Posted on 12/15/2006 6:04:10 AM PST by Sharks
It is a Texas showdown, a war of words over illegal immigration at the border.
State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn fired the first shot with a recent report that, for some, says the unthinkable: Illegal immigrants not only pay their fair share in taxes, but they are also good for the economy.
"The absence of 1.4 million undocumented immigrants in Texas . . .would have been a loss to our gross state product of $17.7 billion," Strayhorn said in a statement. Overall, the report said, illegal immigrants put about $420 million more into state coffers than they take out.
Strayhorn billed the report as the first ever by a state finance official, a crucial step forward. But for Texans who believe hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants are overrunning their state, the report is a misstep.
State Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler), who introduced legislation that would bar Texas from recognizing children born to illegal immigrants in American hospitals as U.S. citizens, called the report "outrageous."
Dan Stein, a spokesman for the Washington-based Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which supports measures to deter illegal immigration, ripped the report as a composite of "design flaws, assumptions and conclusions in direct contrast to our years of exhaustive studies on this issue, and to our most recent Texas report, which shows illegal aliens cost Texas taxpayers $3.7 billion annually."
In these times of tough proposals against illegal immigration in Congress and huge protest marches by illegal immigrant workers and their supporters, it is not surprising that the comptroller's report caused a stir.
An official state document that contradicts the idea that immigrants are a financial burden can carry considerable weight as Democrats take control of Congress, and as potential candidates consider their options in the 2008 presidential election.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Carol (pick-a-last name) is in the same boat as Jimma Carter....
Does she know how much embezzlers, murderers, and pedophiles contribute to the coffers? It doesn't matter how much they contribute, they're breaking the law and must be prosecuted.
She's just being spiteful because she lost in the election. I'm sooooo glad she didn't become governor
That explains it. How nice?
My vote of protest went to Kinky......
"...Overall, the report said, (1.4 million) illegal immigrants put about $420 million more into state coffers than they take out.
Hmmmm... even if true:
$420,000,000 / 1,400,000 illegals = $300.00 per illegal a year / 365 days a year = $0.82 a day.
Well HOLY MOLLY!! A whole $0.82 a day!! Well dammit, then you better get a few million more illegals, you've hit the jackpot!! /s
Ms Keeton-Strayhorn, the key word here is illegal. If you carry out your thinking here, then if you contribute enough to the economy you can commit any crime you like. What's the price for robbery, rape or even murder? And don't try to argue that those crimes are different because if you do then my question is; who gets to make the decision as to which crime we get to overlook?
There is a report out that states that there is 12 million social security numbers that do not match the worker. So in fact they are paying social security and can never collect.
And we wonder why the Fed wont do squat to stop illegal immigration?
Now lets say that those 12 million are paying 50 bucks a week into the SS fund, even 40-30 bucks, it dont matter because that money is keeping social security solvent and is allowing our Prostitute Polititions to rob that fund.
Most people simply dont get it. THEY WANT those illegals here! Oh they'll do thier usual lying slimey bit of how bad it is and what it does and on and on. But they see a way to save SS and dont give one dam abotu the state and local governments expendatures on health care etc, for these people.
War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength
"Grandma" has lost her freakin MIND!
Mine too...
IF we believe that figure, let's assume $1.8B of that is somehow collected in taxes.
Do illegals receive MORE than that in benefits, through education, medical treatment, impact to law enforcement, etc...?
$300 a year.
The problem is the US government spends over $7000 a year per person.
THEY WANT those illegals here!
Yes, this is the dirty little secret, that a lot of Freepers don't get: if 12 million workers suddenly left their jobs it would wreck our economy.
I see it less as being spiteful and more as showing her true colors, just like goobernor goodhair.
Like he's any better. My advice to the Kinkster, shut up and sing.
You have a point there.
Me too. Not because I thought he was the best, but because I didn't like any of the rest. Strayhorn is a flaming doodyhead!
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