Economy is Undercutting Claims of HB 1804 Critics

Critics of House Bill 1804 have repeatedly claimed Oklahoma's omnibus immigration reform law will wreak economic havoc in the state by driving out illegal aliens who "do jobs that Americans won't."

However, economic trends are completely undercutting their argument, state Rep. Randy Terrill noted today.

"The pro-illegal alien lobby keeps claiming the sky will fall in Oklahoma because we do not functionally grant amnesty to illegal aliens, but there's no sign of any serious, negative economic impact," said Terrill, a Moore Republican who authored the immigration law. "Instead, Oklahoma's unemployment rate is down and the state is one of the bright spots in the national economy. There are several reasons for Oklahoma's good fortune, but there's no doubt House Bill 1804 is having a positive impact on our labor market and the wages paid to Oklahomans."

Terrill noted Oklahoma's unemployment rate fell to 3.1 percent in March, the fourth-lowest rate in the nation and a full percentage point less than a year ago (before House Bill 1804 took effect).

Oklahoma's declining unemployment rate led NewsBusters, a national publication, to ask if Oklahoma's "enforcement-focused immigration reform law" was a major reason for the dramatic improvement in the state's unemployment rate, noting that most states are experiencing increased unemployment.

This week, Forbes magazine named Oklahoma City the most recession-proof city in America because of the city's strong housing market and solid growth in agriculture, energy and manufacturing - sectors that HB 1804 critics claimed would face major problems due to the exit of cheap illegal alien slave labor.

"Far from hurting our state economy, House Bill 1804 is freeing up jobs for Oklahomans and boosting our economy," Terrill said. "The law is helping protect Oklahoma from the worst impacts of a potential national recession on the horizon."

Among other things, House Bill 1804 terminates taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens, empowers state and local law enforcement to detain illegal aliens for deportation, and requires businesses to verify employment eligibility of workers or face serious legal and financial consequences.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Oklahoma City and Tulsa chambers have sued the state seeking to have the law overturned in federal court. The chambers' lawsuit particularly challenges sections of the law that make it difficult for businesses to exploit illegal alien laborers.

Terrill said House Bill 1804 is just one of several policies enacted by state lawmakers in recent years that are protecting Oklahoma from an economic downturn.

Since 2005, lawmakers have approved tax cuts that will pump an extra $1.3 billion into the state economy's private sector by next year - money that is fueling new investment and job creation.

Legislators have also reined in state government growth by putting money into Oklahoma's "Rainy Day" fund instead of spending it, giving the state a security blanket in case of a downturn.

"The Oklahoma Legislature has enacted prudent spending and fiscal policies that have reduced government bloat and increased the take-home pay of hard-working families," Terrill said. "We've avoided the mistakes of the 1980s when legislators wasted oil boom surpluses on government largess instead of helping citizens."