Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Congress: Middle class incomes drop as immigration surges
Washington Examiner ^ | APRIL 23, 2015 | PAUL BEDARD

Posted on 04/23/2015 2:23:07 PM PDT by xzins

Wages of America's middle class have dropped below 1970s levels as immigration has surged 325 percent, according to a new congressional report that questions claims that native Americans are economically helped by greater immigration.

The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service report studied immigration and middle class income from 1945-2013 and found that as immigration slowed between 1945 and 1970, American incomes increased.

But when immigration expanded, the incomes of the bottom 90 percent of Americans went flat and then dropped beginning in 2000.

In the report to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the CRS reported that the foreign-born population of the United States surged 324.5 percent, from 9,740,000 to 41,348,066, from 1970 to 2013.

Congressional Research Service And as that happened, incomes of the bottom 90 percent dropped 7.9 percent in 2013 dollars, from an average of $33,621 to $30,980.

The report could throw cold water on congressional efforts to expand immigration for tech and other jobs. One bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch and backed by presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio would boost guest worker levels and remove any cap on green cards for certain foreign graduates of American colleges and universities.

While the CRS did not offer any opinion on immigration and wages, the report's questions and answer section provided details on the link between higher immigration and lower middle class wages.

1. From 1945-1970, what was the net change in the foreign-born population, expressed both as a percentage and numerically?

Answer - The foreign-born population in the United States diminished from 10,971,146 in 1945 to 9,740,000 in 1970, a decline of 1,231,146 persons, representing a percentage decline of 11.2% over this 25 year period.

2. From 1945-1970, how did overall wages change for the bottom 90% of earners?

Answer - The reported income of the bottom 90% of tax filers in the United States increased from an average of $18,418 in 1945 to $33,621 in 1970 for an aggregate change of $15,202 or a percent increase of 82.5% over this 25 year period.

3. From 1945-1970, what was the net change in the share of income held by the bottom 90% of the U.S. income distribution?

Answer - The share of income held by the bottom 90% of the U.S. income distribution increased from 67.4% in 1945 to 68.5% in 1970, an absolute increase of 1.1 percentage points over this 25 year period.

4. From 1970-present, what was the net change in the foreign-born population, expressed both as a percentage and numerically?

Answer - Between 1970 and 2013, the estimated foreign-born population in the United States increased from 9,740,000 to 41,348,066, respectively, an increase of 31,608,066 persons, representing a percentage increase of 324.5% over this 43 year period.

5. From 1970-present, how did overall wages change for the bottom 90% of earners?

Answer - The reported income of the bottom 90% of tax filers in the United States decreased from an average of $33,621 in 1970 to $30,980 in 2013 for an aggregate decline of $2,641 or a percent decline of 7.9% over this 43 year period.

6. From 1970-present, what was the net change in the share of income held by the bottom 90% of the U.S. income distribution?

Answer - The share of income held by the bottom 90% of the U.S. income distribution declined from 68.5% in 1970 to 53.0% in 2013, an absolute decline of 15.5 percentage points over this 43 year period.

RELATED: Applications for H-1B tech visas reach record levels

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com.


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aliens; corporatewelfare; h1b; immigration; income; unemployment; wages
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last
To: Lizavetta
And let's fill our post-high school education opportunities with foreigners and give them ALL green cards when they graduate!

You gotta' love the description of "the bottom 90% of the population". All but 10% of the population is being labeled as replaceable, irrelevant, and expendable.

21 posted on 04/23/2015 2:58:32 PM PDT by grania
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Blacks have it worse than we do on this one... It must really sting for blacks since they voted in the democrats who are holding doors open for illegals.


22 posted on 04/23/2015 3:05:58 PM PDT by GOPJ (Dead Broke Hillary Dodged Sniper Fire With Her Immigrant Parents In Tuzla - Steyn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

As I’ve said before in here, I think Governor Walker has found the sweet spot in the immigration debate. Even immigrants here legally should favor his position that we should consider American wage levels when we determine the number of new immigrants allowed each year. As the article indicates, rapid immigration depresses relative wage levels.

This is a debate that Democrat politicians will really want to either avoid or misdirect. Accusing Walker of being anti-immigrant is a good example of misdirecting, by the way. They really don’t want their pro-illegal-immigrant stance to be put up alongside the effect on the wages of the people they supposedly champion, the American workers.


23 posted on 04/23/2015 4:22:49 PM PDT by Norseman (Defund the Left....completely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

The answer is that unions support increasing the number of Democrat voters, even if they’re illicit voters, because the Democrat Party gives union leaders anything they want once the party gains power. Why? Because union leaders direct nearly all of their funding and campaign help to Democrats.


24 posted on 04/23/2015 4:27:47 PM PDT by Norseman (Defund the Left....completely!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Truth is a Weapon
Heads up!.....IMMIGRATION FROM S.AMERICA....'FREE TRANSPORTATION'

The Obama Administration, via unauthorized executive action, is now providing FREE TRANSPORTATION to individuals in 'El Salvador', 'Guatemala', and 'Honduras' who are related to foreign nationals inside the United States,..." including those here illegally,”......“Once granted refugee status, an individual has "open access to federal welfare, work permits, and the ability to receive a green card AND CITIZENSHIP,”...... “The Administration has also stated that it plans to ‘parole’ such individuals into the United States as well, further contravening law.”

So we have huge problems coming down the road real soo....This is to change the face of the workforce.......Illegals with work permits are 'not' required to get Obamacare. So, companies who employ illegals with work permits aren't obligated to offer insurance. (confirmed) ......Therefore... A company with only 50 blue-collar workers, can save $3,000 person a year 'in fines' for not offering insurance.....That's $150,000 a year saved in fines, not to mention the costs of not having to offer insurance.....so a company with only 50 blue-collar workers can save 'by hiring illegals' with a work permit "over legals and Americans."...add to that if they don't speak English it's considered reason for disability benifits.

Obama just shafted the lower rungs of our economic ladder. . . .

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/04/23/memo-353000-refugees-on-food-stamps-55000-receiving-supplemental-security-income/

25 posted on 04/23/2015 4:29:17 PM PDT by caww
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Norseman

But why does the rank and file put up with it and vote with the bosses? It’s cutting their own throats.


26 posted on 04/23/2015 4:31:02 PM PDT by xzins (Donate to the Freep-a-Thon or lose your ONLY voice. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Almost?


27 posted on 04/23/2015 4:48:41 PM PDT by RipSawyer (Racism is racism, regardless of the race of the racist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: RipSawyer

hard to keep up with this kind of corruption


28 posted on 04/23/2015 4:50:27 PM PDT by xzins (Donate to the Freep-a-Thon or lose your ONLY voice. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: xzins

REminds me of followers of Rev. Jim Jones.


29 posted on 04/23/2015 4:53:00 PM PDT by apocalypto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Shouldn’t the litmus test for immigration be based on whether it helps the country as opposed to whether it benefits just the immigrants?

Oh yeah, that would make too much sense. wouldn’t it?


30 posted on 04/23/2015 5:22:31 PM PDT by Cubs Fan (anarchotyranny-“we refuse to control real criminals (anarchy) so we control the innocent (tyranny)")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

And with the Korean visas, ChiCom visas, H1B Indian spouse visas, and the unlimited visas coming from the TPP, EVERYONE will be dumluckysombitches to work at all.


31 posted on 04/23/2015 5:26:11 PM PDT by combat_boots (The Lion of Judah cometh. Hallelujah. Gloria Patri, Filio et Spiritui Sancto!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins
The effects on middle class incomes by LBJ's presidency start about 1970 and continue today.

The increase in middle class incomes has not happened.

32 posted on 04/23/2015 5:28:42 PM PDT by TYVets
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Meanwhile more redistribution of wealth is also taking place...


33 posted on 04/23/2015 5:54:59 PM PDT by Thunder90 (All posts soley represent my own opinion.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cubs Fan

Can’t be making sense around here, now. They’ll be coming to talk to you if you make sense too often.


34 posted on 04/23/2015 6:14:38 PM PDT by xzins (Donate to the Freep-a-Thon or lose your ONLY voice. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: xzins

Well duh. It’s basic critical thinking. You bring in millions of people that will work for 90% less than what Americans are used to being paid, wages go down across the board. That’s just simple.


35 posted on 04/23/2015 7:12:31 PM PDT by FreedomStar3028 (Somebody has to step forward and do what is right because it is right, otherwise no one will follow.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Truth is a Weapon

Its what will eventually happen.

Not a first, but a generation or two down the line.

These illegals will be bringing their grandchildren up in a country that has become exactly what they fled.


36 posted on 04/23/2015 7:15:21 PM PDT by FreedomStar3028 (Somebody has to step forward and do what is right because it is right, otherwise no one will follow.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: xzins
Has never taken a mental GIANT to figure this out....

I'm not brilliant....but what I saw happening in SOCAL..in the 70's...and illegal aliens were going to sink legal American workers...Plain and simple.

And I was right.

37 posted on 04/23/2015 7:18:26 PM PDT by Osage Orange (I have strong feelings about gun control. If there's a gun around, I want to be controlling it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: xzins

The general public will never figure all this out. And the politicians know it. Look at the silly Mississippians in the summer of 2014 for proof.


38 posted on 04/23/2015 8:28:50 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Liberals keep winning; so the American people must now be all-liberal all the time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Truth is a Weapon
It would be ultimate justice and irony if a majority of amnestied illegals who become citizens and voters decide to vote conservative and turn out the Dems and establishment Republicans.

People are too predictable for that to happen, and if it did what good is the GOP now?

39 posted on 04/23/2015 8:31:38 PM PDT by Theodore R. (Liberals keep winning; so the American people must now be all-liberal all the time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: xzins

bttt


40 posted on 04/23/2015 10:31:16 PM PDT by Pelham (The refusal to deport is defacto amnesty)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson