Senate Blocks Toomey-Proposed Bill To Cut Sanctuary City Funds
by Dan Wing
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The U.S. Senate has blocked a bill proposed by Republican Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey that would cut off certain federal funds for Sanctuary Cities, like Philadelphia.
One of Mayor Kenney's first acts was an executive order to reinstate the city's Sanctuary status, which offers illegal immigrants some protections from federal authorities unless that person is convicted of a first or second degree felony involving violence, or is wanted on a federal warrant.
Senator Toomey says the policy is dangerous and residents are the ones that pay.
"Sanctuary cities impose terrible costs on our communities, on our country. Including increased crime, and, tragically, lost lives," said Toomey
Democratic Senate candidate Katie McGinty has also urged the Mayor to ensure that the sanctuary status doesn't let any potential threats slip through the cracks.
"Having local law enforcement in dialogue with federal law enforcement just makes common sense," she said.
However McGinty says Toomey's proposed bill would hurt Philadelphians by cutting funds for many public assistance programs.
In a statement last week, Mayor Kenney said that Senator Toomey is mischaracterizing the city's sanctuary status for personal political gain.