Thread: OK-Study: 1804 could cut economic production by 1.8 Billion

By Don Mecoy
Business Writer

Oklahoma's tough new immigration reform law could cut the state's economic production by $1.8 billion in the measure's first year, according to a study released today.

If HB 1804, labeled as the nation's toughest immigration law, drives 50,000 foreign-born workers out of Oklahoma, it would cause a 1.3 percent reduction in the gross state product, the report from Economic Impact Group LLC said. The Oklahoma Bankers Association commissioned the report by the Edmond company. However, bankers association chief executive officer Roger Beverage said his group takes no position on HB 1804.

The study estimated the long-term impact of the bill could be about $1.3 billion a year. Oklahoma's gross state product in 2007 was estimated at nearly $144 billion. Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, said a study of the measure's potential impact should have been performed before the Legislature adopted HB 1804 last year.

"We acted too quickly," Coates said. "We passed the toughest immigration reform bill in the country, but this was the result."

http://newsok.com/article/3220599/1206473079

What will OK SAVE in benefits given to "foreign born" residents?????????

Naaahh I don't buy it. How much is OK saving in social programs? Free education? Overrun ER's and hospital costs? Welfare? WIC? Housing vouchers?

50,000 illegal aliens out will enable LEGAL immigrants to move in.

AT 20,000 dollars for each illegal it comes out to a billion dollars saved by the tax payers. I think it's a wash....

All of this nonsence. Now OK has an opportunity to be run in a legal way. Ill-gotten gains serve nobody.
I am sure the OK economy will be just fine and will grow from here.
Spend wisely and let the economy prosper with few hurdles and tax revenues will flow in the OK coffers.

I am so bloody tired---of using numbers about a "false" economy. The dollars generated would not remain in OK. Many of them are rental dollars for greedy landlords. Purchases at mercados where a good number of the products come from Mexico. It is all ***s***. The number of dollars rolling in will be reduced, tthe percentage of dollars atying in the OK economy will increase.
The previous mention of the $20,000 per illegal alien is a very valid point.

Keep the jobs and the money in America. Building homes and apartments to house illegals is a false economy as well as an illegal effort.

$1.8 Billion lost out of $144 Billion is LESS THAN 1% of loss!!! That's hardly anything, and could have more to do with the downturn in the general economy rather than the loss of 50,000 illegals (I'd like to think that many left, but who knows?). Even 2% of loss is NOTHING!!!

Also, I'd like to see the study that shows how many BILLIONS of dollars are now being saved in hospital bills, social services, less car accidents, less congestion, etc.

Ridiculous!!!

TexasGal

Do they think nobody will ever replace them?? Somebody was doing these jobs before they came along and undercut them.

I tell Americans looking for jobs or a better life to move to OK. I think their economy is going to INCREASE at least $1.8 billion thanks to 1804.

How many billions are their citizens paying out for illegals on schools, medical and so on?