LET 'EM VOTE!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

VETTING ILLEGALS

by Steve Fair

 On Friday May 8th, the Oklahoma State Senate took the day off.  Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, (R-Tuttle) said the Senate had gotten their work done early and had outpaced the State House in hearing bills.  Paxton said the Senate is largely done with the 2026 session.  The Oklahoma legislature, according to the state constitution, must complete their work by May 29th.  Not all GOP Senators believe their work was done. 

Ten GOP state senators posted a photo on social media showing them sitting at their desks in the Senate chamber. 

Rep. Josh West, (R-Grove) said House leadership met with Paxton and Sen. Julie Daniels (R-Bartlesville), the Senate Floor Leader, and thought they had agreed to run bills every day last week.  "We stuck to our commitment," West said.

Two of the bills the Senate refuses to hear is HB# 4422 and HB# 4423, the so-called SECURE acts.  These bills have been advocated by the Trump administration to deal with illegal immigrants receiving taxpayer funded benefits.  The two bills would require state agencies such as the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to use the federal SAVE system to ensure only eligible individuals receive benefits like SNAP and Medicaid. 

The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program is a secure, online service operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that allows federal, state, and local agencies to verify an applicant's immigration status or U.S. citizenship. It is used to determine eligibility for benefits, licenses, and services.  Three observations:

First, like a pancake, every story has two sides.  Paxton has expressed concern the verification rules in the two bills would create a "chilling effect" among undocumented parents. He fears illegals would stop applying for essential benefits like SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF, leaving their citizen children without vital healthcare and nutrition assistance.

Paxton argues the SAVE system mandate could deter pregnant, illegals from seeking prenatal healthcare services. He says a baby in the womb deserves protection regardless of the mother's legal status.  "We shouldn't have kids starving to death because of what the parents said or what the parents did or didn't do," Paxton said. 

Those are valid arguments and every state Senator should seriously consider them before they vote.  But Paxton should allow the bills to the floor.  Let the merits of both sides be debated and a vote taken.  Too often legislation is not allowed to the floor because the leadership are afraid of the outcome.  If the majority of the majority Party members want to vote on these two bills, let 'em vote.

Second, taxpayers are tapped out.  With rising consumer costs, inflation, and increased tax burden, the working folk paying the bills don't need to be footing the bill for benefits for non-citizens.  But that doesn't mean there are not people who need help.

The sad fact is that many individuals eligible for government benefits don't apply.    Whether it's because of stigma/shame, or pride and independence, those who really need the help will not ask.  Many of those are taxpayers whose paycheck is gone before the week is over.  They shouldn't be expected to pay the bill for those who entered the U.S. illegally when they are struggling. 

Third, the current economic climate presents an excellent opportunity for Christians to really practice 'love their neighbor' and walk the walk. Instead of looking to government to solve a problem, maybe believers should be looking in the ditch like the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.

It's a reality they will be scammed, conned, duped, and fleeced by those seeking help.  But no more than they are being bamboozled by an incompetent government claiming expertise vetting illegals. 

On Wednesday, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued an executive order (EO) mirroring exactly what HB# 4422 and HB# 4423 would do if passed and signed into law.  The EO will likely face a lawsuit.