05.06.13

Sessions Comments On New Heritage Foundation Analysis Of Gang Of Eight Plan

“At a time when our nation’s major entitlements are already nearing bankruptcy, we cannot afford to add another $6.3 trillion in long-term net costs to already over-burdened state, local, and federal governments… This bill may be good for the special interests who helped write it. But it’s bad for workers, bad for taxpayers, and fails to serve the national interest.” 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the new Heritage Foundation report which found that the Gang of Eight immigration plan would impose $6.3 trillion in long-term net costs:

“The study released today by Heritage about the costs of the Gang of Eight’s proposed amnesty should be heeded by all lawmakers. The study puts to rest the contention that the bill will benefit American taxpayers, reduce our deficits, or strengthen our already endangered Social Security and Medicare programs. At a time when our nation’s major entitlements are already nearing bankruptcy, we cannot afford to add another $6.3 trillion in long-term net costs to already over-burdened state, local, and federal governments. Robert Rector, the chief author of the study, is the nation’s leading expert on welfare and one of the pioneers of welfare reform.

The granting of citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and our nation simply cannot afford to provide every benefit of citizenship—including unlimited access to our nation’s welfare and entitlement programs—to millions of illegal immigrants and visa overstays who will draw more from these programs than they pay in.

In addition to these enormous long-term costs, the Heritage report shows this proposal will also take a great toll on American workers. It proposes to drastically increase the future flow of legal immigration over the next decade—providing 30 million immigrants with legal status in addition to 27 million temporary work permits that will be issued—which will reduce Americans’ wages and job prospects.

This bill may be good for the special interests who helped write it. But it’s bad for workers, bad for taxpayers, and fails to serve the national interest.”