July 31, 2013

The Birmingham News: Don’t sell short the contributions, in culture and in taxes, that immigrants make in the U.S., Alabama

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(Original Post)

By Joey Kennedy
on July 29, 2013 at 9:39 AM, updated July 29, 2013 at 11:54 AM
Comprehensive immigration reform appears bogged down in the U.S. House. Imagine that — the one branch of government controlled by far-right, tea-party politicians  can’t (won’t) get anything done.
Still, the hope is that some how, some way, sanity will eventually prevail, and the majority in the House will come to its senses and pass something constructive. (Probably not until they waste votes to again repeal the Affordable Care Act for the umpteenth time.)
In the meantime, studies continue to show that undocumented immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy in many ways –including in paying taxes — and that if they become legitimate taxpayers, they’ll contribute even more.
One of the latest studies, from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, found  that “allowing undocumented immigrants to work in the United States legally would increase their state and local tax contributions by an estimated $2 billion a year,” and that “undocumented immigrants currently contribute significantly to state and local taxes, collectively paying an estimated $10.6 billion … “
In Alabama, the ITEP study says in 2010, undocumented residents paid more than $118 million in state and local taxes. After immigration reform, that amount would rise to $148.8 million. That’s good money for a poor state.
See the ITEP study here. And an interactive map here shows you state-by-state, how much immigration reform will increase tax receipts.
Alabama hurt itself, both financially and reputation, by passing the overreaching, harsh, anti-immigrant HB 56. U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions keeps up the negative rhetoric with his over-the-top opposition to almost everything, but especially the reasonable and bipartisan immigration reform plan passed by the U.S. Senate.
We continually make decisions against our best interests (Gov. Robert Bentley’s opposition to Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, for example). 
If we don’t wish to support immigration reform out of compassion, at least we should do so for the clear economic benefits.
But we won’t, because it would be in our best interests, and we don’t often do that.
Joey Kennedy, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is a community engagement specialist for AL.com and The Birmingham News. Reach him at [email protected].

By Joey Kennedy

on July 29, 2013 at 9:39 AM, updated July 29, 2013 at 11:54 AM

Comprehensive immigration reform appears bogged down in the U.S. House. Imagine that — the one branch of government controlled by far-right, tea-party politicians  can’t (won’t) get anything done.

Still, the hope is that some how, some way, sanity will eventually prevail, and the majority in the House will come to its senses and pass something constructive. (Probably not until they waste votes to again repeal the Affordable Care Act for the umpteenth time.)

In the meantime, studies continue to show that undocumented immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy in many ways –including in paying taxes — and that if they become legitimate taxpayers, they’ll contribute even more.

One of the latest studies, from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, found  that “allowing undocumented immigrants to work in the United States legally would increase their state and local tax contributions by an estimated $2 billion a year,” and that “undocumented immigrants currently contribute significantly to state and local taxes, collectively paying an estimated $10.6 billion … “

In Alabama, the ITEP study says in 2010, undocumented residents paid more than $118 million in state and local taxes. After immigration reform, that amount would rise to $148.8 million. That’s good money for a poor state.

See the ITEP study here. And an interactive map here shows you state-by-state, how much immigration reform will increase tax receipts.

Alabama hurt itself, both financially and reputation, by passing the overreaching, harsh, anti-immigrant HB 56. U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions keeps up the negative rhetoric with his over-the-top opposition to almost everything, but especially the reasonable and bipartisan immigration reform plan passed by the U.S. Senate.

We continually make decisions against our best interests (Gov. Robert Bentley’s opposition to Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, for example). 

If we don’t wish to support immigration reform out of compassion, at least we should do so for the clear economic benefits.

But we won’t, because it would be in our best interests, and we don’t often do that.

Joey Kennedy, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is a community engagement specialist for AL.com and The Birmingham News. Reach him at [email protected].

 


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