Senator Flanagan Voices His Opposition To Illegal Immigrant Rights Legislation

Measure Pushed by Senate Democrats Would Become Law if Conference is Handed Keys to the Chamber

Senator John Flanagan (2nd Senate District) today voiced his strong opposition to a plan sponsored by the Senate Democrats that would provide illegal immigrants with the right to vote, to run for office and to obtain a driver’s license.  The plan, which is known as “New York Is Home”, would also provide them with access to college aid and make them immediately eligible for taxpayer-funded welfare benefits, driving up property and state taxes.

In its totality, the Senate Democrats plan would offer this wide array of rights to nearly three million noncitizens who live in New York State illegally.

Senator Flanagan, who has been fighting alongside  his Senate Republican colleagues to cut taxes and control spending, joined with his fellow Republican Senate members in saying they will not accept this plan because it would hurt the hardworking families who are already struggling to make it here legally.

“This is one more incredibly ill-timed and harmful attack on hardworking New Yorkers and one that the Senate Republican conference will join together to stop.  The rights and the benefits that are paid for by our taxpayers must be reserved for those who live here legally.  They should not be subsidizing the lives of those who disregard our laws by living here illegally.  Just like the MTA Payroll tax and the Gap Elimination Aid (GEA), this plan shows the Senate Democrats complete and utter failure to understand the realities facing New York families and it will never be enacted while the Republicans run the State Senate,” stated Senator Flanagan.

To help ensure the rights of all New York families, Senator Flanagan is inviting all New York taxpayers to join him in telling the Albany Democrats that the “New York Is Home” act is simply wrong.  Any resident who would like to add their name to the effort to stop this plan can click on the Senator Flanagan’s website homepage which can be accessed by clicking here.