Utah Foundation Cautions More Hard Data Needed on Immigration
Aug 28, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler
(KCPW News) Yesterday, an Oklahoma lawmaker told Utah legislators his state is poised to save $200 million dollars annually after implementing the same immigration policy that served as a template for Utah's Senate Bill 81. But a Utah Foundation policy brief released today cautions lawmakers to also consider the loss to the state.
"It's not all savings when undocumented immigrants leave the state," Kroes says. "There are costs that would come as well, because they do pay taxes whenever they buy things. Many may not be paying income taxes but they are paying other taxes and they are supporting an economic system that can be harmed when a significant chunk of the labor force decides it's time to leave."
Foundation president Stephen Kroes says there's a dearth of hard data about the impact of illegal immigration here. The Legislature's Immigration Interim Committee has held three meetings to gather public input on the issue. However, Kroes says it would be useful to conduct a study similar to one done in Texas, which compared the estimated tax revenue received from illegal immigrants to the cost of providing them education, health care and social services.
Another cost is potential litigation. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce sued Oklahoma over the business requirements in its law, some of which are also in the Utah bill slated to go into effect next summer. But Oklahoma Representative Randy Terrill, who pushed the law through, says lawmakers shouldn't worry about litigation.
"You know the fact that there will be litigation shouldn't deter lawmakers from upholding the rule of law," Terrill says. "And the reality is that we live in the United States of America and anybody can assert any sort of grievance and file a lawsuit for just about any reason. That certainly shouldn't deter lawmakers here from taking additional action, which would add to or strengthen Senate Bill 81."
An Oklahoma judge has put a stay on the three provisions of the law included in the lawsuit. It is now headed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. The outcome will be of particular interest to potential litigation over S.B. 81, as the 10th Circuit also hears Utah cases.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Carlos said:
Oklahoma conducted a study that factored in sales tax and income tax paid into the state by illegal aliens. It showed that illegal aliens paid $20 Million dollars into state coffers, but this was offset by the $200 Million they took out in services related to public services: education, criminal prosecution, health care, etc... It did not factor in things like rising motor insurance caused by uninsured illegal aliens crashing into citizens.
The Utah foundation and so-called conservative Sutherland institute should quit trying to discuss things they're ignorant about it.
3. Amen said:
Carlos mentions those "facts" that help to make his arguments but ignores those that don't. There are costs and there are costs. Various "facts" are in dispute for the same mistakes that Carlos makes. Gary, on the other hand, takes this into consideration and has a more justifiably nuanced response to a complex problem.
As I recall, there are a lot of polygamist Mormons in southern Utah - and throughout the state - that have as their strategy to suck the beast dry, the beast being the government. They use our services, pay little into the system, educate their children into their way of thinking and believing but do so on our dime, and who knows what else they educate our children but - perhaps because they're white and like the majority of Utahns - we seem to think they are acceptable, at least not as reprehensible as the Latino immigrant be they documented or not.
Perhaps if 'illegal aliens' could drive legally and thus, purchase auto insurance, they wouldn't - nor would the various anglos without drivers license - run away from accidents. The fact is that many still drive, white and brown! Thoughtful policies address the realities, not only the emotions.
2. Gary said:
"rising motor insurance caused by uninsured illegal aliens crashing into citizens..." I think this statement made your position on immigration pretty clear. But let us not be so quick to judge. What about all the U.S. citizens who currently use education, criminal prosecution, and health care services without paying? Should we ship all those people out of the country as well? The Utah Foundation cited a report that found U.S.-born men ages 18-39 were five times more likely to be incarcerated than are their foreign-born peers. Should we start shipping these U.S. born males out of the country as well? It seems like they are creating just as big of a problem...