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ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

This will go to the following congressional recipients:
Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin

On April 15, the House of Representatives debated a motion to recommit H.R. 5719 (Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act) to committee with instructions to add language that would deny tax subsidies to states and localities that declare themselves sanctuary cities for illegal aliens. The motion failed due to a tie vote.

Had the motion passed, states and cities that practice "sanctuary" policies to protect illegal aliens would have faced pressure to start enforcing the law.

Your representative was the deciding vote. By voting "Nay," he/she doomed the motion to failure.

Click here to learn more about sanctuary policies.

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More Background:

Wally Herger (R-Calif.) issued the Motion to Recommit (to committee) with instructions to prohibit tax subsidies to states and localities that declare themselves sanctuary cities for illegal aliens. Here is his floor speech:

Madam Speaker, Federal law requires local governments to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Local law enforcement authorities may turn over individuals who have been apprehended if the police believe they are not legally present in the United States.

Unfortunately, many local governments flaunt this requirement and openly boast that they refuse to cooperate with the Federal Government in helping to enforce our immigration laws establishing an irresponsible precedent and frustrating our shared goal of having safe and secure borders.

As you know, taxpayers all across the country subsidize local governments through a provision of Federal law that permits States and localities to issue debt that is exempt from Federal taxes. The motion presents the Members of Congress with a simple question: Is it reasonable to put some strings on this subsidy?

If adopted, the motion would clarify that the Federal tax subsidy does not apply to new debt issued by States or localities that declare themselves by statute or other manner to be a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants. In other words, having self-helped themselves out of helping the Federal Government address the growing burden of illegal immigrants, then they should not expect American taxpayers to subsidize their debt.

Madam Speaker, on April 15, we are reminded again about the many Americans who are playing by the rules, yet still feel the squeeze on their family budgets, particularly at tax time. Isn't it only fair that we ask our city mayors and county boards to do the same?

....Madam Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for this motion to recommit. While I am greatly concerned about the message sent by the underlying bill that somehow we are going to take away an effective tool to ensure we all pay our fair share of taxes, this motion helps correct that wrong-headed tilt by trying to prevent tax benefits from going to illegal aliens and cities and States who shelter them from our immigration laws.

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