Illegal immigrants another big expense.

• Position: Health Care Cost

The state of Texas and its local hospital districts spent an estimated $677,000,000 to provide health care to illegal immigrants last year, documents a study by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which notes that $597,000,000 was spent by local hospital districts for the immigrants' care during the state's fiscal year.

Lawmakers from both parties remarked that they were not surprised by the amount and expressed hope that the report will help prompt Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation, although Pres. Barack Obama has put that matter on the back burner while trying to push through massive health care legislation.

The report shows that the state spent $80,000,000 under the Texas Emergency Medicaid program, which pays hospitals to provide life-saving care, including labor and delivery services, to...