(Dem) Governor sends (Gonzales) $50 m bill for jailing illegal immigrants

[truthpusher]

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/07/18//news/state/11_04_377_17_06.txt

Washington governor sends U.S. attorney general $50 million bill for jailing illegal immigrants

By: RACHEL LA CORTE - Associated Press

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Chris Gregoire sent an invoice of nearly $50 million to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Monday, saying the federal government needs to reimburse the state for the cost of housing criminal illegal immigrants in state prisons.

Gregoire said that it's the federal government's responsibility to incarcerate illegal immigrants who have committed crimes, but that the state has been doing it for years. From July 2004 to June 2005, Gregoire said the state paid more than $27 million to house 995 prisoners. The U.S. Department of Justice has only reimbursed the state $1.7 million, and still owes $25.3 million.

She's seeking an additional $24.4 million reimbursement for the months from July 2005 to this May.

Gregoire said that the states have been forced to pick up cuts in Medicaid and homeland security and shouldn't have to shoulder the incarceration costs.

"If we're going to continue to see nothing but cuts come our way, and accountability measures for us, then I think turnaround is fair play," Gregoire said. "They have to live up to their responsibility and we need to hold them accountable."


More at link: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/07/18//news/state/11_04_377_17_06.txt
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[Drum]

1. Kick-n-Rec

:kick:

Great point, Governor Gregoire! States have muscle too...that's elemental in the country's whole set-up...and these days I've just gotta say Thank Goodness!

[ThomCat]

2. That is Awesome!

I'd love to see this seriously discussed on the front page of the NY Times. The Bush administration seems to think it can mandate all kinds of crap and pass the bill, without anyone noticing or saying anything about it. It's time they got called on this.

And if this makes it less likely that people will be arbitrarily rounded up in the future, all the better.

[NV Whino]

3. Kick

[NV Whino]

4. Kick

[ribrepin]

5. Go Gregoire

I'm proud to say she's my governor.

[Robeson]

6. Excellent. Repugs always screamed about "states rights"....

...so now, I hope they get those rights, right between the eyes...:thumbsup:

[Vidar]

7. Good move. Great governor, Washingtonians.

[freeplessinseattle]

8. hot damn! she has really been impressing me n/t

[Pierogi_Pincher]

9. Learning something new every day.

Didn't know this was transpiring. Thanx for thee post! Good for her. Attaway Gov.!! :thumbsup:

P_P

:dem:

[Hekate]

10. So when's my governator going to send the bill for California's share?

Him being a Republican and all, I'd like to see this.

Hekate

[eridani]

11. Good thing that she's about 100 times better as a governor--

--than she was as a campaigner.

[superconnected]

12. I've never liked republican-democrats but she is knawing on me.

Good move.

[Toots]

13. Remember how indignant Republicans were about unpaid mandates

It was one off the main factors for the 94 revolution on top of the Contract on America. In fact I believe they passed a bill requiring the Federal government to pay all cost when they mandate a program or law that a state must impose.