The legislation, backed by the GOP and opposed by Gov. Rendell, requires proof of citizenship or legal residency from those getting public assistance.

On its face, the idea sounds like it might have some merit. After all, no one wants our money spent on providing services to people who are breaking the law. However, this legislation is unnecessary; it will create more problems than it solves.

First off, there has not been a single study or report from any state department or agency that indicates large numbers of illegal immigrants are using government programs. The legislation is also redundant. It is already against the law for illegal immigrants to receive the government benefits covered by the bill. Undocumented individuals already face deportation for simply being in our country. And federal, state, and local governments aren't able to enforce current immigration rules. Adding more laws to books will only further burden a stretched system.

One of the big problems with this legislation is enforcement. The state workers who are responsible for administering benefits will be required to check the residency status of people applying. Do we really want to turn social workers into immigration police? The laws that govern immigration literally change every week, forcing constant retraining of workers on rule changes. Scarnati's office says that the cost of enforcing the law will be less than $1 million per year. But Rendell's office estimates that the true cost of the bill would be closer to $19 million. Political leaders are free to squabble about the exact number, but taxpayers don't need to look hard for comparisons. For example, local governments in Colorado spent more than $2.8 million to verify the legal status just for people applying for Medicaid benefits. And that's just for a single program; our legislation covers many more. This legislation will impact everyone seeking public assistance; many low-income individuals do not have a driver's license, birth certificates, or documentation required to prove residency. Illegal immigration is a hot-button issue and legislators want to look as if they are doing something. However, the bill to require proof of residency for public assistance is not the answer. Lawmakers in Harrisburg ought to spend their time looking for solutions, instead of inventing problems. *