Just two days after announcing he was joining Democrat California Senator Darrel Steinberg in an agreement to put $500 into a savings account for each child born in California - regardless of immigration status - Republican State Senator Bob Dutton bowed out of sponsoring the bill.
Those opposing illegal immigration were furious at the bill and attacked Senator Dutton for co-sponsoring it. The bill would have cost taxpayers $285 million starting January 1, 2008.
Senator Dutton stated the cost of the program as the reason for withdrawal of his sponsorship of the bill, but the reality is that there was a nationwide and statewide outrage through talk shows, emails, faxes and phone calls not only from constituents, but from other lawmakers.
Doing his part, Democrat Senator Darrel Steinberg, said those opposed to the bill due to the illegal immigration aspect were simply xenophobic and hate filled.
Ventura County Star
Among the critics was state Sen. Tom McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, who sent an e-mail to his supporters saying the bill would create “a new wave of illegal immigration.”
Steinberg, of Sacramento, said hysteria over immigration had pressured his colleague to withdraw his support.
“Let’s get one thing straight: 90 percent of the calls and the talk radio and all the hysteria is about one issue and one issue only — immigration,” Steinberg said. “It is all about xenophobia and there is a lot of hatred out there and we need to stand up against it. A kid is a kid is a kid.”
Senator Tom McClintock hit the nail on the head, there would be a massive influx of illegal aliens having anchor babies in California, not only to claim citizenship and social services, but to get this additional $500 handout.
As for Senator Darrel Steinberg, it's nice of him to call nearly 80% of American Citizens xenophobic and hate filled since that is the percentage of Americans who are opposed to aiding illegal aliens in this country. A kid is a kid, and the money you're willing to give away is the taxpayers. Calling them hate filled because they want their own money spent on things for them and their fellow citizens is not hate filled in any way, it is called fair.
On the face of it this program doesn't sound all bad, if it left out the illegal alien portion. The reality though is that all it will do is increase inflation as those who are born approach 18 and start cashing out the money since everyone would have the same amount. The cost of living would be driven up further in California.
The same thought that some people believe that giving everyone one million dollars would make everyone rich.
Wrong! All it would do is make it cost more to actually get anyone to do work to produce the goods, thus increasing their price, thus making everyone pay more and eventually offsetting the one million with the cost of living increase and inflation.
