[RP TownTalk] EXT : Proposed "Voter Expansion" legislation

[Dwight Holmes]

Actually, it's quite the opposite.  Benefits such as TANF, social security
disability, etc. are not available to non-citizens. And they do pay taxes.
The most recent estimate I could find for Maryland is that undocumented
residents of Maryland paid over $332 million per year in state and local
taxes in Maryland (https://itep.org/immigration/) They pay sales taxes,
gasoline and other excise taxes, property taxes (either directly as
property owners or indirectly as renters). And if they do work with a false
social security number then they pay payroll taxes (social security and
medicare) for benefits they can never receive, and may de facto pay income
taxes through payroll withholding.

Every study I've seen has found that immigrants commit fewer crimes and are
as likely (if not more likely) to be employed than those of us who were
born here.  A quick Google search found this news release from Bureau of
Labor Statistics from about a year ago, reporting that the unemployment
rate among foreign-born residents was 4.3% while at the time the rate for
native-born residents was 5.0%.

I have not weighed in on the issue of whether or not to extend the right to
vote in local elections to our noncitizen residents, but I found myself
unable to let such false assertions as these go without a response.

Dwight Holmes


_____________________________________
"A budget is a moral document." --Jim Wallis

On Fri, Mar 9, 2018 at 10:01 AM, McDougall, Sherene [US] (Law) <
Sherene.McDougall at ngc.com> wrote:

> Bruce,
>
>
>
> They don’t want to become citizens because that would mean getting a job
> and having to pay taxes.   Why go through all that hassle to become a
> citizen when they are receiving food, money, housing and education.  Things
> that we taxpayers are paying for.
>
>
>
> Sherene
>
> *From:* towntalk-bounces at riverdale-park.org [mailto:towntalk-bounces@
> riverdale-park.org] *On Behalf Of *Bruce Wernek
> *Sent:* Friday, March 09, 2018 9:41 AM
> *To:* towntalk at riverdale-park.org; townannounce at riverdale-park.org
> *Subject:* EXT :[RP TownTalk] Proposed "Voter Expansion" legislation
>
>
>
> The proposed "Voter Expansion" legislation appears to patently marginalize
> town residents and US citizens in general.  If I understand it correctly, a
> non citizen can break the law, illegally enter our country, and 6 weeks
> later be rewarded for doing so with the right vote our Town.  Essentially,
> there are no requirements for voting privileges other than being 18 years
> of age or older and being a "resident" of Riverdale Park for 30 days.  I
> don't think the bar could be much lower.  Given this proposed legislation,
> one has to wonder, what benefit is there in being a long time resident
> committed to the Town, a tax payer, and a US citizen?
>
>
>
> I find it hard to believe this legislation wasn't patently rejected by
> our Mayor and Council much less drawn up in the first place.  If non
> citizens want the right to vote, they have to demonstrate their commitment
> to our Town and country by becoming naturalized citizens.  My grandparents
> and father did.  Why don't these people have to?
>
>
>
> Bruce
>
>
>
> Bruce
>
>
>
>
>
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