What started as a poorly executed joke by state Rep. Don Brown is threatening to become a larger fight over the extent of state dollars supporting illegal immigrants in Florida.Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, was roundly criticized by colleagues last week for forwarding a joke about immigrants to House members and staff that read, "Don't forget to pay your taxes ... 12 million illegal aliens are depending on you!" He later apologized for sending it.But on Monday, he called for a state investigation into the number of illegal immigrants in Florida, and what their economic costs may be via state healthcare, housing, school, college scholarship and prison services they receive.
At a hastily arranged press conference, Brown said his apology had been misunderstood."I am sorry I offended my colleagues, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with the e-mail," he said, adding the term "alien" that offended Hispanic lawmakers was prefaced by "illegal, illegal, illegal."
Brown said he had received about 200 e-mails since the story broke late last week, six of them insulting toward him. A vast majority, he estimated, had been sent from Floridians and urged him to take the issue seriously.
"This was not an issue that was top on my radar screen, but it is now," he said.
In an earlier statement, Brown added "state government has a budget crisis and the Legislature is talking taxes – cuts, shifts and increases," while trying to fund education, law enforcement, health care and prison construction."With this in mind, I am calling for a state investigation . . . regarding the possible abuse of our tax dollars in funding illegal aliens."Brown says he's also proposing a joint resolution calling on President Bush and Congress to craft a nationwide "deportation" program and complete construction of a fence on the U.S.-Mexican border.But he conceded it's probably too late to file a resolution this late in the session, and he may have to wait until next year.