CA: Business reps: Labor force will suffer if House bill passes

North County Times ^ | 8/15/06 | Patricia Wright

[NormsRevenge]

SAN DIEGO ---- Americans need to think of illegal immigrants as economic contributors and not law breakers, said five advocates for immigration reform Monday.

The five advocates, including a farming advocate and a U.S. Chamber of Commerce director, spoke during a press conference in response to a hearing held by the U.S. House Government Reform Committee. The Republican-led committee met Monday in San Diego to discuss the costs of illegal immigration to San Diego County's educational, health and legal systems.

Viewed in an economic sense, the advocates said, the loss of a labor force made up largely of illegal immigrants could cripple the nation's agricultural and other industries.

"Immigrants, legal or not, are woven deeply in the fabric of our society and economy," said Dick Castner, executive director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's western office. "If they were to disappear, the impact would be significant."

The five representatives spoke to promote action on immigration reform at the event sponsored by People for the American Way, a 900,000-member organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to countering conservative publicity. The group held the press conference to show that illegal immigrants contribute as much to society as they cost, if not more.

Several members quoted a recent Pew Hispanic Center report that discussed the importance of workers, including illegal immigrants, to fields other than agriculture, such as construction and hospitality.

Opponents of illegal immigration say illegal immigrants use American facilities, such as schools and hospitals, without paying income tax, and that helping illegal residents become citizens promotes law-breaking.

Luawanna Hallstrom, a board member for the Western Growers Association and California Farm Bureau, said it was wrong to say illegal immigrants don't contribute to American society because they don't pay income taxes. She said illegal immigrants pay several taxes, from sales taxes to property taxes.

"These people never see anything from that money," she said. "We haven't given them the legal means to participate."

Dan Siciliano, executive director of the Law, Economics & Business program at Stanford Law School, said something had to be done to meet future U.S. labor needs. He said retiring baby boomers and a national birth rate under two per American female are going to strain the U.S. work force and make it difficult to sustain economic growth.

The advocates supported the recent U.S. Senate bill, passed in May, that includes a temporary work program and more access to citizenship for illegal immigrants. They preferred that bill over a U.S. House bill, passed in December, that calls for a crackdown on immigration enforcement.

[sheana]

I think of them as 'tax takers' and nothing anyone can say will change my mind. I live in California where it is obvious.

[rodeocowboy]

He said retiring baby boomers and a national birth rate under two per American female are going to strain the U.S. work force and make it difficult to sustain economic growth.

My wife and I just had our fourth child. I volunteer to help other ladies have children as my contribution to society. ;)

[Redbob]

"Americans need to think of illegal immigrants as economic contributors... said five advocates for immigration reform Monday."

That's funny: slave-owners felt the same way about slaves.
Didn't mean it was right, though.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

Luawanna Hallstrom, a board member for the Western Growers Association and California Farm Bureau, said it was wrong to say illegal immigrants don't contribute

Yo Luawanna,

Agriculture can get all the workers they want - legally -by applying for H2A (?) visas.

Drawbacks are: they need to pay a decent wage & are responsible for housing & transpo

Reason they don't apply for same - no need w/ all the (cheaper) illegals already here.

[janetgreen]

I think of them as 'tax takers' and nothing anyone can say will change my mind. I live in California where it is obvious.

The same California I live in, where hospitals are closing, schools are overloaded, social services are overburdened, taxes are sky-high, freeways aren't safe anymore because they're full of Mexican truck drivers, and once-extinct diseases are returning.

I've read that over 40% of this state's residents are hispanic. I wonder how many of those are illegal aliens that we are supporting? They cost us 10 billion dollars every year, and that ain't cheap. What else can it be called except U.S. government-assisted invasion/colonization?

[radar101]

Luawanna Hallstrom is a third generation farmer and is Chief Operating Officer for her family's Oceanside farm, Harry Singh and Sons. She is pictured here amidst millions of tomato plants at the Oceanside farm on Wednesday, JT Lovette/ For the North County QUESTIONS FOR Luawanna: Where do your workers go after work? Home? A Camp in the Santa Margarita River? Who takes them to a doctor or medical aid when they get sick--or is that why Tri-City doesn't have a Trauma Center anymore (If you have a Trauma Center, you have to accept and treat ALL papatientsw-even those who can not pay) Have any of them been in Vista Jail? How much did that cost San Diego County?

[NormsRevenge]

I'll have to look more closely at the grown by labels when shopping for tomaties, .

[calcowgirl]

Luawanna Hallstrom, a board member for the Western Growers Association and California Farm Bureau... "We haven't given them the legal means to participate."

Sure we have--it's called "legal" immigration.

Dan Siciliano, executive director of the Law, Economics & Business program at Stanford Law School, said ... retiring baby boomers ... make it difficult to sustain economic growth.

Then increase the quotas for legal immigration. I see no reason for a guest worker program, at all.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

don't hold your breath for answers.

What a fraud > Hallstrom > Harry Singh and Sons ?

[dalereed]

All of the above!

They are extremely wealthy and if you ever go up I-5 north of Oceanside all the tomatoes, on leased Marine Base land are theirs plus many thousands of acres that you don't see.

[ANGGAPO]

Get them all out of our country.

[BJClinton]

Simple: boot the free-loaders and criminals, keep those that contribute on a temporary work-visa. It ain't hard.

[AppleButter]

Dan Siciliano, executive director of the Law, Economics & Business program at Stanford Law School, said something had to be done to meet future U.S. labor needs. He said retiring baby boomers and a national birth rate under two per American female are going to strain the U.S. work force and make it difficult to sustain economic growth.

What kind of idiot economist is he?

As far back in history as you care to look, surplus of labor leads to economic stagnation and shortage of labor leads to economic growth. A shortage of labor means better wages for more people, and spurs technological innovation that increases productivity.

A surplus of labor, on the other hand, increases the relative value of capital and directs more wealth to fewer people who have no incentive to innovate.

[marsh2]

I saw a report indicating that the value tax payor paid benefits and services given to illegals far outstripped any economic contribution.

[RFT1]

With business having attitudes such as these, I should vote for politicians to give further tax breaks to business because?.......................

It is attitudes such as these that is slowly turning the US publics attitude against business, many are very angry that business can so freely and willingly break the law, and once the US publics attitude does fully turn against businessmen, then they will have to worry about far more things than just finding cheap labor.

[YouGoTexasGirl]

Hey Luawanna, I have a solution for you. Sell what farm land you cannot take care of with American citizens or a legal workforce. Buy land in Mexico so you don't burden your neighbors with crime, higher taxes, diseases, etc. Goofy lady with too much money and not enough sense.

Funny how these large business executives who abuse the labor force have grand homes and lifestyles....at our expense.

[calcowgirl]

I knew Harry Singh sounded familiar. I see the tomatoes on the Marine Base all the time while driving on the 5 freeway.

[AppleButter]

I saw a report indicating that the value tax payor paid benefits and services given to illegals far outstripped any economic contribution.

According to FAIR, illegal aliens cost every FL household $575, every TX household $725 and every CA household $1,200.

Go to FAIR's research website for reports: http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=research_researchlist87d6