To
bring to light the real facts about the costs and real benefits of
immigration, a number of states are proposing commissioned studies on
the economic role and contributions of immigrants, including workforce
participation, business or jobs generated, revitalization of neighborhoods, and
taxes paid.
- Virginia's HB
1673,
passed in April 2007, creates the Virginia Commission on Immigration to
study, report, and make recommendations to address the costs and benefits
of immigration on the Commonwealth.
- Maryland passed HB 1602, establishing a
3-year Commission to Study the Impact of Immigrants in Maryland, including a study of the
demographic profile and impact of immigrants, and the economic and fiscal
impacts of immigration. The Commission's recommendations are due by
January 2011.
Such
official studies will just reinforce the message of other reports from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington DC, Long Island, NY, and Iowa that new immigrants
both pay taxes and contribute significantly to our state economies.
See
also: