Ensign Prevents People Here Illegally From Receiving Rebate Checks From U.S. Treasury

People here illegally are no longer eligible to receive tax rebate checks in the Senate’s economic stimulus package, thanks to the efforts of Senator John Ensign.  At a Finance Committee meeting today, Ensign proposed an amendment to prohibit rebates for people here illegally, and it was incorporated into the final bill approved by the Committee.

“As a matter of fairness to the American taxpayer and responsibility with the tax dollars they send to Washington, we should not allow the U.S. Treasury to cut a rebate check to people here illegally,” said Ensign.  “It rewards illegal behavior.”

Ensign’s proposal closed a loophole in the economic stimulus package by prohibiting the Internal Revenue Service from sending checks to those who do not have a valid Social Security number.  If an individual’s name does not match the respective Social Security number, a rebate check would not be sent.  An individual could not use an Individual Tax Identification Number to get the rebate.

Senator Ensign worked with Finance Committee members to incorporate his proposal to ensure that illegal immigrants are not eligible for a tax rebate.

Ensign Comments On President’s Budget For Yucca

Senator John Ensign released the following statement after the President released his budget proposal with $495 million in funding for Yucca Mountain:

“On Yucca Mountain, the President’s budget request will not be met.  Throwing more money at this project is not the answer because it’s the wrong policy.  The money for Yucca included in the President’s budget should be spent on a new course of action for nuclear waste because Yucca Mountain will never be built. 

“The solution is to start moving in a different direction, which is why Senator Reid and I introduced a bill that requires waste to be stored on-site and that the federal government take responsibility for it.  The Nevada Congressional Delegation remains committed to ensuring that deadly nuclear waste will never be sent to Yucca Mountain.”