Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) offered comment tonight on a Social Security-related amendment now included in the pending immigration bill. An amendment offered by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) will prevent payment of Social Security benefits based on credits earned by non-citizens while they worked illegally in the United States. The Finance Committee has jurisdiction over the Social Security Administration.
“We expect every American citizen to pay their payroll taxes and earn their Social Security benefits, and it’s not fair to let non-citizens earn the same benefits from work done illegally," Baucus said.
Despite his support for the Hutchison provision, Baucus has already announced his intention to oppose the immigration bill as a whole. In announcing his opposition to the legislation this week,
Baucus said, “I cannot support a bill that provides amnesty for illegal immigrants. Anyone who wants to live in this country must follow the proper process. They must go to the back of the line, learn English, take citizenship classes and pay back taxes. I don’t support the immigration bill before the Senate."
Source: Ranking Member’s News
