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Michael Bond for Senate

Small differences on illegal immigration

By Russell Lissau
Daily Herald Staff Writer
Posted Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Offering government-subsidized health care and other services to illegal immigrants "insults" people who moved to the United States lawfully, a Republican state Senate candidate from Lake County, said.

"The state should not be rewarding lawbreakers by providing benefits like subsidized home loans, reduced tuition and subsidized medical care that may not even be available to citizens and legal immigrants," said GOP candidate Suzanne Simpson, who's seeking the 31st District seat.

Democratic hopeful Michael Bond said he generally agrees with Simpson's stance, but made an exception for the children of illegal immigrants, particularly when it comes to their education.

"We can either choose to bring them into a classroom and give them the skills to be successful adults, or we can choose not to," Bond said. "And if we choose not to, where are those children going to go?"

Simpson of the Grayslake area is Warren Township’s supervisor and a former state representative. Bond of Grayslake works at Allstate Insurance Co. and is a Woodland Elementary District 50 board member.

The candidates shared opinions about immigration and other issues in questionnaires for the Daily Herald and in follow-up interviews.

Simpson said she does not want Illinois to be a "magnet" for illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants shouldn’t receive state-funded services, she said.

"It’s putting a lot of strain on the state budget," Simpson said. "Medicaid is overworked and a lot of that is because of illegal immigrants."

Simpson said she’s glad Congress is looking into options, such as more aggressive enforcement efforts at the nation’s borders and enacting strict methods for existing illegal immigrants desiring to legalize their status.

Bond said the U.S. must tighten its borders to protect national security. The current immigration system is broken, he said, and needs to be reformed.

Like Simpson, Bond said he hopes Congress will approve stronger immigration rules, but he wants legislators to think carefully when deciding how to deal with children of illegal immigrants.

After all, he said, children born in the United States are citizens even if their parents aren’t.

Simpson said children of illegal immigrants born here should receive government benefits, but not children who illegally move to the United States with their families.

The 31st District includes nearly all of northern Lake County. The Senate seat carries a 4-year term.

Source:
Daily Herald 10/17/2006


	© 2006, Michael Bond for Illinois State Senate