BURBANK : Moorhead Criticizes Tax Hike Proposal

U. S. Rep. Carlos Moorhead (R-Glendale) attacked President Clinton’s spending plans while defending his move to send more federal money to California to help the state pay for emergency hospital bills of illegal aliens.

“The additional taxes will be a wet blanket in this country for job opportunities,” Moorhead said of the federal spending plan narrowly approved by the U. S. House last week. He was a guest speaker before the Burbank Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.

Moorhead co-sponsored an amendment to the plan that would send $300 million to states forced to pay for the emergency health care of low-income illegal aliens under a federal mandate.

California would receive $190 million if the amendment, co-sponsored by Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles), survives. The federal spending plan is awaiting Senate approval.

“A lot of people don’t understand what this amendment is about,” said Peter Stevens, Moorhead’s district administrator. Some thought Moorhead had changed his strong stance against illegal immigration, he said. “They’re simply not doing their homework,” Stevens said.

Speaking before a group of about 25 people in the $15 chamber breakfast meeting at The Castaway restaurant in Burbank, Moorhead linked illegal immigration to many problems including crime, drugs and government budget troubles.

“Right now, the illegal-alien problem is a serious problem,” said Moorhead, who voiced support for beefing up the Border Patrol and the immediate deportation of illegal immigrants serving prison time for crimes committed in the United States.

Moorhead said his amendment was an attempt to help state and local governments who are buckling under the pressure of federally mandated programs. But he still opposed the total federal spending package, approved by only a six-vote margin, 219-213. The total spending plan is designed to cut the deficit by $496 billion over five years and raise taxes by $325 billion between now and 1998.

“You can’t tax your way out of the recession,” Moorhead said.