Virginia counties decry alien bill

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Arlington and Fairfax county and Alexandria government officials say they want an exemption from a proposed state law that would prevent illegal aliens from receiving local health care benefits.

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, a Democrat, has until midnight tonight to take action on the measure, which passed both chambers of the Republican-controlled General Assembly with a veto-proof majority.

The legislation also would forbid state agencies from giving benefits such as Medicaid and welfare to illegals.

The measure would require that both state and local governments verify the legal presence of an immigrant before providing any nonemergency public benefits. Local governments said the bill would require them to deny access to subsidized health care, free clinics and homeless shelters for adult aliens.

In separate letters to Mr. Warner, the officials asked that local governments be excused entirely from the measure.

Arlington County Board member J. Walter Tejada said the bill "erodes" local authority.

"We know best our community and feel that we ought to be able to serve all the members of our community in the best way that we can," said Mr. Tejada, a Democrat. "The neediest are always targeted by conservative legislators."

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly, a Democrat, said the "restriction" should not be applied to local health and public welfare services, "which are created to address local needs and are supported with local-only funds."

Mr. Connolly said the board opposes the measure in its entirety, and asked the governor to remove all references to local governments from the bill.

"I can't believe it," said Delegate David B. Albo, a Fairfax County Republican and a sponsor of the bill. "It is completely outrageous that these local governments are increasing property taxes and crying that they don't have enough money but they want to be able to give illegal aliens taxpayer-funded services."