PHOENIX - The nation faces tough questions in tough times, and there are people on both sides of every issue.
Arizona is no different. But who’s saying what about the issues important to Arizonans?
ABC15.com has launched a weekly segment called "Hear Me Out," and each Sunday we're debuting an Arizona issue - along with two opposing sides on the topic.
Don’t worry, you always have the opportunity to make comments at the bottom of the page. Yeah, your opinion matters too.
This week we're tackling the debate over the economic impact of Arizona's new immigration law, and whether our state can afford to lose migrant workers in the country illegally.
Some say Senate Bill 1070 will have a negative effect on Arizona's economy, especially our state's agricultural industry. They argue an already flailing market cannot afford to lose its work force.
Others contend the law will have positive implications for Arizona's economy, decreasing the number of undocumented workers operating in an underground market, as well as their dis-proportionate use of government benefits.
So, can Arizona afford to lose migrant workers in light of SB 1070?
YES, ARIZONA CAN AFFORD TO LOSE WORKERS: By By Rachel Alexander, Editor, intellectualconservative.com
Arizona’s tough new illegal immigration bill, SB1070, will have a net positive effect on the economy.
It will decrease the number of illegal workers operating in the underground economy.
The open borders lobby claims that illegal immigrants take jobs that Americans won’t do, and warn that there will be no one to do jobs like lettuce picking or landscaping, so costs of certain products and services will dramatically increase. This is not accurate.
In reality, illegal immigrants take jobs at wages Americans won’t accept. Much of the work illegal immigrants perform is in the service industry, like landscaping, nail salons, and fast food restaurants. These are non-necessary services that Americans could cut back on if their prices really were to increase dramatically.
The dire warnings about the cost of goods drastically increasing are grossly exaggerated.
Since the price of labor is just one of many factors that goes into the cost of a head of lettuce, if the price of labor were to double, the increase in the price of lettuce would be negligible.
Agricultural economist Philip Martin of the University of California-Davis performed a study which found that if the cost of labor increased 40% due to a lack of illegal workers, the average person would spend $8 more per year on fruits and vegetables.
And in the past, when agricultural businesses have been confronted with higher costs of labor, they have made up for it by advancing the technology used at a faster pace, allowing them to use fewer workers. The higher labor costs forced businesses to become more cost-efficient and update their technology.
Illegal immigrants disproportionately use a larger share of government benefits than the rest of the population.
This is because they are generally less-educated than the rest of the population, and take lower-paying jobs without healthcare, instead using our emergency rooms for healthcare.
Arizona had the second worst deficit in the country last year after California, no doubt caused in part by huge social welfare costs. Arizona currently has a $3 billion budget deficit.
SB1070 permits government agencies to share information and verify claims of residency in order to determine eligibility for benefits. Eliminating illegal immigrants from government services like welfare will bring back stability to the budget, increasing Arizona’s attractiveness to businesses considering relocating here.
With the budget in better shape, there is less danger the legislature will pass laws increasing taxes on business. The budget will also improve as the costs of fighting crime decrease. Illegal immigrants disproportionately commit more crimes than the rest of the population, particularly in areas relating to identity theft.
SB1070 may result in fewer illegal immigrants purchasing goods and services in Arizona, but those stores will either find new customers as people move to Arizona from other states, or will shut down and reemerge in the economy in an area where there is demand. The free market will adjust to reflect changing economic needs.
In addition, illegal immigrants generally don’t put a lot back into the economy here, they send a significant portion of their earnings back to Mexico. There are many towns in Mexico comprised of mostly women and children and the elderly, due to the men having left to work in the U.S. Last year, Mexican families received more than $17 billion in remittances.
If illegal immigrants leave Arizona, others will move here to replace them.
Arizona is one of the most popular states for relocation. As one of the fastest growing states in the nation, there is no lack of people moving to Arizona to take and create jobs.
Any negative economic effects will be deliberately
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