Posted on 12/30/2002 5:37:04 AM PST by SJackson
The coming session of the Texas Legislature has been billed as "the perfect storm" because of the looming $5 to $12 billion-dollar budget shortfall. Although the evidence suggests that immigration, both legal and illegal, is fueling the rapid growth in state spending on social services, this issue is almost entirely absent from the debate.
It is well established that recent immigrants use more in services than they pay in taxes, particularly to state and local governments. The National Research Council, a branch of the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, estimates the net fiscal cost of immigration ranges from $11 billion to $22 billion per year, with most government expenditures on immigrants coming from state and local coffers, while most taxes paid by immigrants go to the federal treasury. This is the result of the relatively low level of tax payments by immigrants, because they are disproportionately low-skilled and thus earn low wages, and a higher rate of consumption of government services, both because of their relative poverty and their higher fertility.
According to 2000 U.S. Census data, some 13.2 percent of immigrants enroll in welfare programs compared with 2.1 percent of native-born Americans. In Medicaid, 18.6 percent of immigrants participate, as opposite 12.1 percent of native-born. Mexican immigrants, who comprise the vast majority of immigrants to Texas, use food stamps at nearly twice the rate of native-born Americans and collect an average welfare payment that is 20 percent higher than those recipients.
The National Research Council found that in California, which has endured a similar flood of Mexican immigration as Texas, each native household is paying about $1,178 a year in state and local taxes to cover the gap between the services used by immigrant households and their tax receipts. Although Texas was not included in this study, there is no reason to think the reality is any different here.
Indeed, during the last three years, the Harris County Hospital District alone spent $330 million to treat and immunize illegal immigrants, estimated to be at least 20 percent of their indigent caseload. The District covers this expense through its escalating tax burden on local taxpayers and through cost-shifting to Medicaid and insured patients. The District provides not only emergency care to illegal immigrants, but also a full range of elective services, even access to its fertility clinic that is not included in the health plan for District employees. While the 700,000 illegal immigrants in Texas are only eligible for welfare if they have worked for at least ten years or received asylum, they receive free health care, food stamps, education, and nearly all other government services.
In 2002, Medicaid represented 22.6% of Texas' budget. That number is expected to increase to 23.7% in 2003 in the wake of an August 19 report by the Health and Human Services Commission concluding that, because of higher-than-planned growth in caseloads, the state's Medicaid and children's health insurance programs will cost $2.4 billion more in the next budget cycle than in the current one. Since 1987, the Texas Medicaid budget has grown 500 percent, due in large part to increased enrollment, much of it undoubtedly the result of immigration.
The growth in state health care spending is just one example of how immigration is contributing to the budget shortfall. All of the school districts in South Texas receive Robin Hood recapture payments. Although these districts would likely be poor regardless of current levels of immigration, they would not be experiencing such large growth in their enrollments. It is this growth that is responsible for the budget crises in both urban and suburban districts that are being forced to send more and more of their local tax revenues to the state, leaving them unable to meet the needs of their own students.
Immigration is also a major factor in the population growth that is responsible for growing traffic congestion and pollution in Texas' major cities.
Ultimately, the Legislature's sensitivity to public opinion is likely to forestall a general tax increase this session, but that may come at the expense of vital funding for transportation and higher education, as well as Robin Hood relief. Unfortunately, even though the state bears most of the cost of immigration, it is virtually powerless to control it because it is the constitutional responsibility of the federal government.
Until Washington fortifies border enforcement to stop illegal immigration and reduces the number of unskilled legal immigrants, Texans will pay for the consequences, whether in higher taxes or the crowding out of important government services. While immigrants continue to contribute much to Texas and the nation, if we attempt to absorb all of the many millions of indigent people throughout the world, we will sacrifice the very quality of life that has led so many people to come here.
Chris Allen is State Chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas (www.yct.org) and a graduate student at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.
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The FBI is not interested in these immigrants as threats to the Texas budget. Different issue.
You're right, that's why I put it in parentheses.
Now you are going to find that this Worldview report has been/will be rewritten in many places and each and every time there is/will be something very important ommitted.
The Worldview Report inquired as to the basis of the opinion. As you see by looking, fear of Muzlims and terrorism accounted for double of that of fear of cultural change or fears of job security.
Ther is much on the web and at FR that has been manipulated to try to influence opinions. This but one example.
Ranching, harvesting fruit, cosmetology, working in homes, and engaging in other low spectrum jobs-- and doing them well-- are neither held in esteem nor desired by most Americans. However, these jobs are the practical reality/opportunity for the majority of Texas immigrants.
Meanwhile, their kids go to school with mine, play on the same teams and chase the same dreams. With education and unique American opportunities, most second and third generation immigrants prosper as legal citizens and contribute to the fabric of our nation.
And if they're lucky, they still speak Spanish and come visit Texas/Mexico. I hope Arturo's children do.
I find the ability of some to navigate the cognitive dissonance of America hiring, financing, and encouraging these folks-- and yes, providing reluctant health care and other social services-- while at the same time demanding that the borders be locked down and with bitter tongue blaming immigrants for budget shortfalls, I find this reasoning/reality most fascinating.
Public, elite differ on immigration (New study says people anxious, leaders unconcerned)
The report is based on data from a recent survey on foreign-policy issues conducted by the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations. The survey, taken in May through July of this year, was based on 2,800 interviews of ordinary Americans and a cross-section of 400 "opinion leaders," including members of Congress, the administration, church leaders, business executives, union leaders, journalists, academics and leaders of major interest groups.
The survey also found that President Bush's calls for granting amnesty to an estimated 3 million illegal aliens currently residing in the U.S. is hurting him politically. Though 53 percent say he is handling foreign policy well, only 27 percent believe he is adequately addressing immigration.
This is another myth perpetuated by the pro-illegal crowd. These jobs are desired by American citizens and would be done by Americans at a fair wage. However, the use of illegal workers depresses the wages for these jobs fpor the reasons I stated above. Please do some research at The Center For Immigration Studies.
Let them chase their dreams & educate their children on thier own dime - not that of the American taxpayer. If they want to come to America, stand in line and immigrate legally. Don't break and enter into my house, steal my silverware and then tell me you are only trying to better your life & chase your dream.
Let me point out something else found in the Worldview Report that has been/will be left out. It is also left out of every report on any poll of immigration opinions, no matter where they originate.
There is a historical perspective of immigration opinion. To get an understanding of this historical opinion and how polling questions are framed influences the answer, see this article
It is pure,simple deception trying to manipulate.
Secondly from your WorldViews Report:
Related to the public’s concern about jobs for American workers is its uneasiness about immigration. Majorities of Americans favor reducing both legal and illegal immigration. Of special concern is controlling and reducing illegal immigration, which 70% say should be a very important goal of U.S. foreign policy. This percentage is up a substantial 15 points from 1998 when the U.S. economy was stronger, and is about comparable to the figure in 1994 when the economy was relatively shaky. Sixty percent say that large numbers of immigrants and refugees coming into the United States is a critical threat. This figure is up a bit from 1998, but substantially lower (by 12 points) than it was in 1994.
This would suggest to me that although not at today's level, prior to the 9-11 attacks, there was considerable opposition to illegals and support for immigration reform, unrelated to terror.
I own a modest orchard in south Texas. It was harvested this past Friday. I contract out the work and have no idea of the legal status of the workers.
T'wasn't, however, a whole lot of English spoken out in the orchard that morning. Meanwhile, English speaking America works at my neighborhood McDonald's. McDonald's does not pay nearly as well as grapefruit harvesting does (which is why immigrants come), so where are the English speaking or Anglo grapefruit pickers?
You state Americans (do you mean white Americans? or just the brown ones?) would love these jobs, so I must ask: would you care to harvest my orchard next year with a crew you can find of the citizens you profess covet this work? With your crew of English speakers or Anglos, whomever you organize, you could thereby make your point in the realm of deed and not rhetoric. I pay market price, no more. As a capitalist, the market will always govern-- and thus the immigrants come.
Do you dream of this enterprise for your children? Will you smile proudly when your grown children punch their ladders into the dirt, climb among the raspy limbs and tree after tree, row after row, twist the heavy fruit into their waist sacks, quick as light? (For if they lollygag, they will not profit.)
Migrant children are eligible for federal funding and unique scholarship opportunities, you know. But you probably wouldn't like that. Don't guess I'll be seeing the Americans you speak of in the family orchard next December-- just those damn budget bandits, legal or not.
That reinforces my point. A 10-point shift post 9-11 indicates still a substantial portion of Americans opposing illegal immigration & supporting immigration reform prior to 9-11.
Again, I am a capitalist. I held the following trees from being picked: two grapefruit, one navel, and a lemon. The grapefruit will be exquisite next month.
Mail me privately if you would like to purchase-- nah, they're free to you so to abide by list rules if you cover shipping-- from the tree. I'll pick 'em. (grin)
It's been fun! Bring it on:)
Well, this explains a lot. You have no problem w/ illegals, because you can exploit them to reduce your labor costs. BTW, knowingly hiring illegal aliens is a crime. Maybe you should ask for documentation next picking season.
You state Americans (do you mean white Americans? or just the brown ones?) would love these jobs, so I must ask: would you care to harvest my orchard next year with a crew you can find of the citizens you profess covet this work? With your crew of English speakers or Anglos, whomever you organize, you could thereby make your point in the realm of deed and not rhetoric. I pay market price, no more. As a capitalist, the market will always govern-- and thus the immigrants come.
Americans, of any color (don’t try to invoke racism here), may not love, but would take these jobs if the wages were comparable to comparable jobs in the market.
No, I would not care to participate in your harvest next year. That is because I worked full time while putting myself to school and earned a college degree. I then went on to become a certified professional in my field. However, I have a more-than-full time position & during tax season I take on extra work on the weekends & after work preparing tax returns.
Now, I’ll tell you that growing up in Central Illinois during the ’60 & ‘70’s I started out in about the 5th grade walking beans. This is manual field labor walking miles in bean fields pulling, by hand, weeds. I did this during the summers until I was old enough for the local grain company to hire me to detassel corn. This is standing on a rickety old machine, going through the fields, pulling tassels out of corn plants. If you were real good, you could get a couple of extra weeks at the end of the season doing hand-inoculation. These jobs usually lasted until early afternoon, at which time I would come home & mow lawns in the neighborhood. There were plenty of (white, if it matters to you) high school kids doing this right alongside me for generations in my town. Plenty of them were farmer’s kids & are now farmers. Many others went into the armed services to protect the citizens of America.
Would I like this as a career for my kids – no. But, I wouldn’t mind if they did it for a summer job, in order to learn what real work is & the value of a good education. I’ll tell you, when my kids are big enough, they will be mowing my lawn, and performing other chores around the house. Where I live, most people hire gardeners & maids. Not me. I will not hire anything done that I can do myself.
What I saying is that the numbers, or the significance of the numbers, are being exagerated. I've pointed out several of the ways it is being done.
Polling is polling and we should not buy into for one subject, else we have to buy into it on all subjects. Its the Republic versus a Democracy thing.
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