HB 1804 could hurt state, study shows
HB 1804 could hurt state, study shows
By Don Mecoy
Comments 
27
Published: March 26, 2008
Oklahoma's tough anti-illegal immigration law could slash the state's economic output by $1.8 billion in the measure's first year as it drives away thousands of foreign-born workers, according to a study.
More Info
Harry Coates
Advertisement
The study released Tuesday estimated that if 50,000 foreign-born workers — about half of all immigrant workers — flee the state because of House Bill 1804, it would cause a 1.3 percent reduction in Oklahoma's gross state product in the first year.
The impact would be about $1.3 billion annually in subsequent years, the study by
Economic Impact Group LLC estimated.
Oklahoma's 2007 gross state product, the value of all goods and services produced in the state, was estimated at nearly $144 billion.
Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, one of the authors of the law, said the study was flawed in a variety of ways, most importantly by assumptions that the economic impact is the most important aspect of the measure.
"It's about fundamental respect for the rule of law, about upholding our state and national sovereignty, about the morality of employing illegal alien labor,” Terrill said. "Those are things that are difficult if not impossible to express in economic terms.”
The
Oklahoma Bankers Association commissioned the
Edmond firm to analyze the impact of the measure after bankers around the state reported problems for businesses that employed foreign-born workers, said
Roger Beverage, association chief executive.
However, the bankers association has taken no position on HB 1804, Beverage said.
"We have bankers and bank customers on both sides of the issue,” Beverage said.
Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, said a study of the measure's potential effect should have been performed before the Legislature adopted HB 1804 last year. Coates owns a construction consulting business.
"We acted too quickly,” Coates said. "We passed the toughest immigration reform bill in the country, but this was the result.”
HB 1804, most of which took effect in November, bans illegal immigrants from getting driver's licenses or statewide identification and publicly funded social services. It makes it harder for undocumented college students to get financial assistance while in state colleges and universities and makes it illegal for
U.S. citizens to transport, harbor or conceal illegal immigrants.
Beginning in July, companies with state-awarded contracts will be required to verify citizenship status of all new hires. It also will apply to companies that do business with independent contractors.
The State Chamber, numerous industry associations and the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce have filed a lawsuit against
Gov. Brad Henry and
Attorney General Drew Edmondson over HB 1804.
The study's authors, partners
Russell Evans and
Kyle Dean, said the law is designed to encourage illegal aliens to leave the state. But those workers' departure will prompt others who are legally in the state to leave, as well, Evans said.
Evans said only anecdotal evidence exists that foreign-born workers are leaving the state. Beverage said bankers have told him of at least three businesses that suffered dire consequences when their labor supply disappeared after HB 1804 took effect.
"They were there one day to help and the next day they weren't,” Beverage said.
Terrill said the study failed to take into account the savings that could be generated by the law, overestimated the financial clout of illegal aliens, ignored the opportunity for growth in employment and wages for U.S. citizens who could fill jobs vacated by departing workers and falsely assumed that the measure will lead to a "great exodus” of foreign-born workers.
Terrill said business groups who participated in negotiations over the legislation before its passage have failed to contact him to identify any aspect of HB 1804 that they believe is excessively burdensome.
"What are they after?” Terrill asked. "Their end game has to be to weaken it, repeal it or delay it.”
Leave a Comment
News Photo Galleriesview all
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
We can stop the travesty of our laws, if only the majority of Democrats would co-sign the SAVE ACT. With only 18 more votes to go, we could bring this enforcement only bill to a vote. However, the Democrats want to attaches an addendum to the bill. It would give the 12 to 20 million foreign nationals occupying our nation, an easy ride to legality. This is wrong when millions wait for years patiently, to get THE PEOPLES permission to get a entry visa.
Consider the impact of illegal immigration on California.
"Illegal immigration continues to have a devastating impact Los Angeles County taxpayers," Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said. "With $220 million for public safety, $400 million for health care, and $420 million in welfare allocations, the total cost for illegal immigrants to county taxpayers far exceeds $1 billion a year - not including the millions of dollars for education."
Assemblywoman Mimi Walters, a Republican from Oceanside, said illegal immigrants cost California taxpayers an estimated $9 billion each year. The expenditure of $1.8 billiors now, could escalate in the future if nothing is done. You only have to look at the budget mess, California has now?.
The illegal invasion can only be understood by the corrupting influence
on politicians of money for cheap labor for the Republicans or the
Welfare votes for the Democrats that makes them dishonor their Oath of
Office, the US Constitution against Invasion, and Enforcement of our
Immigration Laws! Powerful forces at work to stop relevant immigration
enforcement, that includes La Raza and friends, big businesses, the
church machine and other special interest lobby.
The SAVE ACT is a by-partisan law is awaiting just 18 signers, to bring this enforcement only to a House vote. The SAVE ACT will supersede any state laws, in its magnitude. It will go after the real culprits who are the predator employers. It is enforcement by Attrition or Self-Deportation. Cannot get work, then they will leave of their own accord.If you are one of the citizens fed up with subsiding the poor, uneducated from around the world. When the new personage steps into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, then we will be seeing the 12 to 20 million getting a path to citizenship. Nobody should have a right to legalization without going home and being processed like all immigrants.
YOU! And only YOU, can stop this travesty of our Immigration laws?
Tell your representatives to co-author THE SAVE ACT?
Congress is currently on recess through March 31st, so your representative will likely be in the home constituency and available to meet with its citizens.
FREE FAXES FOUND HERE. Keep calling your Congressmen today, toll free numbers include 1-877-851-6437 and 1-866-220-0044, or call toll 1-202-224-3121 AND REGISTER YOUR OUTRAGE at ongoing efforts to keep our country from enforcing its immigration laws!
A few other things to think about are the fact that some of these people could be terrorist. They are undocumented people, so who knows where they're really from, the strain they put on our hostpitals,, schools, and police.
It's almost like Don Mecoy and all the other Chamber panderers are oblivious to the fact that we all see why they keep writing this diatribe
We can stop the travesty of our laws, if only the majority of Democrats would co-sign the SAVE ACT. With only 18 more votes to go, we could bring this enforcement only bill to a vote. However, the Democrats want to attache an addendum to the bill. It would give the 12 to 20 million foreign nationals occupying our nation, an easy ride to legality. This is wrong when millions wait for years patiently, to get THE PEOPLES permission to get a entry visa.
The SAVE ACT is a by-partisan law is awaiting just 18 signers, to bring this enforcement only to a House vote. The SAVE ACT will supersede any state laws, in its magnitude. It will go after the real culprits who are the predator employers. It is enforcement by Attrition or Self-Deportation. Cannot get work, then they will leave of their own accord.If you are one of the citizens fed up with subsiding the poor, uneducated from around the world. When the new personage steps into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, then we will be seeing the 12 to 20 million getting a path to citizenship. Nobody should have a right to legalization without going home and being processed like all immigrants.
This is obviously being well played by the pro-illegal immigrant factions, hoping the national publicity will ultimately change the majority of public opinion regarding the illegal alien invasion.
An example of the huge budget meltdown for supporting illegal aliens in California is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, quoting from a Los Angeles newspaper. The growing connection between the wilting economy and illegal immigration is irrefutable. We only have to look at the massive budget deficit in California to realize the implications around our nation. Quoted as saying.
"Illegal immigration continues to have a devastating impact Los Angeles County taxpayers," Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said. "With $220 million for public safety, $400 million for health care, and $420 million in welfare allocations, the total cost for illegal immigrants to county taxpayers far exceeds $1 billion a year - not including the millions of dollars for education."
Assemblywoman Mimi Walters, a Republican from Oceanside, said illegal immigrants cost California taxpayers an estimated $9 billion each year.
YOU! And only YOU, can stop this travesty of our Immigration laws?
Tell your representatives to co-author THE SAVE ACT?