|
 |
Friday, July 28, 2006 Istook's First Volley: Immigration Tulsa World (Excerpt)
OKLAHOMA CITY -- U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook criticized Gov. Brad Henry on Thursday for worsening the problem of illegal immigration.
Istook brought up the immigration issue during a Capitol news conference called to announce endorsements. He later would not answer additional questions from reporters, saying the subject of the news conference was Republican unity.
Asked to describe his game plan for the race, Istook initially took a pass and then launched into the immigration issue.
"For example, let's take illegal immigration," Istook said. "Brad Henry, you know, honored the request of President Bush for Oklahoma National Guard members to help at the border. But he hasn't done anything to help the larger problem with the huge number of illegal immigrants here in Oklahoma and elsewhere.
"In fact, Brad Henry has made our illegal immigration problem worse by sponsoring public benefits for illegal immigrants, such as in-state tuition for people who are here illegally."
Paul Sund, a spokesman for Henry, said the governor did not sponsor or propose the 2003 legislation. The measure was written by the late Sen. Keith Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City; former Sen. Mike Fair, R-Oklahoma City; Rep. Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City; Rep. Kevin Calvey, R-Del City; and Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City.
It passed with bipartisan support and was sent to the governor along with hundreds of other bills, Sund said.
The measure allows graduates of Oklahoma high schools to be eligible for in-state tuition if they were working toward legal status or preparing to begin the process, Sund said.
"Republican and Democratic supporters of the bill said they didn't want to punish kids for something their parents did," he said. "Had the measure not required the students to be working toward legalized status, Gov. Henry would have vetoed it."
When questioned about his use of the word "sponsor," Istook said Henry signed the bill.
"You don't sign something if you don't approve of it," Istook said. "It is not a matter of quibbling over words. He should have vetoed the bill regardless of who sponsored it."
Posted at 7/28/2006 04:30:00 PM  
|
|
|
 |
