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Conservative Economists: “Immigration reform’s positive impact on population growth, labor force growth, housing, and other markets will lead to more rapid economic growth. This, in turn, translates into a positive impact on the federal budget. It is an opportunity to improve the long-term prospects for economic growth, enhance the skills of the U.S. labor force, and augment the flexibility of the nation’s labor market.” 

Full letter from conservative economists on the pending immigration legislation is available here.

Conservative economists endorse immigration reform bill
By Lisa Mascaro
The Los Angeles Times
May 23, 2013
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-pn-immigration-letter-20130522,0,2627317.story

WASHINGTON — More than 100 conservative economists will call on Congress to approve an immigration overhaul, highlighting the potential economic benefits.

The letter by the American Action Forum, to be released Thursday, is the latest volley from conservative economic thinkers, who have been divided on the immigration overhaul legislation making its way through the Senate.

“Immigration reform’s positive impact on population growth, labor force growth, housing, and other markets will lead to more rapid economic growth,” wrote the economists, including Douglas Holtz-Eakin, the foundation’s president, who is a former director of the Congressional Budget Office and a former advisor to Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). “This, in turn, translates into a positive impact on the federal budget.

“It is an opportunity to improve the long-term prospects for economic growth, enhance the skills of the U.S. labor force, and augment the flexibility of the nation’s labor market,” the policy institute’s letter says.

In all, 111 economists signed the letter, including R. Glenn Hubbard, a former chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisors under President George W. Bush, and Arthur B. Laffer, a former economic advisor to President Reagan.

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