Perry bills feds for housing illegals

Associated Press ^ | August 26, 2011 | APRIL CASTRO

[Free ThinkerNY]

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry has asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reimburse the state $350 million to cover costs of imprisoning illegal immigrants.

In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the top-tier Republican presidential candidate blamed the federal government for not securing the border with Mexico, allowing illegal immigrants to cross over and use taxpayer-funded resources.

[AnalogReigns]

One smart cookie, politically. And, a justified bill.

[Ingtar]

Good move politically. But then, what will happen when his own DREAM act is publicized?

[fhayek]

I like ideology just fine. But balls goes a long way with me.

[ken21]

perry has more balls than most pubies.

[GrouchoTex]

Gotta love that

[mardi59]

This should be done by every state. The man has spine. I like that.

[Loyal Sedition]

This is what EVERY governor should be doing!

Too bad he is so weak on allowing Texas to do their part in discouraging the invasion.

His approval of in-state tuition rates for the illegals ruins him as a candidate for me.

[SharpRightTurn]

“His approval of in-state tuition rates for the illegals ruins him as a candidate for me.”

Same here. It’s an immigration magnet, just like not enforcing the employment laws, letting them collect food stamps, use emergency rooms, etc., etc.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Good move politically. But then, what will happen when his own DREAM act is publicized?

Is he also going to bill them for the cost of a dorm room?

[Moonman62]

One smart cookie, politically. And, a justified bill.

Had he done this years ago when it should have been done I'd say it wasn't a political stunt.

[LearsFool]

His approval of in-state tuition rates for the illegals ruins him as a candidate for me.

That's a strike against him alright.

Now if he sued that Janet Napolitano guy to recover the tuition costs, that'd be a different story.

[Will88]

He’s governor for 10+ years. How many times has he sent this bill in the previous ten years?

[gov_bean_ counter]

You know he has written a couple of books that no body has read.

I wonder if one of them was entitled, "The Art of Political Pandering".

[Tempest]

Can he bill the Feds for the illegal immigrant tuitions that his state funded as well?

That would be great political posing and the naive Perry acolytes will triumph this bit of Kabuki theater as further proof of his true conservatism.

[Free in Texas]

"Had he done this years ago when it should have been done I'd say it wasn't a political stunt."

Look for more of the same as he attempts to reinvent himself.

[comebacknewt]

Come on. Even you guys that don’t like Perry have to at least like the chutzpah of this move.

[TADSLOS]

Why doesn’t Perry just put them up in college dorm rooms for free? After all, he’s giving them free taxpayer paid tuition.

[gov_bean_ counter]

He is clever if not consistent.

[Will88]

I’m not totally against Perry, and I’m not thrilled about any of the candidates so far. But I’m also not going to kid myself about Perry’s shortcoming and pandering, which seem to be considerable.

He’s a Republican version of Slick Willie Clinton, which could have some good and bad outcomes should he become president.

But if this is the first year, out of ten, that he’s sent such a letter to DC, then his strongest supporters should be embarrassed to even mention it in public, let alone try to turn it into some big gutsy move.