Pam Gencarella: Witness the Crowding Out of Public Services
Thursday, August 07, 2014
This is the second article of a two-part look at the impact of illegal immigration in RI. The first article focused on the immediate situation of the current border crisis. Here we implore the voting populace to consider the ramifications of trying to be all things to all people. Because we live in a world with limited resources, our government’s decisions (and spending) should reflect the people’s priorities. We ask you to examine what your priorities are before hitting the polls in November.
In our last article, “RI Has Lost Cabin Pressure,” we addressed the issue of accepting the illegal immigration of unaccompanied minor children into the State of RI. RI cannot afford the cost of permanently caring for these children (and the potential for additional family members that will join them), nor can it afford to ignore the potential for health risks given that no screening is taking place at the border. Apparently, these financial and health issues didn’t matter to the Governor. Without any debate or explanation, through July 7th, RI quietly accepted more than 100 unaccompanied illegal minors and not one elected official, so far, will say how many more are still to come.
The fact that there are already so many illegal immigrants in our state should not be lost on anyone. It has long been known that RI is on the short list of states to run to for its open acceptance of allowing them to work in the state, and for the benefits of receiving an education, housing, and medical care. These benefits are all paid by taxpayers in one form or another.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTBy now you have heard about the recent spate of violence on Federal Hill. Many claim it is because there are simply not enough police in the area. And this is the conundrum faced by elected officials - it’s called limited resources. When the decision is made to spend tax dollars supporting illegal immigrants, it crowds out the basic services that government is supposed to provide, like public safety services. Of course it is not just illegal immigrants, but a whole host of services the state and municipalities have decided it should provide in addition to basic public services. But, the issue of illegal immigration is important because the estimates of how much we spend have not been calculated by the state. Even the ‘nonpartisan,’ Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) won’t go near that calculation. But how can you, as a taxpayer, make an informed decision when you have no idea what the cost is for illegal immigration?
What is the estimated cost of illegal immigration?
Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement (RIILE) is a local organization that has performed the financial analysis that the state won’t do. Through the use of the Freedom of Information Act, RIILE has accumulated estimates and has projected that the state distributes upwards of $300 million a year for the benefits of illegal aliens. Two national organizations - the Center for Immigration Studies and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), support this estimate.
To this, opponents will say that the law requires identification and documentation to receive welfare benefits. The reality is that RI turns a blind eye and by doing so encourages illegals to flock here. Anchor babies provide the source for funneling food stamps, housing and other welfare assistance. Medical care is provided to everyone who walks into a hospital, whether they can afford it or not, otherwise referred to as uncompensated care. The law requires that all minor children receive a public education. So there you have it– regardless of what position anyone takes on the issue, the bottom line is that we have created an environment that costs taxpayers a lot of money to support and care for those who are here illegally.
Many of RI’s elected officials will tell you that illegal immigration is a federal problem.
While they are right- that the federal government must address the issue- that doesn’t mean that RI shouldn’t enforce the immigration laws that currently exist. At a minimum, it should at least keep the illegal immigration population to the average of the country, rather than being the sanctuary state we have become.
If the economy is Job 1, the General Assembly must commit to stemming the tide of illegal immigration, similar to the way they are trying to hold back the actual tides through climate mitigation. Businesses need a level playing field when competing in this environment. For instance, if “Joe” wants to follow the law and hire only folks who are legally authorized to work in our country, then it is impossible for him to compete with “Pete’s” business down the street which feels no compulsion to obey the law and hires illegal immigrants at a reduced cost. This is not conducive to creating a business friendly environment. Additionally, with the highest unemployment in the country (recently tied with Mississippi), illegal aliens take jobs from legal citizens looking for work. That keeps more Rhode Islanders collecting unemployment.
Intuitively, we know that much in the way of resources is needed to educate children who don’t speak the English language or to provide free medical care to entire families or to provide housing for these families as well as food assistance. RI has been doing this for years and it has taxed our education system, our welfare system, our Medicaid and healthcare systems, our social service systems, our correctional systems and our private, nonprofit organizations.
Crowding out public services.
It is logical to conclude that when resources are spent on those who are here illegally, they aren’t spent somewhere else. What is the cost of cutting DCYF and the mentally disabled to the bone? What is the cost of removing education resources from legal RI children and sending them into the work world with an undervalued diploma or with fewer job opportunities? What is the cost to the economy of adding more and more taxes to fund uncompensated healthcare? What is the cost to the already expanded Medicaid system?
If you own a vehicle, you already know what the cost is of not maintaining our roads and bridges - crumbling infrastructure and economy-killing ideas to find alternative sources of funding.
What does the average Rhode Islander think?
It is time to look at illegal immigration in RI again. It is a very real issue with real consequences for the state and its taxpayers.
A 2011 Brown University survey reported that over half of Rhode Islanders would actually support a tax increase to pay for additional police to enforce immigration law. In an already over-taxed state like RI, with its attendant high unemployment issues, that is a very telling statistic.
E-Verify is a very simple, very easy tool for governments and businesses to use to verify the legal status of an individual. Improvements over the last few years have made it virtually error free. Based on numerous surveys, people across the country overwhelming believe in the use of E-Verify. More importantly, RI polls, taken by RI College’s Bureau of Government Research and Services have conclusively shown that RI residents overwhelmingly support the use of E-Verify. One of those polls found that 63% of Rhode Islanders supported cutting illegal immigrants and their children from state programs such as welfare and RIteCare (a Medicaid program).
Who thinks enforcing immigration law is a good idea?
The federal government does. It uses E-Verify.
Arizona Governor, turned Homeland Security Secretary, (now President of the University of California system) does. “E-Verify is a smart, simple and effective tool that reflects our continued commitment to working with employers to maintain a legal workforce.” This was Janet Napolitano’s statement regarding the federal contractor rule.
Both Senator Jack Reed and then-Senator Lincoln Chafee voted in favor of federal E-Verify legislation (S AMDT 4177) that would have required all companies in the US to use the E-Verify system.
Your current Speaker of the House, Nicholas Mattiello, also thought so in 2008. The House in RI’s General Assembly thought it was such a good idea, it passed then-Representative Jon Brien’s bill H 7107, on a 52 to 17 vote. The bill simply requires that all private companies use E-Verify to determine legal status of candidates for employment. Representative Mattiello cosponsored the bill.
So where do you stand?
RI, through executive order for a time, required state agencies and companies that do business with the state to verify the legal status of employees. Governor Chafee’s first order of business was to reverse that. The State of RI does not require verification of legal status for new employees or subcontractors. It continues to turn a blind eye.
The doorbells will be ringing between now and November. If you believe that providing a sanctuary state has crowed out basic public services, ask your elected representatives and candidates where they stand on the issue. Remember, legislation for illegal immigration may need to be handled at the federal level, but simple enforcement of the current laws can go a long way to change the economic outlook for Little Rhody.
Pam Gencarella is a member of OSTPA, a taxpayer advocacy organization in Rhode Island.
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- Pam Gencarella: Will Spring Bring Renewed Hope to RI?
- Pam Gencarella: Another Bubble to Burst in RI?
- Pam Gencarella: Ethics is Good Business for Rhode Island
- Pam Gencarella: Something’s Rotten in the State of Denmark, er, RI
- Pam Gencarella: Introducing The People’s Resolution
- Pam Gencarella: A Race to the Top or Running in Circles?
- Pam Gencarella: A Civics Lesson From the East Bay
