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Immigration laws, Ga. economy merge
Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^
| 14 February 2011
| Jeremy Redmon
Posted on 02/14/2011 4:04:36 AM PST by Racehorse
Bill Brim is worried about the extra costs he said his fruit and vegetable farm in Tifton would have to absorb if state lawmakers pass tough Arizona-style laws aimed at illegal immigration in Georgia.
Charles Shafer Jr., meanwhile, says the proposed laws could be a step in the right direction, so long as they are enforced here. The Lawrenceville resident said he was forced to shut down his home construction business years ago because he could not compete with others he suspected were hiring illegal immigrants.
Such different views have put state lawmakers in a bind. While they want to curb illegal immigration in Georgia, the lawmakers also are trying to protect the state’s bruised economy. The problem is that the two issues are closely intertwined.
Illegal immigrants come to Georgia mainly to find work. There were an estimated 325,000 of them working in the state last year, according to a Pew Hispanic Center report released this month. That represents 7 percent of Georgia’s work force, according to the Washington-based nonpartisan research group, which uses U.S. census data for its estimates. Only six other states — including Texas and California — have higher percentages.
If all illegal immigrants were to leave Georgia, the state would lose $21.3 billion in economic activity, according to a 2008 study done for Americans for Immigration Reform, a Houston-based, business-sponsored group that supports changes to current immigration law.
At the same time, critics argue illegal immigrants are crowding local jails in Georgia and sapping the state’s taxpayer-funded resources, including its public schools.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Government; US: Georgia
KEYWORDS: aliens; economy; georgia; immigrants
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If all illegal immigrants were to leave Georgia, the state would lose $21.3 billion in economic activity . . . At the same time, critics argue illegal immigrants are crowding local jails in Georgia and sapping the state's taxpayer-funded resources, including its public schools. Those who support illegal immigrants are fond of claiming the illegals are an economic boon to the states in which they live. Like here, they have studies which back up their claims -- at the state level. But, what they are very quiet about is the cost to cities and towns which are not reimbursed by the state for expense caused by the illegals. The result is a net loss for the people in money and resources.
1
posted on
02/14/2011 4:04:39 AM PST
by
Racehorse
To: Racehorse
Quit paying American citizens to NOT work, and you’ll see the illegals get run off by the unemployed Americans that want to work and put food on their own tables. Allowing illegals is to no economic advantage. It merely forces productive citizens to continue paying non-productive citizens to sit on their butts while also having to pay wages to the invaders. It’s a net cost to society.
Time to get these invaders out of our country, by any means necessary.
2
posted on
02/14/2011 4:12:31 AM PST
by
meyer
(We will not sit down and shut up.)
To: Racehorse
Go to the department of labor any given day which in Gwinnett County is located conveniently right next to the department of family services. Not only are illegals collecting all the benes, a whole staff is required just to speak to them in spanish.
3
posted on
02/14/2011 4:13:34 AM PST
by
doodad
To: doodad
I live in Lilburn and doodad is more than right...Time to end the social hammock from DC so Americans get off their @$$e$ and the illegals go back home...
4
posted on
02/14/2011 4:25:01 AM PST
by
Nat Turner
(I can see NOVEMBER from my house....)
To: doodad
When I was an electrician in Ga we saw the illegals on every house. EVERY HOUSE. Framing and roofing. Masonry. Landscaping. The liars that say that they do the work that Americans will not do can stick it.
5
posted on
02/14/2011 4:25:24 AM PST
by
mirkwood
(Palin-Bachmann 2012)
To: meyer
-——Quit paying American citizens to NOT work, and you’ll see the illegals get run off by the unemployed-——
That is true up to a point beyond which it is not. The truth is not uniformly spread across rural and urban geography. It also fails to recognize the vast number of American slackers who are part time or full time druggies and others who are so shiftless they can’t manage to get to work every day.
At 5% unemployment, we were at full employment ....... all but the dregs and druggie misfits had jobs. The illegals pushed us beyond full employment.
I do not condone illegals, merely point out the dilemma
6
posted on
02/14/2011 4:40:16 AM PST
by
bert
(K.E. N.P. N.C. D.E. +12 ....( History is a process, not an event ))
To: Racehorse
The a**hole just wants a free ride, there are 14 different programs that allow legal farm workers, but all require him to be a real business and pay taxes and actual cost of the workers. I bet the dirt bags cry about the wall steer bailout, but he wants his slice.
To: Racehorse
“Bill Brim is worried about the extra costs he said his fruit and vegetable farm in Tifton would have to absorb if state lawmakers pass tough Arizona-style laws aimed at illegal immigration in Georgia. “
Hey ICE, I’ve got a hot tip for ya. . .
It always amazes me that these business owners are perfectly willing to admit that they hire illegals, even though it’s against the law and the could be prosecuted.
To: meyer
Bill Brim is worried about the extra costs he said his fruit and vegetable farm in Tifton would have to absorb if state lawmakers pass tough Arizona-style laws aimed at illegal immigration in Georgia. Tough, a**hole. You've been taking advantage of illegals for too long. Just be pleased you aren't locked up for your previous transgressions.
Meyer, I really despise these people -- and the reporters who try to paint lawbreakers in this sympathetic light.
9
posted on
02/14/2011 4:58:19 AM PST
by
Lazamataz
(If Illegal Aliens are Undocumented Workers, then Thieves are Undocumented Shoppers.)
To: bert
That is true up to a point beyond which it is not. The truth is not uniformly spread across rural and urban geography. It also fails to recognize the vast number of American slackers who are part time or full time druggies and others who are so shiftless they can’t manage to get to work every day.True, true. But at 9-17% unemployment (depending on which figures are used), we are certainly subsidizing slackers to a huge extent, while simultaneously leaving the door open for low, under-the-table wage earners like illegals. I suspect that a lot of the "cash-only" earners are also collecting unemployment and/or welfare and food stamps and other perks that benefit the deadbeats.
At any rate, the fact that slackers can live such trouble-free lives shows that the welfare life is way too easy.
At 5% unemployment, we were at full employment ....... all but the dregs and druggie misfits had jobs. The illegals pushed us beyond full employment.
I remember hearing that 8% or 10% was "full employment" back before 5% was. Personally, I think that number would be 2 or 3% if not for government interference in the employment market. When the government makes it too easy to be unemployed, people will choose unemployment as a career.
I wish I could find that chart that was on FR a month or so ago, showing the actual "disposable income" levels for a family of 4 living on $14,000 vs. one making $60,000. Suffice to say that the family "earning" $14,000 had slightly more disposable income than the one earning $60,000, once all the government aid and freebies were calculated into the equation. Sadly, I didn't save it. Even more sadly, perhaps, was that the thread never caught fire here among the conservatives.
Sorry for drifting a bit off subject here.
10
posted on
02/14/2011 5:06:34 AM PST
by
meyer
(We will not sit down and shut up.)
To: Racehorse
A boon for the sleazy, greedy Quislings who hire them.
Leeches on the necks of the taxpayers.
Arrest the Quislings and throw them in jail.
11
posted on
02/14/2011 5:09:42 AM PST
by
Travis McGee
(EnemiesForeignAndDomestic is now on Kindle.)
To: meyer
Quit paying American to sit on their arses...ABSOLUTELY.
The government ALSO needs to cut taxes and regulations on small and medium size business so these businesses can HIRE American workers at a decent wage rather than employ illegals at 1/3 of the cost.
Too many business find that it is much easier to pay illegals ‘under the table’, because of all the tax filing nonsense, social security withholding and coming soon—ObamaCare.
The government MUST STOP punishing a business for daring to pursue a profit.
To: mirkwood
When my husband began here in the construction industry years ago, it was mostly white and black working the trades. The illegals have run the blacks out of business. The illegals ran my neighbor out of business and many others that I know who work in the trades.
I am not sorry for the farmer either. If he needs the Mexican labor so bad he can sponsor his workers and make sure they are legal.
The illegals have ruined entire towns and schools. It his horrible and you have to see it to believe it.
For every peach you purchase oh so cheap, it costs the rest us millions in medical and schooling and our communities are trashed! Is it worth it?
To: Racehorse
There is no way in hell that we would lose that much in economic activity!!!
To: Racehorse
I wonder how much taxpayers have to pay to subsidize that “$21.3 billion in economic activity?”
15
posted on
02/14/2011 5:26:01 AM PST
by
Little Ray
(The Gods of the Copybook Heading, with terror and slaughter return!)
To: panthermom
The undiagnosed problem is that you cannot have a work force that speaks two different languages. If workers at the same job cannot readily communicate, it is a recipe for disaster.
Thus ONE ILLEGAL WORKER rapidly becomes an entire illegal workforce.
What happens to the citizen worker?
HASTA LA VISTA, BAYBEEE!
To: spectre; truthkeeper; processing please hold; antceecee; navymom1; jaredt112; Edgerunner; ...
17
posted on
02/14/2011 5:32:00 AM PST
by
bcsco
To: Flintlock
Cheap labor on the front end, tons of costs on the back end.
A few years ago the mexicans had a work stoppage over an immigration law signed by Sonny Perdue. Well all I can say is that it backfired big time. Work still got done and the radio stations and newspapers were filled with comments on how pleasant it was to work, travel and shop.
To: Racehorse
We’ve come a long way in Atlanta.......we even have our own episode on Gangland!
To: panthermom
“” it costs the rest us millions in medical and schooling and our communities are trashed! Is it worth it?
Don’t forget the upward pressure in rent/mortagage caused by the housing that tens of millions of illeagals require if they are to work here. I rarely hear of this very obvious factor being considered. “”
20
posted on
02/14/2011 5:44:30 AM PST
by
TalBlack
( Evil doesn't have a day job.)
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