Romney suggests cutting funds to ’sanctuary cities’

[WifeOHunkyJohn 2]

Romney suggests cutting funds to ’sanctuary cities’

By Associated Press

Friday, August 10, 2007 - Updated: 12:41 PM EST

OGDEN, Iowa - Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Friday criticized cities that fail to crackdown on illegal immigrants as he continued to jab at rival and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Speaking to some 30 people in Iowa, Romney welcomed the Bush administration’s new efforts to curb illegal immigration by raising fines and speeding up deployment of border agents though he suggested more could be done.

"(Homeland Security) Secretary (Michael) Chertoff is going to say ’You know what we’re going to do? We’re going to enforce the current law.’ Isn’t that novel? We’re going to enforce the current law. Isn’t that good news?" Romney said.

The former Massachusetts governor, seeking support among GOP conservatives in the early voting state, has adopted a hardline on immigration, opposing a bipartisan measure backed by President Bush. An early test of Romney’s appeal in the state comes Saturday with the GOP straw poll, a contest he is expected to win.

For days, Romney has complained about municipalities that have declared themselves sanctuaries from enforcement of immigration laws, suggesting last week that the federal government cut off funds.

This week, Romney singled out Giuliani, arguing that he supported illegal immigration when he was mayor _ a charge Giuliani aides reject.

Romney told the crowd Friday, "I want to make sure by the way, that those cities that are sending a different message, that they also are hearing from us that their message is not accepted. There are some cities that go out and say ’We are sanctuary cities, we won’t enforce immigration laws,’ ... My view is we’ve got to cut back on the payments we taxpayers make to those cities to let them know that is not the answer."

New York has never officially declared itself a "sanctuary city." Last month, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg told Congress that the city protects residents’ confidentiality when they report a crime or seek medical care or education, and its policy complies with the 1996 immigration law.

© Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[GaryC 7]

Now there is a great idea!!!! Let them find out just how much a drain illegals are when they are footing the bill instead of the federal government. I think they will change their tune real quick when all of America stops paying for their patronizing ways.