August 2, 2013

The Record: Report sees tax benefits, jobs for N.J. from immigration reform

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(Original Post)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013
BY  MONSY ALVARADO
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD
New Jersey’s tax revenue and housing market would get a boost, and its technology and agricultural industry would gain jobs if Congress passes comprehensive immigration reform, according to economic projections released by the White House on Thursday.
The state-by-state economic reports are part of the White House efforts to convince voters that sweeping immigration reform would be a boon to the economy.
“It is time to act to fix the broken immigration system in a way that requires responsibility from everyone — both from unauthorized workers and from those who hire them — and guarantees that everyone is playing by the same rules,” the report reads. “To this end, the president urges the House of Representatives to take action and stands willing to work with all parties to make sure that common-sense immigration reform becomes a reality as soon as possible.”
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., a ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, on Thursday questioned whether reform would raise wages, and instead pointed to other analyses showing that income would drop for lower-skilled American workers.
“Wages have fallen since 1999 and only 55 percent of U.S. adults are now working,” he said in a statement. “African-American youth looking for work cannot find a job. We don’t have a shortage of workers, we have a shortage of jobs.”
The White House reports come a little more than a month after the Senate approved a bipartisan bill on June 27 that establishes a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally that would require them to pay back taxes, learn English, go through a background check and receive temporary status before becoming eligible for citizenship.
The bill also calls for more worker visas and stricter border security. An immigration bill in the GOP-controlled House is likely to face a tougher fight there, and a proposal will likely be introduced when lawmakers return to Washington in September.
The New Jersey report, entitled “The Economic Benefits of Fixing Our Broken Immigration System: Impacts for New Jersey Families,” states that 27.5 percent of the state’s labor force is foreign born, and that segment generates $6.2 billion in income for the state every year.
“In New Jersey, they are contributing to building local economies and helping New Jersey’s economy thrive,” said Corinne Horowitz of NJ Main Street Alliance, an organization that supports immigration reform. “They are not only business owners, but customers and employees as well.”
The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that common-sense immigration reform would have increased state and local taxes paid by New Jersey’s immigrants by $81 million in 2010 – from $476 million to $558 million, the state report says.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013
BY  MONSY ALVARADO
STAFF WRITER
THE RECORD

New Jersey’s tax revenue and housing market would get a boost, and its technology and agricultural industry would gain jobs if Congress passes comprehensive immigration reform, according to economic projections released by the White House on Thursday.

The state-by-state economic reports are part of the White House efforts to convince voters that sweeping immigration reform would be a boon to the economy.

“It is time to act to fix the broken immigration system in a way that requires responsibility from everyone — both from unauthorized workers and from those who hire them — and guarantees that everyone is playing by the same rules,” the report reads. “To this end, the president urges the House of Representatives to take action and stands willing to work with all parties to make sure that common-sense immigration reform becomes a reality as soon as possible.”

U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., a ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, on Thursday questioned whether reform would raise wages, and instead pointed to other analyses showing that income would drop for lower-skilled American workers.

“Wages have fallen since 1999 and only 55 percent of U.S. adults are now working,” he said in a statement. “African-American youth looking for work cannot find a job. We don’t have a shortage of workers, we have a shortage of jobs.”

The White House reports come a little more than a month after the Senate approved a bipartisan bill on June 27 that establishes a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally that would require them to pay back taxes, learn English, go through a background check and receive temporary status before becoming eligible for citizenship.

The bill also calls for more worker visas and stricter border security. An immigration bill in the GOP-controlled House is likely to face a tougher fight there, and a proposal will likely be introduced when lawmakers return to Washington in September.

The New Jersey report, entitled “The Economic Benefits of Fixing Our Broken Immigration System: Impacts for New Jersey Families,” states that 27.5 percent of the state’s labor force is foreign born, and that segment generates $6.2 billion in income for the state every year.

“In New Jersey, they are contributing to building local economies and helping New Jersey’s economy thrive,” said Corinne Horowitz of NJ Main Street Alliance, an organization that supports immigration reform. “They are not only business owners, but customers and employees as well.”

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that common-sense immigration reform would have increased state and local taxes paid by New Jersey’s immigrants by $81 million in 2010 – from $476 million to $558 million, the state report says.

 

 

 


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