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Catholic Conference urges veto, signing of two bills

The Wisconsin Catholic Conference has written to Gov. Jim Doyle urging him to sign one bill and veto another.

The conference asked him to sign SB-286, a bi-partisan bill that would strengthen the teaching on abstinence in school human growth and development programs.

The conference asked him to veto SB-567, which would require those receiving public benefits to provide documentation of legal residency.

SB-286 would require school boards that provide human growth and development programs to ensure that all the instruction presents abstinence from sexual activity as the preferred choice of behavior in relationship to all sexual activity for unmarried pupils, and emphasizes that abstinence from sexual activity before marriage is the most effective way to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

The immigration bill, SB-567, would require anyone applying for public assistance to show documentary proof of citizenship or legal residency. Plus, anyone processing an application for public assistance would be required to attest in writing that he or she had seen such proof of citizenship or residency, or face a $250 fine.

State law limits public assistance (BadgerCare, W-2) to U.S. citizens and to those with satisfactory immigration status, but no documentary proof is required.

Four audits of Department of Health and Family Services and Department of Workforce Development programs show that illegal or fraudulent use of public assistance programs by undocumented immigrants is rare. The audits also found that requiring additional documentation discourages people who are entitled to social services from applying.