Dhimmicrats want taxpayers to pay for immigrant fees
Dems fight plan to raise immigrant fees
By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT
By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau March 7, 2007, 11:14PM
The chairwoman of the House immigration subcommittee and other congressional Democrats are questioning the Citizenship and Immigration Service's bid to raise application fees by an average 66 percent starting as early as June.
Also, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and his allies said Wednesday that the federal government should fund the delivery of immigration services rather than make applicants pay the entire costs...
Unlike most federal agencies, Citizenship and Immigration Services is overwhelmingly funded by application fees. They account for 90 percent of its $2 billion budget this year.
Obama, a presidential contender, and other Democrats argued that Congress should provide the money for part of the agency's budget. Hiking fees could price citizenship out of the reach of immigrants obeying immigration laws, they said.
"We want to reward you for playing by the rules, not punish you with higher fees," Obama said at a Capitol news conference with leaders of several immigrant-rights groups.
Also, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and his allies said Wednesday that the federal government should fund the delivery of immigration services rather than make applicants pay the entire costs...
Unlike most federal agencies, Citizenship and Immigration Services is overwhelmingly funded by application fees. They account for 90 percent of its $2 billion budget this year.
Obama, a presidential contender, and other Democrats argued that Congress should provide the money for part of the agency's budget. Hiking fees could price citizenship out of the reach of immigrants obeying immigration laws, they said.
"We want to reward you for playing by the rules, not punish you with higher fees," Obama said at a Capitol news conference with leaders of several immigrant-rights groups.
But Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., questioned the concept:
"The proposed fee hikes are a glaring example of the government imposing higher prices on its customers (?!?!) while continuing to offer inadequate, inefficient and ineffective services," he said.
Obama and Gutierrez are offering a bill that would allow the agency to seek increased appropriations from Congress as well as funds for citizenship promotion and education programs.
Obama and Gutierrez are offering a bill that would allow the agency to seek increased appropriations from Congress as well as funds for citizenship promotion and education programs.
Sen. John Cornyn, the Texan who is the top Republican on the Senate immigration subcommittee, said the burden should not shift to the taxpayer.
"User fees are entirely appropriate,'' Cornyn said in an interview. "The idea that people who don't directly benefit — the taxpayers — would bear the expense that really benefits only the immigrant is to me not a desirable solution."
"User fees are entirely appropriate,'' Cornyn said in an interview. "The idea that people who don't directly benefit — the taxpayers — would bear the expense that really benefits only the immigrant is to me not a desirable solution."
posted by jillosophy at 3/08/2007 01:47:00 PM
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