It may be true that Proposition 187 is un-American, or that, if enacted, the practical effect would be catastrophic. It may be that it is unconstitutional. It may be hypocritical or xenophobic. Or it may be true that denying an education to innocent children is just plain wrong. But, putting all of that aside, the most galling fact in the 187 debate is that its entire premise - that illegals have caused a "crisis" by overusing state social services - is sadly mistaken.
Please consider: According to a study commissioned by the White House Office of Management and Budget, illegals in California cost less than $500 million in health and welfare services - much less than 1 percent of the roughly $80 billion spent by California this year. In fact, illegals are prohibited from receiving food stamps and AFDC, the programs most often associated with welfare. The bottom line is: Illegals are far less likely to be on welfare (other than public education) than are native Californians in the equivalent wage level.In addition - and this may surprise you - illegals pay about $730 million a year in California state taxes. In fact, although illegals pay Social Security taxes, they are barred from receiving Social Security benefits. Furthermore, illegal aliens comprise about 50 percent of the workers in one of the state's largest taxpaying industries - agriculture.
Pete Wilson was blowing smoke and it worked. He got re-elected. But any objective analysis will find that, even if illegal aliens can be said to be a net drain on the state budget (which is far from conclusive), the supposed drain is so small as to be virtually insignificant.
Larry Burton
American Fork