[Rand] Paul seeks to block refugees from welfare programs

The Hill ^ | 11/19/15 | Jordain Carney

[markomalley]

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is hoping to link the current fight over refugees to a housing and transportation funding bill.  

Paul, who is running for president, is offering an amendment to the fiscal year 2016 spending bill for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to ban refugees from 34 countries or territories from getting any assistance to welfare or social programs funded by the legislation. 

 

"Make no mistake, we have been attacked in the past by refugees or by people posing as refugees," Paul said. "I don't think we should continue adding people to the rolls of those coming from the Middle East until we absolutely know who is in our country and what their intentions are." 

 

The Kentucky Republican added that his amendment says "that we're not going to bring them here and put them on government assistance. When the poem beneath the Statue of Liberty says give me your tired, give me your poor, it didn't say come to our country and we'll put you on welfare." 

 

He has offered a separate piece of legislation that would block visas for approximately 30 high-risk countries that Paul has said have "significant jihadist movements."

 

But Paul's amendment, which has not been scheduled for a vote, could face an uphill battle to get included in the legislation. 

 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) filed cloture on the Senate's legislation and an underlying House bill Wednesday evening. Senators are expected to wrap up their work on the legislation before they leave Washington for a week-long Thanksgiving recess. 

 

Meanwhile, the amendment is getting pushback from Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who spearheaded the housing-transportation legislation. Both senators said they are opposed to Paul's proposal.

 

"I look at the senator's amendment and he lists 34 countries that would be affected by his prohibition, 34 countries. They include countries like Turkey. Turkey is a NATO ally. Turkey is absolutely vital in the war against ISIS. It includes our strong ally Jordan," Collins said. 

 

"Are we saying we will not let a single person from 34 countries into our country no matter how many American lives they have saved, no matter whether or not they pose a threat to us?"

[cloudmountain]

I can just hear the smacking of lips, the lawyers gearing up their civil right suits...and any other suit they can imagine.

[Pearls Before Swine]

That’s the first high-profile cogent thing I’ve heard from Rand in a while. He made a lot of sense before he was blinded by the glare of the Presidency.

There were times in the past when many immigrants were sponsored, and the sponsorers guaranteed that they would not become a burden on the public. My father guaranteed his cousin, a concentration camp survivor, and his son (my second cousin). I knew the son well—he studied hard and became a very successful engineer. It’s not as if my father had any money at the time, either.

[grobdriver]

"Are we saying we will not let a single person from 34 countries into our country no matter how many American lives they have saved, no matter whether or not they pose a threat to us?"

Well, gee - if all that stuff is true then they'll pass their background check with flying colors... so, NO - YOU MORON!

[dhs12345]

What concerns me is the “they pose a threat” part.

[LambSlave]

This is a GREAT idea, exactly what I was posting about yesterday. Cut off welfare and you kill the weeds at their root, enemies both foreign and domestic.

[sportutegrl]

How about if the governors of states that don’t want refugees cut their welfare bennies? Then, even if Obama forces the refugees there, (don’t put it past him), they will self-deport to a more benefit generous state.

[i_robot73]

NO welfare. PERIOD.

“...nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

[LambSlave]

Because the government doesn’t have the right to take money from one person to give from another, at any level, for starters. Moreover, welfare creates a criminal class, by subsidizing immoral behavior and cultures. Some may become terrorists many will become regular criminals, but very few will ever become productive members of society.

[SharpRightTurn]

Susan Collins is working hard to bump Patty Murray out of first place as stupidest person in the Senate. It looks like she has a real shot.