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General discussion

Illegals granted Social Security

May 20, 2006 6:11AM PDT

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.


this is assinine they break the law and get rewarded.
no wonder were being invaded were foolsSad
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20060518-114132-2456r.htm

Discussion is locked

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Too bad I have no choice :-(
May 21, 2006 1:37AM PDT

The Republican party is floundering. And I was going to vote FOR Lieberman (gasp!) but will probably have to sit out this fall. Problem is, Lieberman is facing a radical leftist challenger in his Democrat primary. He'll likely survive and almost certainly will win in November with very low turnout. His advisors will attribute solely to the left in his party not turning out, so he won't even notice why those like me won't vote for him.

Evie Happy

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(NT) (NT) well the repubs here voted against it
May 21, 2006 1:57AM PDT
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OK, I'm stupid
May 21, 2006 2:47AM PDT

If I read this correctly a yea vote is to not grant SS.

Statement of Purpose: To reduce document fraud, prevent identity theft, and preserve the integrity of the Social Security system, by ensuring that persons who receive an adjustment of status under this bill are not able to receive Social Security benefits as a result of unlawful activity.

Tom

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(NT) (NT) then im with you
May 21, 2006 2:58AM PDT
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Yeah, the wording is very confusing ...
May 21, 2006 4:20AM PDT

... but the clip I saw of McCain defending paying SS to illegal immigrants after they've gained citizenship was very clear where they stood Sad

How do they plan to work this? They aren't going to be issued a 100% brand spanking new SS card when they "earn" their citizenship?

Whatever tax they paid in that they don't benefit from I consider an insufficient fine for the fraud they perpetrated.

Evie Happy

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Unconfused
May 21, 2006 8:33AM PDT

Got to start reading the WHOLE thing. The vote was to table the amendemnt, or kill it, so a yea vote is a sneaky way of giving SS benefits without actually coming out and saying it.

Tom

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BTW
May 28, 2006 3:59AM PDT

I see that Clinton voted to table this limitation, i.e. to allow immigrants to draw benefits from their illegal days here. This is an example of the person that wants to be President....

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McCain too :-(
May 28, 2006 4:01AM PDT

George Allen voted against the Senate Immigration Bill. At this point, he's my guy for '08.

Evie Happy

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I have a question.
May 28, 2006 4:20AM PDT

I have a question. If someone is classified as disabled, their kids get a SS check until they turn 18. The question is: If an illegal in the U.S. is granted Social Security and is then classified as disabled, would any kids that they had in Mexico (or wherever) get a monthly SS check? The same goes in a case where the illegal later died.