Please, Ned, don’t go Golden State crazy

Democratic leaders are way out of line in requesting taxpayer monies to enable individuals who have broken immigration laws.

W hat is it with California? People used to go there to surf or become film stars or live in Jerry Garcia’s backyard pot farm. At some point, though, it became the yellow brick road traveled by the homeless and/or immigrants — and California said, “Sure! Why stop in Chicago or Cleveland? C’mon! It almost never snows and we’re glad to have you!”

In that spirit of lunacy, on April 8, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his state would make cash payouts of $500 each to undocumented immigrants impacted by the coronavirus. The total amount set aside for this act of righteous humanity is $125 million.

California has been the most aggressive state in the nation when it comes to giving benefits to immigrants living in the country illegally. They have routinely ignored federal mandates regarding illegal immigration, providing people who are in the nation illegally freedoms without any expectations or requirements to divulge personal information to receive financial support.

It’s still unclear who gets what, but Californians impacted by COVID-19, who are ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits and disaster relief including the CARES Act due to their immigration status, will be able to apply. In layman’s terms: Whoop-di-do if you’re someone who ignored federal laws to come here!

Keeping true to themes that the common hard-working Californian is only marginally important in relation to the legions of undocumented and homeless, rampant small-time crime has become a raging disaster. Proposition 47 gives criminals the upper hand as anything they steal below $950 keeps the crime a misdemeanor — and likely means the thieves face no pursuit and no punishment. California is the liberal paradise where videos surface routinely showing the recalcitrant homeless population defecating in broad daylight in the middle of the sidewalk. Cities are being overrun by lawbreakers. Instead of allowing law enforcement to do its job, California has gone in the opposite direction — pilfering the state taxpayers and distributing their hard-earned dollars to lawbreakers. Average everyday citizens are ignored while the basic hoodlums thrive. The wheels are coming off that bus.

I’m not sure it’s possible California’s generosity is another contagion, but it seems their “we’ll foot the bill” spirit may be making its way across the country to Connecticut. On April 20, Senate Democrats penned a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont requesting our state follow California’s lead. The letter stipulates, “Undocumented workers need humanitarian relief, and Connecticut’s cities need them to have it, for their own economic and public health reasons. We now have a public/private partnership model to emulate in California. We believe that Connecticut should start by appropriating $20 million in state funds and coordinate outreach to raise an additional $10 million in private towards this economic relief.”

The letter is signed by Senate President Martin Looney and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, along with senators John Fonfara, Saud Anwar, Alex Kasser, Will Haskell, Matthew Lesser, and Christine Cohen.

The economic Armageddon and overextended shutdown resulting from COVID-19 have caused many hardworking Connecticut middle-class families to drain their savings and liquidate all their assets to keep the lights on. These same families are standing in embarrassment for hours in bread lines to put food on the table for their children. This “give it away” delegation seemingly has no issue burdening the unemployed and insulting what is left of Connecticut’s taxpaying residents with $20 million more debt. Democratic leadership, as well as leaders in state-run sanctuary cities, are way out of line in requesting taxpayer monies to enable individuals who have broken immigration laws.

While private humanitarian efforts to help the needy are to be looked upon with appreciation, the responsibility of such aid should fall on the shoulders of religious and charitable organizations — those whose missions include raising funds to help out the children of folks who are here illegally.

I predicted this abomination of benevolence (call me Nostradamus) back in April. I had no doubt the progressives in this state would want to mirror the actions of California.

Most of us work very hard for every dollar, and right now all of us should be ultra-conservative with every nickel we spend. I’m drawing a line in the sand and hope you’ll join me. If Gov. Lamont agrees with the Democratic hierarchy and diverts my tax dollars to support undocumented, illegal aliens, I will stop paying Connecticut income taxes. A tax revolt! How about you?

Lee Elci is the morning host for 94.9 News Now radio, a station that provides “Stimulating Talk” with a conservative bent.