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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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/
But why does the rank and file put up with it and vote with the bosses? It’s cutting their own throats.
Almost?
hard to keep up with this kind of corruption
REminds me of followers of Rev. Jim Jones.
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?
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.
The increase in middle class incomes has not happened.
Meanwhile more redistribution of wealth is also taking place...
Can’t be making sense around here, now. They’ll be coming to talk to you if you make sense too often.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People are too predictable for that to happen, and if it did what good is the GOP now?
bttt
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