Sen. Sessions Blocked in Attempt to Cut Off Welfare Benefits for Illegal Aliens
Senate Democrats blocked a vote on an amendment offered by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) that would have closed a loophole that gives illegal aliens access to the Additional Child Tax Credit. The amendment sought to restore cuts in military pensions under the budget deal by shifting funds from the welfare loophole.
During Senate debate on the two-year budget deal brokered by Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.), Republicans spoke out against the $6 billion in cuts to military pensions, including for disabled retirees. But Sen. Sessions developed a plan for restoring the cuts. His amendment would have required a Social Security number to claim the refundable portion of the child tax credit and restored military retirement benefits.
“Removing this unbalanced treatment of our military retirees ought to be one of the key actions we should take before this legislation moves forward. In fact, greater savings than this can be achieved by passing a legislative fix recommended by the Inspector General of the U.S. Treasury that would stop the IRS from improperly providing tax credits to illegal aliens,” Sen. Sessions said.
Illegal aliens who work and file tax returns with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number can apply for the Additional Child Tax Credit. The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found that illegal aliens claimed $4.2 billion refundable credits in 2010.
After the procedural move blocking his amendment, Sen. Session said, “They voted to block the Senate from working to improve this tax-and-spend deal…(B)y blocking my amendment, they voted to cut pensions for wounded warriors. Senators in this chamber have many valid ideas for replacing these pension cuts, including my proposal to close the tax welfare loophole for illegal filers, and all deserved a fair and open hearing. But they were denied.”
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