California’s Legislative Democrats Scoff at $92 Million Federal Rebate; Might Offend Alien Advocates

Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, whose effort to get the California Dream Act on the November ballot came up a few signatures short, has made another heroic effort to restore order to the state’s lawless pro-immigration state legislature.

Last month, Donnelly introduced Assembly Joint Resolution 38 that would require the federal government to reimburse bankrupt California, pursuant to the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP), for aliens’ incarceration costs.  According to the resolution (read it here), California has 16,250 self reported aliens in its prison system that cost taxpayers $56,000 each annually. During fiscal 2010-11, the aggregate expense for housing aliens exceeded $910 million.

Despite the obvious need that California has for a $910 million refund, the Public Safety Committee Democrats refused to vote on Donnelly’s proposal, thus killing it.

Said Donnelly in his press release:

"Assembly Democrats have consistently pushed for higher taxes and new fees on California citizens to fill the gap created by their irresponsible spending habits. When it comes time to call out the Federal Government for reneging on its obligation to fund the SCAAP; however, they are silent. It seems they are perfectly happy to take money from any source, until that money interrupts their pandering to illegal aliens.”

Donnelly added:

"As it stands, the Federal Government, which is responsible for illegal alien criminals, only reimburses the state pennies on the dollar. This is a slap in the face to California taxpayers. It is time for Congress to pay for the problem it created by leaving our borders wide-open."

On the broader problem of nationwide alien crime, the Government Accounting Office estimates that 25 percent of the 2010 federal prison population was comprised of foreign nationals.  Read its report here.

According to the GAO, the average incarcerated alien had seven arrests and committed an average of 12 offenses; twenty-five percent of the aliens had 16 or more offenses. Not surprisingly, Los Angeles County spends more to jail aliens than any other U.S. location, $139 million annually.