Huckabee's Immigration Fumble -- There's a reason Republicans are losing Hispanic voters

Wall Street Journal ^ | December 17, 2007 | Jason L. Riley

[Zakeet]

With polls showing his lead gone in Iowa and narrowing in other early primary states, Mitt Romney has stepped up attacks on Mike Huckabee in the contest for the Republican presidential nomination.

Social conservatives especially are exercised by our porous borders, and Mr. Romney sees his surging rival's past positions on immigration as an inviting target. When Mr. Huckabee was governor of Arkansas, it turns out, he supported letting the children of illegal aliens, who met the same academic standards required of legal residents, apply for taxpayer-funded college scholarships. Heavens to Betsy!

During a sharp exchange with Mr. Huckabee at a recent debate, Mr. Romney said it's wrong to give illegal aliens access to revenue from hard-working taxpayers. "Mike, that's not your money," said Mr. Romney. "That's the taxpayers' money . . . [and] there's only so much money to go around." Following the debate, the Romney campaign released an ad reiterating the charge. "Huckabee even supported taxpayer-funded college scholarships for illegal aliens," says the narrator in a TV spot now airing in Iowa.

If illegal immigrants didn't pay taxes, Mr. Romney might have a point. But they do pay taxes, and by doing so they subsidize services that only legal residents can access. For starters, more than half and up to three-quarters of illegal immigrants in the U.S. are working "on the books," which means they're paying federal and state income taxes, just like the rest of us. They are also paying Social Security and Medicare taxes, even though undocumented immigrants are ineligible to receive benefits from either program. In testimony before the Senate Finance Committee last year, the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration noted that between 1937 and 2003, contributions to Social Security from unauthorized workers totaled an estimated $520 billion.

[Zakeet]

Their Conclusion: America's illegal immigration mess is born of bad policies that are either unenforceable or not enforced because it's not in our economic interest to do so. Rather than offering voters more of the same, which risks fostering resentment among a fast-growing minority voting bloc, Republican presidential hopefuls would do better to put forward proposals that will bring immigration laws in line with the labor demands of our expanding economy.

[Misterioso]

Our expanding economy? Who are you trying to kid?

[Brad from Tennessee]

I don’t want the GOP to lose any votes but I’m not going to blame conservatives politicians for insisting on secure borders (a real fence), forced deportations and tools like a universal federal ID card.

[babygene]

If you make minimum wage ($12400), with a standard deduction of ($8450), and have a kid (presumably yes if it’ going to school), you would pay no income tax. For that matter you would pay a negative tax (get free money back)

[donna]

For starters, more than half and up to three-quarters of illegal immigrants in the U.S. are working "on the books," which means they're paying federal and state income taxes, just like the rest of us.

What proof is there that 3/4 of illegal aliens pay taxes?

[roamer_1]

What proof is there that 3/4 of illegal aliens pay taxes?

I saw that too. It infers that they have a good handle on how many illegal aliens are in-country, of which I doubt they have the foggiest idea.

[Caipirabob]

Better to lost the minority than lose the base, IMHO...

[valkyry1]

Losing Hispanic voters? So what?

USA as any nation will always have illegal immigration, it is a fact of life.

I do not know about anyone else, but the only illegal immigration that alarms me, is the Mexican illegal immigrations.

They want to take chunks of Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico & Arizona. They think they still own it.., IMO.

[Iron Munro]

"up to three-quarters of illegal immigrants in the U.S. are working "on the books"

"Torture numbers, and they'll confess to anything. -- Gregg Easterbrook

"There are two kinds of statistics, the kind you look up and the kind you make up. -- Rex Stout

For an illegal to work "on the books" means they are using the STOLEN IDENTITY of a citizen or legal resident or the employer is knowingly employing someone with false documentation.
But there is no solid data on the numbers working on or off the books.
No one knows if there are 12 million or 30 million illegals here and no one knows what percentage are working off the books or using stolen identities.

The truth is the government doesn't want hard, reliable numbers available on either. That way they can use what ever numbers they like to support the position the find most convenient at the moment.

.

[taxed2death]

“For starters, more than half and up to three-quarters of illegal immigrants in the U.S. are working “on the books,” which means they’re paying federal and state income taxes, just like the rest of us. They are also paying Social Security and Medicare taxes,....”

total BS.
Got any proof?

[beefree]

Illegal immigrants who pay up to $50,000 EACH to be smuggled into US should alarm you. Hamas and Hezbollah can afford it and clearly are not coming here for economic relief.

[valkyry1]

As I see it, those (Illegal immigrants who pay up to $50,000 EACH to be smuggled into US) are in a separate category

Some are probably people who want to get here by any means, and some are probably agents.

[SWEET OLD BILL]

What proof is there that 3/4 of illegal aliens pay taxes?

If an illigal is working on the books, then both he and his employer pay social security tax, which is about 15% of wages.

[Mojohemi]

Look at all the African Votes we are missing out on by not having all the Africans in the USA............How sick can a man get ! expanding economy??? Has wall street been notified about this expanding economy?? I’m losing money in the expanding economy !! Huckabee a ex-preacher. says it all!! beware of ex-preachers in politics.

[Edit35]

the Social Security Administration noted that BETWEEN 1937 and 2003, contributions to Social Security from unauthorized workers totaled an estimated $520 billion.

$520 billion over a SEVENTY YEAR (1937-2003)period is a DROP IN THE BUCKET compared to what it cost to house, educate, and for law enforcement associated for all those millions of illegal immigrants!!!

Not to mention costs from gangs like MS13, Russian mafia, etc.

If we need more 'low income workers', boost the temp worker program, but CHECK THE incoming people very thoroughly for disease and alterior motives.

We cannot afford to become a Latin-American style socialized revolutionary government.

[David In Staten Island]

Who are you trying to kid by saying that more than half of illegals pay their taxes? I suppose if you are couching that under the guise of sales taxes sure. But income taxes? I think not. As a New Yorker (and form Angeleno), I have know more than my fair share of illegal immigrants. While I have like many of these people, I gotta tell you. Most weren’t and aren’t paying taxes!!

[Brilliant]

“If illegal immigrants didn’t pay taxes, Mr. Romney might have a point.”

Illegal immigrants pay a small portion of the taxes they owe. Is that better, WSJ?

And they are taking income away from Americans who would pay taxes, but can’t because they must compete with an immigrant for a job.

[iopscusa]

The WSJ ed board is making up numbers to support their position...this is in Opinion Journal of the WSJ and anyone can read & post a response to thie OBL/WSJ...these a pro illegal immi articles ge a lot of comments that counter the Editors!

[Kimberly GG]

“Huckabee’s Immigration Fumble”

IMO, more important than Huckabee’s past record is Huckabee’s plan to give AMNESTY to illegal aliens already here with a “touchback” scheme that will allow them to leave the U.S. briefly and return as citizens, entitling them to full benefits and no longer at risk of deportation. And when that becomes more than our government can handle...I look for them to be required only to do paperwork at some local Mexican embassy. I also expect that current EMPLOYERS of those illegal aliens will be given AMNESTY from prosecution. Only THEN will our “immigration laws” be enforced.

Huckabee’s plan (and any other candidates hiding plans for the same) MUST be exposed.

[Kimberly GG]

I suppose it wouldn’t be an embassy, a consulate maybe?