Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I would pay the same compliment to the gentleman from California [Mr. Becerra]. Again, I respect him a great deal, and he is certainly a strong spokesman for these issues of immigration. We simply have a disagreement here. Mr. Chairman, I might say, in quick comment to the administration's letter saying this would be in effect an unfunded mandate, I would disagree with that position. Again, keep in mind what we are talking about here are public hospitals operated by the State who are seeking Federal reimbursement. They are seeking taxpayers' money, including their State and from the other 49 States, to help offset their costs. If they do not want to get into this business of trying to help us catch illegals in this country, then they simply do not have to seek that reimbursement. It is strictly voluntary. Mr. Chairman, second, the hospitals would complain, and I would expect that, I guess, but they are already accumulating this information. They already have it. In fact, they must submit this information in order to claim reimbursement. We are just asking them to also send it over to the INS. I would like to think, again, that there is some degree of civic duty left in this country. If we saw a crime committed, we certainly would report that. We do not even get any money for it.…”