Noted immigration researchers Haley Barbour,Jeff Flake, and Paul Ryan slam Heritage Foundation study

Twitchy ^ | May 6, 2013 | Twitchy Staff

[Bratch]

Noted immigration researchers Haley Barbour, Jeff Flake, and Paul Ryan slam Heritage Foundation study

Posted at 3:10 pm on May 6, 2013 by Twitchy Staff | View Comments

Haley Barbour on the Heritage report: "It's a political document. It's not serious analysis."—
Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) May 06, 2013

Ths morning the Heritage Foundation released a study estimating that amnesty will cost taxpayers at least $6.3 trillion. We can certainly understand why amnesty supporters are upset, but their criticisms of the study ring hollow.

Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour calls the study a “political document” and “not serious analysis” but does not say what specifically is wrong with the methodology.

Sen. Jeff Flake also criticized the study, arguing that it does not take into account the economic benefits of immigration.

Here we go again. New Heritage study claims huge cost for Immigration Reform. Ignores economic benefits. No dynamic scoring.—
Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) May 06, 2013

Wrong:

Robert Rector says his study is a dynamic analysis. Shows that low-skill immigrants hurt low-skill citizen wages by 10%—
Conn Carroll (@conncarroll) May 06, 2013

Rep. Paul Ryan piled on:

In a statement provided to CQ Roll Call, the Wisconsin Republican had this to say about the Heritage report that the Senate bill’s “amnesty” component would cost taxpayers $6.3 trillion over several decades: “The Congressional Budget Office has found that fixing our broken immigration system could help our economy grow. A proper accounting of immigration reform should take into account these dynamic effects.”

Wrong again:

Heritage study does account for economic benefits of amnesty. They predict tax revenues will go up by $3.1 trillion.—
Conn Carroll (@conncarroll) May 06, 2013

And please, Rep. Ryan, don’t rely on the CBO’s estimates of costs during the next 10 years:

DeMint compares Schumer-Rubio to Obamcare. Says cost explosion hidden outside 10 year CBO window.—
Conn Carroll (@conncarroll) May 06, 2013

We are open to the possibility that the Heritage Foundation’s analysis is flawed, but these are not good-faith criticisms.  In fact, given how weak these “arguments” are, we doubt Barbour, Flake, or Ryan have even read the study. (It is 92 pages long and was released just this morning.)

I like Haley Barbour, but what are the chances he read the 90 pg @Heritage report before sounding off? ow.ly/kKU8q—
Mark Kelly (@MarkdKelly2) May 06, 2013

We look forward to serious critiques of the study’s methodology, particularly from those who haven’t been on the payroll of the Mexican government.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Hey you!

Last time we spoke we got “disconnected”!

[jjotto]

And you betcha the commies know it.

[Norm Lenhart]

We asked for it. I know people hate hearing it, but the truth is what it is. And I don’t take pleasure in it, but I will not ignore it either.

[Las Vegas Ron]

Outside Palin and Cruz and Walker? No. Not that I can find. No one else demonstrates any conservatism.

I dunno, I like Gohmert, Gowdey and Chafitz(sp?)....so far.

[Norm Lenhart]

Possibly. I don’t know enough about them to decide yet.

Few and far between regardless.

[exnavy]

I do believe the republicans are following the leftward bent of the dems.

[fwdude]

Homosexual adoption.

Almost worse than calling what they do "marriage."

[Norm Lenhart]

Oops...Trent Franks...so far.

[Digger]

The GOPe is using Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals #5, "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon," against conservatives.

Oh Gawd! Here we go again. How many instances does it take to see this corrupt "Two-Party Cartel" doing everything that the elites want at the expense of the taxpayers. The cancer in this country is too far gone for any survival & only until a complete collapse can there be any means of a turnaround.

[Las Vegas Ron]

I hear ya, like bobbin for the good apple in a rotten barrel.

[Norm Lenhart]

An understatement to be sure.

[Paladin2]

GOPe refuses to pay attention to Tea Party.

What's new?

[Norm Lenhart]

People want to lie to themselves and pretend the GOP still had Reagan in it. I don’t blame them anymore. Scared people make bad choices. But those STILL ‘clinging’ to the BS and railing those of us awake to it?

No pity.

[kabar]

Ryan is part of the GOPe that has been bought and is owned by corporate America. They have sold their souls for political contributions.

[Las Vegas Ron]

I do believe the republicans are following the leftward bent of the dems.

I believe it Ayn Rand who said something to the effect "Republicans only exist to slow down democrats"

When you have two diametrically opposed ideologies, one Constitutional vs one that is socialist, compromise can only defer to the left....the slippery slope.

[Jane Long]

I'll never forget the scene right after Ryan gave a budget speech that Slick Willy attended. Slick came up to Ryan, afterwards, and they chatted it up...Slick told Ryan if he "wanted to talk about it, give me a call". Ryan said he would. It was on tape.

Something about that exchange sent my Ryan radar up and I haven't really trusted him, since. That, and when he held back on Joe at the VP *debate*.

[kabar]

Flake supported amnesty when he was in the House. Palin endorsed McCain over Hayworth.

[Las Vegas Ron]

We all make mistakes. Even me. I was 4 at the time. But never since ;)

LOL...azzhoe ;)

[Norm Lenhart]

And that’s the GOP that sat on Benghazi for how many months? Ignores Arpaio? F&F? Sided with Dems on forming a Gun control plot? And now immigration ‘reform’.

People have to wake up.

[Marathoner]

when he held back on Joe at the VP *debate*.

AMEN to that! I'll never forget yelling at the TV when Biteme was making an ass out of himself when all his grinning and sneering, and Ryan didn't do squat about it.