How Media Spins the Cost of Illegals

Here's a good example of media bias. Liberals (who run newspapers) love illegals. The article spins the negativity of the report, by presenting the existence of illegals as a wash to the government, instead of a negative drain.

The stand alone state government made $420M, but if you add in the county figures (+513 -1440), you are at a total of -$507M. Then the article says "that cities and school districts suffer as well" without estimating costs and which means the overall net affect of illegals is even lover. Illegals cost Harris County (Houston) almost $20M on police alone. That never made it into the other figures.

Of course, illegals raise the gross state product (GSP). GSP is the sum of all people's earnings. Any extra person with a job increases GSP. It doesn't mean they don't send it back to Mexico. Additionally, how does it affect the GSP/per person?

Imagine at raise time you get a $10,000 raise, but you lose your $8000/year car allowance, your contribution towards the Medical and dental plans goes up $5000/yr, and they are moving offices further away from your home, which will cost you an extra $1000/yr in gas. Are you going to be happy? Would anyone look at that like it was a "give and take?" Or would any sane person think they are getting the shaft?

Illegal immigration's give-and-take

Study: Their taxes lift state, but services drain counties

08:19 AM CST on Friday, December 8, 2006
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – Illegal immigration is draining hundreds of millions of dollars from local governments but bolstering the Texas economy by $17.7 billion a year, the state comptroller estimates in a new report.

And when it comes to taxes, illegal immigrants are a boon. They cost the state $1.16 billion in services, such as public health services and education, but they pay $1.58 billion every year in taxes and fees, according to the report, released Thursday.

That's a net profit to the state of $420 million.

But counties pay the price: They're taking in $513 million in local taxes and revenues – but spending $1.44 billion in indigent care and law-enforcement costs. Cities and school districts suffer as well, the report said.

While the debate on the impact of illegal immigrants has roiled the state and nation, the study represents the first time Texas has comprehensively looked at the costs and financial benefits. An estimated 1.4 million illegal immigrants live in Texas....

The report says the absence of the illegal immigrants would decrease the gross state product by $17.7 billion a year.