New Democrat Update - January 2008
TACKLING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Voters are deeply concerned about uncontrolled illegal immigration and they sense that too many people are getting rewarded for breaking the law. Democrats would be foolish to hide their heads in the sand and hope the problem will just go away. Washington Democrats would be smart to take a cue from their Colorado counterparts.
A recent analysis from Democracy Corps, a Washington-based Democratic pollster, concludes, “Americans across the political spectrum, from liberal Democrats to conservative Republicans, consider illegal immigration to be a serious problem and are looking for political leaders to solve it.” The memo goes on to say “voters want to know first, that leaders ‘get it’ – that they share their common-sense frustration with the problem and second, that they will act against employers, on the borders and on government programs to get things under control.” Almost 40 percent of voters say “immigration is among the country’s biggest problems.”
Understandably, many Democrats have a difficult time saying "no" to illegal immigrants most of whom are decent, hard-working people. But saying or doing nothing about it, as some party strategists advocate, would be politically disastrous. That would allow Republicans to define Democrats as unresponsive to the public’s concerns, while reinforcing the stereotype of our party as one overly tolerant of lawbreakers. Generally compassionate themselves, Americans still want their elected officials to draw appropriate lines that they'll defend.
Facing down some of their friends on the left, state Democrats took some major, aggressive steps to curb illegal immigration in 2006. The legislature cracked down on sneaking illegal immigrants into the country and forcing adults into indentured servitude or prostitution. A state trooper unit was created to work on such cases with the federal government.
Law enforcement must now report suspected illegal immigrants when they are arrested. Local governments have been prohibited from enacting policies that impede cooperating with immigration officials. State contractors are required to check workers’ immigration status, and contracts with the state can be canceled if the employers knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Forgers who produce fake employment documents can get fined $50,000.
As House Speaker and Colorado DLC Co-Chair Andrew Romanoff said at the time, "This year, Colorado passed more bills to curb illegal immigration than any other non-border state in the nation. We did more to solve the problem of illegal immigration than Congress has done in a decade."
Even more was accomplished in a special legislative session later that year. Applicants for government benefits, licenses, contracts and loans must now show that they're in the country legally. The package also included forcing employers to verify the immigration status of workers, making it a felony to vote if a person is not a citizen, and prohibiting the issuance of state business and professional licenses to illegal immigrants.
The debate between those groups supporting and opposing immigration was hot and heavy but both sides did agree on one important point. Colorado became the toughest anti-illegal immigration state in the country.
Both sides also believe that these efforts may have already slowed illegal immigration into Colorado. According to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of immigrants in the state has been fairly steady - about 9 percent of Colorado residents are immigrants, compared with 10 percent in 2000 (An estimated 39 percent of all Colorado immigrants are here illegally). During the same time period, the national figure rose 24 percent.
Stronger enforcement and tough employer sanctions, when combined with earned legalization provided at the national level, is a formula sure to help solve the problem and strengthen a sustainable progressive majority.
SOLVING HEALTH CARE
For a national perspective on the state’s health care reform efforts, the following is an article, entitled “Health Care Coverage for All Debate Launched in Colorado” from the December 6th edition of the Progressive Policy Institute’s Health Policy Wire. The piece is by David B. Kendall, PPI's senior fellow for health policy. To get the Health Policy Wire twice a month, click here.
The state-led movement toward health care coverage for all has taken another step forward in Colorado. Following on the heels of Massachusetts' health care reform and big debates in California and Pennsylvania, the Colorado Blue Ribbon Commission for Health Care Reform has recommended a plan for shared responsibility by individuals, employers, and the government for health care coverage. The commission has opened the door for action in the state legislature this year.
The bipartisan commission, which was appointed by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (D) and Democratic and Republican legislative leaders, approved the recommendations by a vote of 20-2 according to The Denver Post. Here are the key ingredients for reform:
An individual mandate. All Coloradans will be required to have health insurance or face a tax penalty. The health insurance will have to include a minimum benefit with an average monthly premium of about $200.
Financial assistance. Low and middle-income workers will receive a subsidy based on a sliding scale. Individuals and families with incomes less than three times the poverty level will receive a full subsidy. The subsidy for those between three and four times the poverty level will decline but will ensure that their premium cost is no more than 9 percent of their income. In addition, employers would be required to offer employees the opportunity to pay for health care with pre-tax income, further reducing the employee's health care costs.
Choice and competition. Small businesses and individuals could choose their own coverage through a "connector" or purchasing pool that would operate much like the Federal Employee Health Benefits system (FEHB). These pools connect individuals and small businesses to the group insurance market, fostering choice and competition among plans to improve quality and keep costs down.
Gov. Bill Ritter has launched a series of 10 meetings statewide with civic, business, and health care leaders to complement the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission. These meetings will solicit ideas about practical problems like covering the uninsured and paying for it as well as broader questions about the role of government, employers, and individuals in health care. Gov. Ritter has also released a report to stimulate pubic debate about health care. The report, the "Governor's Dialogue on Health Care Vision and Values," does an excellent job of teeing up important questions. For example, it presents arguments for both personal responsibility and common good approaches to health care, and then asks: "What values underpin your vision for health care?"
For their part, Colorado GOP legislators have countered the Commission's call for comprehensive reform with a series of incremental measures that include allowing insurance companies licensed in other states to sell health insurance in Colorado. The chairman of the Commission, Bill Lindsay, a Republican said the GOP proposals "are very incremental and they are not going to move the ball very far," according to the Rocky Mountain News.
With thoughtful and careful leadership, Gov. Ritter is tilling the political ground for action on health care. It's time to add Colorado to the growing list of states where the nation can learn some valuable lessons about health care reform.