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

[Dwight Holmes]

I see I neglected to include the link to the unemployment rate news release
I mentioned. It is here: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/forbrn.pdf

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

On Fri, Mar 9, 2018 at 10:14 AM, Dwight Holmes <dwightrholmes at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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 at 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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>>
>>
>
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