SELECT COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED TO INVESTIGATE ‘STOLEN’ ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION VOTE

Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus, issued the following statement today regarding the select investigative committee that has been formed to address the unprecedented events surrounding and following an August 2^nd House vote on a Republican proposal that sought to ensure that taxpayer dollars could not be used to employ or provide housing for illegal immigrants:

“Never in the history of the Republic have the House of Representatives had a situation where the integrity of our voting process was compromised the way it was on August 2^nd.  Even more insidious is that you have members of Congress who support giving illegal immigrants access to benefits paid for by the American taxpayers.”

On the night of August 2^nd, the proposal to bar illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer-funded benefits passed by a 215-213 vote when the Democratic chair gaveled the vote to a close.  After reopening the vote and allowing several Democrats to change their vote, Democratic leaders ordered the vote closed for a second time, bringing the motion down and restoring taxpayer benefits under the bill for illegal immigrants.  The select committee – which will have subpoena power – is expected to report its preliminary findings on the matter to the House by September 30, 2007.

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