Top state officials will tell a legislative panel today what they think it costs their departments to provide services for illegal immigrants.

The daylong hearing before the Joint Budget Committee - which comes one day before a special session on illegal immigration - has kicked off the latest round of bickering between Democrats and Republicans on the issue of immigration.

The JBC chairman, Rep. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, said he thought it was important for the legislature to have an idea of costs before voting on immigration bills.

He has asked directors from eight state agencies and the court system to testify.

"To make good decisions, we should have good data," Buescher said. "I'm puzzled as to why anyone thinks this is about Republicans or Democrats."

But another JBC member, Rep. Dale Hall, R-Greeley, said he doubts the hearing will produce much valuable information.

"It think it was gathered too fast and too furious to be of any use," Hall said. "And I feel sorry for state workers who had to work over the Fourth of July holiday to try to get all this information for us."

Said Buescher: "I'm not the one who set the date of the special session. The governor did."

The already testy topic of illegal immigration exploded last month when Democratic justices on the Colorado Supreme Court disqualified a proposed ballot initiative that would limit government services to illegal immigrants, except those mandated by the federal government.Republicans were furious, and GOP Gov. Bill Owens called the Democratic-controlled legislature back into session.

Political analysts say Republicans are likely to use the issue to try to regain their majority at the November election. Voters in all parties are fed up with illegal immigrants, according to various polls.

Republicans today will unveil their slew of immigration bills to be introduced when the session convenes Thursday.

"Time and time again, our constituents tell us that illegal immigration far and away tops their list of concerns," said Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs.

"The Republican agenda takes very seriously the need to address this pressing issue."

Buescher said he got the idea for calling today's hearing after getting a Department of Corrections report last week that showed taxpayers in 2004-2005 spent $46.1 million housing prisoners that were born in other countries.

"It made me wonder what is it costing other departments to provide services to illegal immigrants," he said.

State officials have been asked to provide to the JBC:

• What services their departments provide to illegal immigrants.

• How much those services cost, and where the funds to pay for them come from.

• How many employees are involved in delivering the services.

• What would be the cost and how many employees would be needed to screen clients to determine their citizenship before providing services.

Those same questions have been asked since January, when Defend Colorado Now, the group behind the proposed ballot initiative, announced its intent to put the issue on the ballot.

State officials have said they don't know, prompting criticism from Democrats.

They note that Owens - who supported the ballot initiative - should have some idea of the costs considering he has been in office for nearly eight years.

On the hot seat

Departments testifying today on the cost of illegal immigration:

• Department of Higher Education

• Colorado Commission on Higher Education

• Department of Human Services

• Judicial Department

• Department of Labor and Employment

• Department of Public Health and Environment

• Department of Revenue

• Department of State

• Department of Corrections

• Department of Health Care Policy Financing

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