President Clinton has unveiled his proposal to reform the health care system. While I agree that we should work to control the escalating cost of providing health care, I cannot support the President's proposal of a virtually government-run health care system. I was also shocked to learn that under the Clinton health care plan, illegal immigrants would be eligible for the same health benefits as American citizens. We in California have long felt the impact of illegal immigration on our health care services. Because federal law bars hospitals from turning away people who require emergency care, illegals already receive free health care af taxpayers' expense. Most notably, pregnant women cross the border to give birth because they know they can receive free health care. This has cost California taxpayers millions and millions of dollars. Under current federal law, it is unlawful to hire illegal immigrants. However, the practice is widespread because employer sanctions are rarely enforced. The Clinton health plan states that "employers are required to pay health insurance premiums for all of their employees, regardess of immigration status." The plan further states that the health alliances which administer the benefits, can not share information related to health insurance premiums paid by employers with the Immigration and Naturalization Service." In effect, the Clinton health plan makes illegals eligible not only for emergency services but for preventative, diagnostic and corrective health care - in other words, it throws open our health care system to illegals. By creating yet another incentive for illegals to cross the border, the Clinton health care plan will repeat the abuses we witness in our health care system everyday in California, only on a national scale. Please be assured I will work to kill this newly created incentive for illegal immigrants from any health care reform bill which comes before Congress. I look forward to hearing from you about this issue. Americans are tired of living in fear. Fear of violent crime is now the number one national concern. If we allow fear to control our lives, we lose the freedom we cherish in this country. Congress will debate comprehensive crime legislation during this session. I believe that there are several fundamental ways to reform our system to make our neighborhoods and homes safer. With these reforms, we can begin to fight back against the rising tide of crime. We must attack violent crime by removing repeat violent offenders from the street. Consider these statistics: just six percent of all criminals commit 70 percent of all violent crimes. Those arrested for violent offenses average 9.4 arrests each. Ten percent of all violent criminals each commit more than 600 crimes per year. Therefore, getting the most habitual criminals off the street would put a noticeable dent in crime. I have supported and will work for passage of the so-called "LIFER bill. The Life Imprisonment for Egregious Recidivists Act would provide mandatory life imprisonment for persons convicted of three violent felonies. Why should we keep turning habitual offenders convicted of violent crimes back into society? As they say in baseball, and I believe the American people now echo this sentiment, "three strkes and you're out." Congress should also reform the criminal justice system by reforming the appeals process, which is systematically abused; and parole for serious offenders should be ended I will work to send a crime bill to the President which mandates that convicted criminals must serve at least 85% of their sentence. This will send the clear signal.that if you do the crime, you will do the time. We must also apply a common sense approach to police searches and use of evidence in court, so that violent criminals are not released on technicalities. Americans are sick and tired of seeing the criminal justice system work in favor of criminals and not the innocent victims of crimes. I look forward to your input on this subject. Please feel free to write me. I always appreciate your comments and insights. Sincerely, From Packard Ron Packard THIS STATIONERY PRINTED ON PAPER MADE OF RECYCLED FIBERS OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF NON-LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES Mr. MEDLOCK. And then I would like to insert my comments which are on pages 35, 36, 37, and the chart on page 38 submitted for the record. [The information follows:] OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NON-LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES For salaries and expenses for the Office of the Director of Non-Legislative and Financial Services, $18,393,000. Included in this amount is $16,326,000 for personnel and $2,067,000 for nonpersonnel. In my opening comments I indicated that I would provide additional details on the ongoing transfer of functions to the oversight of the Office of the Director. You may want to refer to the accompanying chart which indicates the current status. Postal Operations was the first to be transferred in January 1993, followed closely by the Finance Office in February from the Office of the Clerk. The directors of these two operations, Messrs. Michael Shinay and Michael Heny, are with us today. Others transferred from the Clerk include: the House Placement Office, the Child Care Center, Office Systems Management, Office Supply Service, and the Department of Office Furnishings. The latter three are formed under a single Directorate of Office Support Operations; Ms. Jackie Byrd, the former Assistant to the Clerk, is now serving as the director. Finally, in June, the House Restaurant System was placed under our oversight. It was formerly under the oversight of the Committee on House Administration. Mr. Jay Treadwell, a former Director of the Senate Restaurants, was hired in December 1993 as the new House Food Service Director. The Executive Assistant and Chief of Personal Support Services is Ms. Georgia Abraham; and Ms. Linda White is our Personnel Manager. The Office of the Director currently employees up to 474 House employees and 221 House Restaurant employees. As functions and activities were transferred, several internal reorganizations and realignments were implemented to accommodate workload and the functions being performed. Reorganizations were executed within available resources. No new positions were required. All of these entities which have been transferred are headed by very competent individuals who continue to exercise efficient management and to provide exceptional service to the House. Time does not permit all of these Chiefs and Directors to appear today, but they are available to answer your questions as necessary. If there are no questions on our current organization, we can turn our attention to the proposed FY '95 Budget for the Director's Office. The Director's portion of the House budget totals $18,393,000 which includes both personnel and nonpersonnel expenses. The personnel costs total $16,326,000 and are based on the salaries authorized for permanent employees; longevity and merit increases in pay; changes in position levels and steps; FY '94 annualized locality pay and prorated FY '95 locality pay; and the FY '95 cost-of-living adjustment. We have created no new positions for this budget. Nonpersonnel costs total $2,067,000 and include supplies, materials, and equipment. I will now insert detailed figures for the Director's Office for fiscal years 1993 and 1994, and the estimate for 1995. DIRECTOR OF NON-LEGISLATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES APPROPRIATIONS, ACTUAL |