Cutting paupers but sparing the princes makes no sense

When it comes to illegal immigrants one cannot deny that they work hard for their keep, yet we are (reasonably) hesitant to offer aid in the form of food stamps and healthcare because of their status. But now even those who are lawful, legal immigrants and who do work hard are now being told by the state, “You’re on your own.”

Last month the legislature, in order to balance the books, decided to cut social services such as Medicaid and food stamp programs for legal immigrants.

According to the Omaha World-Herald, one such immigrant is Germaine Mbuyi, from the Republic of Congo. Mbuyi is now without her health and food assistance from the state, though fortunately her five children still get their respective aid.

As a result she now has about 1/3 less income to take care of her family.

If Mbuyi, who works hard for a living, loses her job or gets sick, keeping a roof above those kids’ heads will be difficult.

The state argues cuts for social services like these, including other programs like education, are necessary to fill the $1 billion budget gap (there are, on the other hand, no provisons to raise revenue on those with more wealth). This is not as austere as it could have been, as during the last legislative session Governor Heineman called for a 15 percent cut in then-current state aid to public education. Yet according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2008 Public Education Finances Report, Nebraska ranked 50th in the country by percentage of state dollars going to education.

Heineman also supported and signed LB84, which took nearly $70 million in sales taxes from education and social services and diverted them to roads. However, at the same time, the Reason Foundation’s Highway Report found Nebraska’s road system to be the 5th best in the nation.

We in college know one thing from everyday life: you can cut your spending all you want, but if you don’t have any income your debts and obligations will never go away.

The state should consider this life lesson: It’s more noble to take on those who are rich and strong to make ends meet than to pick on those who are honest, small workers.