Getting serious on illegal immigration

Here's a chance for Senate Democrats to step up and shine:

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and 13 other governors pressed federal lawmakers Wednesday to find money to reimburse states for the cost of jailing illegal immigrants - something that costs California more than $750 million a year.

President Bush's budget request for 2007 proposed killing the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. Bush has deleted the program in past years but Congress has not gone along. Lawmakers found $405 million for the program in 2006 -— about 40 percent of that goes to California.

Talking about being tough on immigration only to deny funds to programs that help keep illegals off the street seems a bit backward to me. If immigration really is a national problem, it should not fall on the states to foot this bill.

Both the House and the Senate bill would deny this funding cut, which is good. But if Democrats are against it, then it would do them good to stand up and say so. It's an issue that looks tough and makes the President look week.