Thread: GA: Immigration bills won't bankrupt state

Immigration bills won't bankrupt state

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
February 16, 2011
By Willoughby Mariano

The war of words on immigration has grown high-pitched, and the recent warning from Georgia Libertarians, of course, is no exception.

"The Libertarian Party of Georgia" says, immigration Bills will bankrupt Georgia," began a news release condemning the "Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011," or House Bill 87, which broadens the role state and local government play policing illegal immigration.

The cost to enforce it would be "huge," the release purported. Its economic effects "catastrophic."

Would it really?

State Rep. Matt Ramsey, a Republican from Peachtree City, is lead sponsor of the wide-ranging legislation. It would allow legal residents to sue if they think an agency is not adequately enforcing state immigration law; ban transporting, harboring or enticing an illegal immigrant to enter the state; authorize an officer to check a suspect's legal status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that the person is here illegally; and require businesses with more than five employees to use the federal E-Verify system to ensure their workers are legal residents.

Some portions resemble Arizona's HB 1070, which critics say encourages racial profiling and infringes on federal authority. The U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights groups are suing Arizona over the 2010 legislation, and major cities and organizations boycotted the state.

We asked Brett Bittner, executive director of the Libertarian Party of Georgia, for evidence to back his claim about Georgia's legislation.

He did not have any specific costs but speculated Ramsey's bill "grows the size of government."

Lawsuits challenging its constitutionality could be costly, Bittner said. Plus, the provision that would allow individuals to sue agencies over enforcement could spawn frivolous suits.

"We're not sure of the costs, and Representative Ramsey hasn't provided any of the costs," Bittner said.

Indeed, Ramsey didn't have an estimate. So PolitiFact Georgia dug up cost estimates for Arizona and states considering similar legislation and looked at an existing program for guidance.

We found that estimates are extremely limited. Arizona's costs for certain HB 1070 provisions are unknown because a federal judge temporarily blocked their implementation.

We also found that the impact is so complex that it is difficult to predict.

For instance, if illegal immigrants and their families leave Georgia because of the legislation, state government will no longer have to subsidize their children's health care, education, or welfare advocates for lower immigration levels strongly noted.

But illegal immigrants would no longer buy goods or services or work here, which could lower tax revenue and weaken the economy, critics of the legislation told PolitiFact.

Most research, though very limited, concludes tax revenue generated by all immigrants exceeds the cost of the services they use, the Congressional Budget Office said in 2007.

HB 87 can actually save money!

Gwinnett County is part of the federal 287(g) program, which allows state or local law enforcement agencies to enforce certain immigration laws.

Its sheriff said this program lowered the foreign-born jail population in its first year, saving between $386,010 and $2.1 million.

Program staffing only costs $1.2 million.

A January study on 287(g) said those local costs shift to the federal government.

If one cost is almost certain, it's legal bills.

Arizona's total is $1.5 million as of early this month, and its governor is using donations to pay them.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, of course, plans to sue if HB 87 passes as written.

Another potential cost is from lost convention business from boycotts.

Roughly three months after HB 1070's passage, Arizona's Hotel and Lodging Association said 40 group meetings were canceled, costing $12 million in revenue, excluding restaurant, retailer or rental car company losses. The progressive Center for American Progress estimated a total loss of about $141 million. This translates to $9.4 million in lost tax revenue.

Georgia's bill contains provisions that on their face appear pricey. The provision that would allow local law enforcement agencies to check immigration status would likely cost money to transport illegal immigrants to federal facilities and train officers.

The bill will let residents sue state and local agencies for inadequate enforcement, which could result in big legal bills. Ramsey said he is revising the bill to address this.

To sum up, while the potential costs could slightly strain the state's already tight $18 billion budget, it's extremely unlikely they would "bankrupt the state".

Georgia Libertarians' alarmist statement that the bill "will bankrupt Georgia" is absolutely False!

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/En ... 04&start=3

"The Libertarian Party of Georgia" says, immigration Bills will bankrupt Georgia," began a news release condemning the "Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011," or House Bill 87, which broadens the role state and local government play policing illegal immigration.

The cost to enforce it would be "huge," the release purported. Its economic effects "catastrophic."

The plans are already in place for a NAU.

The bill will let residents sue state and local agencies for inadequate enforcement, which could result in big legal bills. Ramsey said he is revising the bill to address this.

Why shouldn't legal residents be able to sue? Illegal aliens and their shills do it with impunity and without a care to the costs to the community/state/fed. As long as they get theirs must be their motto. They only trot out the "it will mean millions in legal fees" canard when it's not going their way.

Let everybody sue everybody til there is nothing left. The ACLU has gotta run out of money sooner or later. Let's speed up the process for 'em.