Ths morning the Heritage Foundation released a study estimating that amnesty will cost taxpayers at least $6.3 trillion. We can certainly understand why amnesty supporters are upset, but their criticisms of the study ring hollow.
Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour calls the study a “political document” and “not serious analysis” but does not say what specifically is wrong with the methodology.
Sen. Jeff Flake also criticized the study, arguing that it does not take into account the economic benefits of immigration.
Wrong:
Rep. Paul Ryan piled on:
In a statement provided to CQ Roll Call, the Wisconsin Republican had this to say about the Heritage report that the Senate bill’s “amnesty” component would cost taxpayers $6.3 trillion over several decades: “The Congressional Budget Office has found that fixing our broken immigration system could help our economy grow. A proper accounting of immigration reform should take into account these dynamic effects.”
Wrong again:
And please, Rep. Ryan, don’t rely on the CBO’s estimates of costs during the next 10 years:
We are open to the possibility that the Heritage Foundation’s analysis is flawed, but these are not good-faith criticisms. In fact, given how weak these “arguments” are, we doubt Barbour, Flake, or Ryan have even read the study. (It is 92 pages long and was released just this morning.)
We look forward to serious critiques of the study’s methodology, particularly from those who haven’t been on the payroll of the Mexican government.
