Let the American Taxpayer foot the bill !)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd
Other intersesting statistics we are bound to heare about are:

Illegals pay sales taxes

What makes you think they are not paying sales taxes?

27 posted on 12/17/2007 10:59:08 AM PST by Kaslin (Peace is the aftermath of victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd; Dane

Is Dane using an alias now?


28 posted on 12/17/2007 10:59:26 AM PST by oldbill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

According to the pro-illegal Cato Institute, each illegal cost taxpayers a net $89,000 lifetime. No one refutes this, and you can’t show otherwise. So, now that you know this do you still think illegals are a boon?


29 posted on 12/17/2007 11:01:58 AM PST by Plutarch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

According to the pro-illegal Cato Institute, each illegal cost taxpayers a net $89,000 lifetime. No one refutes this, and you can’t show otherwise. So, now that you know this do you still think illegals are a boon?


30 posted on 12/17/2007 11:02:01 AM PST by Plutarch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Right Cal Gal
I too was skeptical of this statement. Without a valid SSN there is no way that the government can tell if the wage-earner is an illegal or a legal whose SSN somehow got transposed in his or her employment record.

The Wall Street Journal was at the forefront of calling people like me, who opposed amnesty and who are in favor of securing our borders and deporting illegal aliens, bigots. I believe that illegals use up far more government funds in welfare, food stamps, public schooling and unreimbursed emergency room medical care than they ever pay in taxes.

31 posted on 12/17/2007 11:05:55 AM PST by RightWingConspirator (Redefeat Communism by defeating Hitlary in 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Right Cal Gal

And those working on the books probably qualify for the EITC. The fact is that we have no idea how many illegals are in this country and how many of them are paying taxes. They are working illegally and most are part of the underground economy.


32 posted on 12/17/2007 11:12:34 AM PST by kabar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

You are sitting over 2,000 miles from the Mexican border.
I am sitting 20 miles north of it.

You don’t have a clue. What ever the illegals may pay, it is a penny on dollars we Americans in San Diego are paying for their social services along with all their crime

Many in small town flyover country are not living in the world of reality. Your child like minds can be dangerous to the country.

Those on FR who are using illegals for cheap labor
are destroying America more than any liberal Democrat
could.


33 posted on 12/17/2007 11:22:34 AM PST by SoCalPol (Duncan Hunter '08 Tough on WOT & Illegals)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kabar

The WSJ is out to lunch on this one, they are wrong, it is less than 50% who have their income tax withheld not more than 50%. The WSJ uses the faulty number of only 8 million illegals, which we know is not true, so their numbers are hedged. The audacity to cite that 50% pay income tax is just over to top!

Plus, your right the remaining who do have taxes withheld lie about their dependents and are eligible to not only be void of any liability but actually receive funds in child credits!

They say they say the can’t make millions of people follow the law , and if we complain we are racists, or it would be un Christan to have any laws, yet over 90% of Americans pay all their taxes at the force of a gun, and that is justified!

Then the underground economy is not even being looked at when it comes to the lost taxes. Over 50% of the Mexican nationals living in the US are not on the books, while the rest of us work legitimately and do pay.

“Illegal immigrants hold about 12 million to 15 million jobs in the United States, or about 8 percent, meaning the government may be foregoing $35 billion a year in income tax collections” Bob Justich senior managing director for Bear Stearns,

The Milken Institute has released a study called the “Los Angeles Economy Project”, which reports that nearly 680,000 workers in the Los Angeles region alone work in the underground, cash-only economy. Needless to say, most of those involved are illegal aliens. And, this situation costs the cities, counties, and feds two billion dollars in lost revenues.

The underground economy is undermining the effectiveness of the Internal Revenue Service, which is highly dependent on employees’ withholding taxes. If the IRS could collect all the taxes it says that it is owed from the underground economy in a given year, then the current budget deficit would disappear overnight.


34 posted on 12/17/2007 11:48:50 AM PST by seastay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: RightWingConspirator

Copied from IRS site:
What is an ITIN?
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service. It is a nine-digit number that always begins with the number 9 and has a 7 or 8 in the fourth digit, example 9XX-7X-XXXX.
IRS issues ITINs to individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) from the Social Security Administration (SSA).
ITINs are issued regardless of immigration status because both resident and nonresident aliens may have U.S. tax return and payment responsibilities under the Internal Revenue Code.
Individuals must have a filing requirement and file a valid federal income tax return to receive an ITIN, unless they meet an exception.

ILLEGALS can pay taxes but as pointed out very few ever really pay because of low earnings & earned income credit. The renters never pay in any where near what it costs to pay for education. It’s around $7500 per year per child in the US and theirs cost more because of English as 2nd language classes.


35 posted on 12/17/2007 11:52:40 AM PST by Tspud1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: seastay

Perfect Illegal Alien Tax Paying Family

Juan earns $10.00 an hour, roughly $21,000 per year. He and his lovely wife, Rosario, speak little English and their 4 children speak very little also. The federal withholding on $400.00 per week with 6 dependents is $30.98 or $1610.96 for the year. That doesn’t bother Juan because he gets earned income credit and gets all of the $1610.96 back plus a few thousand more. Take home pay would be $326.42. Juan rents and his sister, brother and some cousins in live in the house also. Some of his take home goes to pay rent and utilities, let’s say 25% or $4400 per year. That leaves $12574 that he can spend and he spends most and contributes $1006.00 in 8% sales tax. Since his landlord pays real estate taxes on the house Juan can tell you he pays real estate taxes but on a rental of $375.00 per month the total tax bill is only $1200.00 or less per year split amongst the 12 people in the house that’s only $100.00 each. Several of the children were born in the US and since he couldn’t afford the medical bills, the government paid for that. One was born premature, spent three months in the neonatal incubator and cost the local hospital more than $300,000. The children also qualify for food stamps. His kids in school cost the state and federal governments about $8000.00 per year each. Since English isn’t spoken at home, Juan’s children get special classes for English as a second language and their other teachers can’t spend extra time trying to teach your kids because Juan’s kids do not understand fully. They get free breakfast & lunches. Each year they use the emergency room a few times and can not be denied treatment nor does he have to pay. Juan doesn’t have to get auto insurance because he can’t get a license nor would he if he could. Juan’s brother Jesus has a bad cough and he thinks it might be TB but doesn’t want to miss work in the local restaurant to get it checked out. Juan’s landlord only had a one car garage so Jesus has to park in the front yard next to his cousin Emilio’s truck.
This is the perfect ILLEGAL family that sends no money back to homeland. Consider the millions that are not perfect. If 40% of 15 million work off the books, that’s 6 million that are not paying in any taxes. Every day we read of hundreds that are cheating on their identities. They teach their children by example every day when the break the law. We tax payers see this every day and see our taxes go up every year and our wait times at doctors get longer and bills get more expensive. What if 40% of American taxpayers did what these ILLEGALS
do very week?


36 posted on 12/17/2007 12:10:10 PM PST by Tspud1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Tspud1

“What if 40% of American taxpayers did what these ILLEGALS
do very week?”

Yea, who would pay the real taxes? Consider that if 40% of citizens got away with what illegal immigrant families do, there would be a shortage of spray paint and a shortage of dollars to pay city workers on the dole to clean up the graffiti.


37 posted on 12/17/2007 12:47:13 PM PST by seastay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Vigilanteman
The other side of the coin is that the IRS also distributes Earned Inome Tax Credits (those with children under 17), including a government check, to those who paid no taxes.

Yup. Sick, but true.

38 posted on 12/17/2007 12:59:49 PM PST by curiosity
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: shrinkermd

Mrs. Riley wants to keep her maid.


39 posted on 12/17/2007 8:32:40 PM PST by Mamzelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-39 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson