Rehberg (MT00) - Press Release - Congressional Representation for Illegal Aliens Must End, Rehberg Says

Congressman Denny Rehberg, 516 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

N E W S


	June 23, 2005

Congressional Representation for Illegal Aliens Must End, Rehberg Says

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, is sponsoring a Constitutional Amendment to stop the federal government from counting illegal aliens in U.S. census. States with large populations of illegal aliens have benefited in the Electoral College, in congressional representation, and in federal funds all at the expense of states like Montana, according to recent studies.

"Most Montanans know that Census takers, every ten years, do their best to count each person residing in each state. What most Montanans don't know is that all this time they've been counting illegal aliens and other non-citizens, giving states like California greater representation in the electoral college and in Congress," Rehberg explained. "Our amendment would end that practice, restoring fairness to the people of Montana."

Currently, the 14th Amendment enlarges the election of U.S. Representatives by "counting the whole number of persons in each State." Rehberg's measure would change the 14th Amendment, replacing the word "persons" with "citizens," effectively excluding illegal aliens from the congressional reapportionment process.

"Counting illegal aliens as though they are citizens, may be sound good to people in California and Texas, but to the rest of the country, it makes about as much sense as buying a ranch to raise prairie dogs," Rehberg said. "It's been enough that our federal government continues to ignore the growing tide of illegals without the Census Department legitimizing unlawful residents who are stealing the voice of honest citizens."

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