[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.

[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.

[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.

[Myrddin]

Illegals consume about $1500 per head more in government services than they contribute in taxes. Multiply that by 20 million. It's almost real money.

[Myrddin]

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

Baloney. Free schooling, free health care at emergency room rates, section 8 housing for the anchor babies. They get a hell of a lot of services for the meager contribution. Conversely, I'm pay $70,000 in federal income tax, $19,000 in state income tax and the max social security. I have no children in school and my employer sucks $400 per month from my paycheck for a health insurance premium with $1500 per person per year deductibles. Who's getting screwed here?

The illegals need to be arrested and deported ASAP. There are plenty of capable people around to fill the jobs they are illegally performing.

[Montfort]

Maybe. But if the House bill passes, there will be no need for any minimum wage law. Pay rates for low to mid-skill jobs will go up pretty dramatically.

This could create a few problems, but it would solve a whole lot of problems.

[Republicus2001]

why can't these phony immigrants and criminal aliens just use their REAL ID? Perfectly legal in the US!

[Republicus2001]

She said illegal immigrants pay several taxes, from sales taxes to property taxes.
so how is it that phony immgrants and criminal aliens don't like to pay their income tax?

[stephenjohnbanker]

"the loss of a labor force made up largely of illegal immigrants could cripple the nation's agricultural and other industries."
BIG FAT LIE!!!!


75% of those jobs are still done by legal Americans.