Thread: Illegals granted Social Security

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20...4132-2456r.htm

The Senate voted yesterday to allow illegal aliens to collect Social Security benefits based on past illegal employment -- even if the job was obtained through forged or stolen documents.
"There was a felony they were committing, and now they can't be prosecuted. That sounds like amnesty to me," said Sen. John Ensign, the Nevada Republican who offered the amendment yesterday to strip out those provisions of the immigration reform bill. "It just boggles the mind how people could be against this amendment."
The Ensign amendment was defeated on a 50-49 vote.
"We all know that millions of undocumented immigrants pay Social Security and Medicare taxes for years and sometimes decades while they work to contribute to our economy," said Sen. John McCain, Arizona Republican.
"The Ensign amendment would undermine the work of these people by preventing lawfully present immigrant workers from claiming Social Security benefits that they earned before they were authorized to work in our community," he said. "If this amendment were enacted, the nest egg that these immigrants have worked hard for would be taken from them and their families."
Mr. Ensign was among 44 Republicans and five Democrats who voted to block such payouts.
"It makes no sense to reward millions of illegal immigrants for criminal behavior while our Social Security system is already in crisis," said Sen. Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican. "Why in the world would we endorse this criminal activity with federal benefits? The Senate missed a big opportunity to improve this bill, and I doubt American seniors will be pleased with the result."
Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat, said it would be unfair to deny illegals the benefits.
"We should not steal their funds or empty their Social Security accounts," he said. "That is not fair. It does not reward their hard work or their financial contributions. It violates the trust that underlies the Social Security Trust Fund."
Within hours, the vote had become an issue in this fall's elections, raised by a Republican challenger to Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat.
"Instead of protecting the retirement security of Americans who are earning an honest living and abiding by the laws of our country, Debbie Stabenow sided with people who are here illegally and abuse our Social Security system," Oakland County, Mich., Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in a press release. "Allowing illegal immigrants to use their illegal work history as credit towards receiving Social Security benefits shows that Debbie Stabenow has forgotten who she is supposed to be working for in the U.S. Senate."



not only is the government failing to enforce immigration and employment laws, but they're also condoning identity theft and fraud

I agree with you 100%!

Where is Inky? Can't defend this one?

I thought I posted that elsewhere... ~Inky

Well that is something at least. You defend Iran enough. I just assumed you defended everyone who hurts this country.

I defend those we offend for illgotten agendas...tell me war-monger, why haven't we attacked North Korea? ~Inky

I think that going into North Korea might not be a bad idea. At they haven't proclaimed that they want to wipe another nation off the map. You dfend our enemies and attack those who are trying to protect you. That is what will lose this war.

You dfend our enemies and attack those who are trying to protect you. That is what will lose this war

This isn't a war. A moral war is about defending one's country. Last I noticed, we kicked Bin Laden to the side and attacked a country of NO threat to us nor any affiliation to Osama. And why Iran all of a sudden? North Korea has been doing the same thing for a long time. But North Korea out numbers us in troops and would probably kick our asses in the long run. This so-called "war" in Iraq will never be won, such as Vietnam (who kicked our asses). ~Inky

I love the Vietnam argument. I love it so much. Actually Operation Lineback and Operation Menu drove the North Vietnamese the bargaining table. The Paris Peace Accords gave the US victory with honor. Then....

In December 1974, Congress completed passage of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1974, which cut off all military funding to the Saigon government and made unenforceable the peace terms negotiated by Nixon. Many in the US congress seemed to want the government of South Vietnam to fall and encouraged its collapse by cutting off aid.

See...we lost because Congress wanted Nixon not to be remembered as the man who got us out of Vietnam. Over one million people died when the north invaded the shouth. All because Democrats in Congress wanted revenge on Nixon. They got. They also lost Vietnam to the Communists.

Try getting back to the topic. Ain't it great to be rewarded for breaking the law in this wonderful land?
Sure, blame it all on the Democrats. I don't see a Democrat in the White House here, do you?
Pookie