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| | Huckabee defends societal cost of illegal aliens
Wednesday, Jul 7, 2004 By David Robinson Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Gov. Mike Huckabee on Tuesday defended illegal immigrants against a radio caller's criticism and sympathized with former convicts' inability to vote in Arkansas. Huckabee, in his monthly radio call-in show on the Arkansas Radio Network, also repeated his reasons for supporting a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriages and for opposing an amendment that would allow lawmakers to stay in office longer. Chris from Cabot, who thanked Huckabee for speaking at his Fellowship Bible Church, asked the governor about the status of a proposed amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman. More than twice the number of voter petition signatures required were turned in to the secretary of state's office last week to get the proposed amendment on the ballot. Huckabee said he signed the petition because other states have allowed gay marriages, which he said threatens a 5,000-year-old tradition of heterosexual marriage. "For example, if it could be between two men or two women, could we move to the point where adults could marry children or where people could say I have a very intimate relationship - and I don't mean intimate sexually, but close relationship - with my pet, so I want to name my pet as my spouse," Huckabee said. "There are going to be people say, 'ah, there you go, that's ridiculous,'" he said. "Fifteen years ago, 10 years ago, it would have been equally ridiculous to suggest that we would be discussing whether we were going to redefine marriage as being between two men. So it's not ridiculous." A caller named Travis from Pine Bluff told Huckabee that illegal immigration will sap America's taxpayers because of the services they require. "That is ultimately going to be a tremendous problem," he said. "Most work, and work very hard, but still it floods our system." Huckabee responded that people wrongly assume that illegal immigrants are the beneficiaries of costly government services. "If they're illegal they're not about to show up at some public institution and say I'd like funds because when they do the I.D. check and find out they're illegal then they're in trouble," the governor said. "So these are not the people who are accessing welfare, food stamps because they're not eligible for them. They can't get them." In addition, Huckabee said a study has shown that illegal immigrants are putting more money into the economy than they're taking out. "They're purchasing things and paying sales tax," Huckabee said. "They're buying things. They're paying taxes but they're not getting the benefits of a taxpayer. Not Social Security, not food stamps, welfare, benefits from employers. "The truth is the illegal aliens are costing themselves more by being illegal when the real goal ought to be to give people the opportunity to become legal, naturalized citizens of the United States." Huckabee emphasized that he was not justifying illegal immigration. Paul from Bryant asked the governor why convicted felons who have served their prison time can't vote in Arkansas. Huckabee said such ex-convicts would require a pardon to be able to vote, but he said he doesn't agree with the law. "Frankly, I think that once a person has paid their debt to society and restitution has been made and all things have been cleared up, I personally think that their voting rights should be restored," the governor said. He added that the purpose of the criminal justice system is not to permanently punish people but to protect the public, then rehabilitate people so that they can return to society. The governor told another caller that he may be one of the few elected officials who oppose a proposed constitutional change to term limits for Arkansas lawmakers. "My friend, you can become a neurosurgeon in eight years. If you can't learn state government in that length of time, maybe it's time to move on and let somebody else come in who can figure it out a little sooner than that," Huckabee said. Members of the House of Representatives are limited to three two-year terms, while the Senate members are limited to two four-year terms. The Nov. 2 election will include a proposal by the Legislature that would increase the House's six-year limit to 12 years. Arkansas Senate members would be able to serve three four-year terms. Huckabee said that, while there may be an argument for such an increase, it should come from citizens, not the Legislature. He also said he disagrees with those who say the existing law empowers lobbyists and bureaucrats. "If anything, lobbyists are incredibly frustrated that they don't have the kind of influence over them," Huckabee said. "It's much more difficult for the lobbyists now than it was in the days when they could develop a few good relationships with a few powerful people, keep them for 20-30 years and things were pretty predictable." |
