Issue Position: Immigration

Issue Position

Most Americans agree that immigration reform is needed, however, the bill currently being debated in Washington is not the answer. The biggest challenge to this measure is the accounting or should I say the discounting of the economic impact it will have on law-abiding, tax paying citizens for decades to come.

The whole notion of "comprehensive" immigration reform reminds me a lot of something else we called "comprehensive": healthcare reform, and the price tag for Obamacare is still rising.

I do not believe the gang of eight when they claim this plan will be deficit neutral. When was the last time government provided an estimate that was actually accurate as to the fiscal impact it would have on the economy?

The tax revenue collected will not offset the costs of implementation and entitlement spending that will come with it. That's just common sense. Citizenship should be earned. The right to participate in this great country should not be taken lightly, and those who seek the American dream should seek to embrace our culture by speaking English, and paying a fair share of the tax burden. With greater opportunity comes greater responsibility.

In a perfect world, legal immigrants who follow the law and participate in the economy would receive a work visa or legal residency status long before earning citizenship, but we must secure the border first, not just pay lip service to it.

And lastly, for once, we need to think long and hard about the fiscal impact of such a broad and sweeping policy as immigration reform. America is going broke and we need "reforms" that will help, not hurt, our economy.

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