🚀 go-pugleaf

CAIR ACTION ALERT - HB176

Governor Owens is planning to sign a bill (HB1076) giving 
free prenatal benefits to women who are in Colorado illegally.  
This program is estimated to cost the taxpayers more than 
a million dollars per year to people breaking Federal law.  
Please call the Governor's Advocate's office expressing 
your strong opposition to this bill, and fax the Governor's 
office expressing the same.

The Governor has until June 3 to sign this bill.  It is 
important to let the Governor know that Colorado residents 
do not take lightly to this action.  

PLEASE CALL 303-866-2885 and express your strong 
opposition to this bill.

Thank you,

   Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform
   http://www.ecofuture.org/ecofuture/cair/


======================================

Contact Info:
 
Advocate's Office:  303-866-2885  comments for the governor
Governor's Fax:  303-866-2003  fax your comments
Bill Room: 303-866-3055  find out the status of the bill
General phone:  303-866-2471

Governor Bill Owens
136 State Capital
Denver, CO 80203
 

=====================================

CAIR News release

Population Groups Outraged by Bill Benefiting 
Illegal Aliens Urge Gov. Owens Not to Sign                     

(Denver May 22)  Two Colorado groups concerned with 
immigration-driven population growth are urging Gov. 
Owens not to sign a bill, HB-1076, which passed the 
state senate and would provide prenatal care to illegal 
aliens. The three-year pilot program is expected to cost 
one million dollars. 

Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform (CAIR) 
spokesperson, Marlene Guerrero, and the director of 
the Aspen-based Valley Alliance for Social and 
Environmental Responsibility, Mike McGarry, issued a 
joint statement saying, "the federal government and the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service have abdicated 
their responsibilities by not enforcing the laws against 
illegal immigration. Every respectable poll shows 
Americans want a halt to illegal immigration.  Now the 
state wants the taxpayers of Colorado to foot the bill. 
Instead, the governor should be demanding the Federal 
Government do the job it is paid to do. We should be 
doing everything we can to stabilize Colorado�s 
population. Is it really Smart Growth to be a magnet 
for lawbreakers?"

The groups site a March 31 story in the Denver Post by 
Carol Kreck reporting Colorado�s teen births rising and 
expected to continue, while the national rate is dropping. 
Kreck quotes a demographer with the Colorado 
Department of Public Health and the Environment, Su
 Ricketts, who puts the cause of problem on the huge 
influx of Hispanic migrants, saying it is a demographic 
rule that "migrant fertility is like the country of origin."

The bill is awaiting Gov. Owen�s signature.  "We hope 
the governor has the good sense not to sign this 
travesty into law. Third world countries that take no 
responsibility for their exploding populations are using 
America to dump their excesses, and the federal and 
the now state government are doing their bidding", the 
pair added. 

The groups are combining efforts to bring public 
awareness to the negative influence unprecedented 
immigration numbers are having on America�s and 
Colorado�s rapid population growth rates.  They have 
also launched a billboard campaign in the Denver area 
with a billboard message reading,  "Mass immigration 
is Not Smart Growth" accompanied with an outline of 
the U.S. marked "Full."     

        
- 30 - 



=======================================

CAIR letter to the Governor:

May 24, 2000
The Honorable Governor Bill Owens:

This letter is a request NOT to sign HB1076, the bill 
which gives free prenatal care benefits, to women who 
are in Colorado illegally, benefits paid for by legal 
taxpayers.  We think this is wrong, and here's why:


*  While the INS is struggling to control our borders 
from people who can't resist the temptation of entering 
illegally,  HB1076 increases that temptation by offering 
free prenatal care. 

*  To illegal aliens, HB1076 says: "You must respect our 
border laws, but if you don't, we'll give you free prenatal care."

*  To Americans, HB1076 says:  "We take your taxes 
to defend border laws; now we want more taxes to help 
the people who break those laws".

*  HB1076 encourages having a family size larger than 
you can afford.

*  Many women enter this country illegally to have their 
children born here, and thus acquire easy citizenship 
through the "Family Reunification Act".  HB1076 now 
adds another benefit for abusing American generosity.

*  HB1076 will attract less affluent people who can't 
fford to pay for prenatal care.  Less affluent people 
are usually less educated and less skilled.  While most 
countries are creating laws to attract people of higher 
education and skills, how are we to remain competitive 
by encouraging an influx of the worlds lower educated 
and lower skilled people?


Supporters of this bill suggest that HB1076 is caring 
for future citizens.  

Our response:  Future citizens only if we fail to send them
back home, and future citizens who are likely to be 
future welfare recipients. 

While this bill provides some short term gratification of 
helping people in need, the long term consequences are 
rewards for breaking the law, having children you can't 
afford, and ignoring over population problems. Illegal aliens 
should be given a ticket home, not free benefits.


We urge you NOT to sign HB1076.


Respectfully,
CAIR


=======================================