Several Illinois Republicans joined the Chamber in promoting immigration reform last September
CHICAGO - Next Monday, Governor Bruce Rauner, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, several Republican members of Congress and faith leaders will join together to promote immigration reform this year in Congress.
The event, sponsored by the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition, will promote what the group calls "common sense" federal legislation that "expands visas for high-skilled, low-skilled, and agricultural workers and creates a path to citizenship and legalization for the 11 million undocumented immigrants already here."
The group says those expected to speak at the event include Bruce Rauner, Governor of Illinois; Mark Kirk, US Senator from Illinois, Aaron Schock, US Congressman (R-18), Adam Kinzinger, US Congressman (R-16), Bob Dold, US Congressman (R-10). Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago; Carole Segal, Crate and Barrel Co-founder will also lead at the event.
"According to a Bipartisan Policy Center report, immigration reform would create 105,923 jobs in Illinois and boost the state’s economic output by $1.8 billion," the association says in an announcement. "Nationally, it would bolster the country’s economic growth by 4.8% over the next 20 years and reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion."
That $1.8 billion projection a long term unverifiable goal, and overall, it's insignficant, says Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the FAIRus.org.
"The 105,000 jobs they say will come to Illinois are like to be low-paying jobs. In a state with a $721 billion economic output, $1.08 Billion is a fraction," Mehlman told Illinois Review. "This program won't reflect the cost of having these workers in Illinois or in the country."
"Everyone else will be subsidizing these workers," Mehlman said. "Education is the single biggest expense, as is Medicaid, and low wage earners don't pay that much in taxes. Someone else will need to step up."
Lobbying expenses for groups that promote immigration reform are largely financed by the Chamber of Commerce groups, Mehlman said.
During the campaign, Rauner did not address the immigration issue often, but he did write an op-ed published in the Latino community's Hoy newspaper:
...While my focus as governor will be my four point program of a growing economy, lower taxes, better schools, and term limits, I will also be a voice in favor of immigration reform and in support of vibrant immigrant communities in our state. I will advocate changing our broken national immigration system, to secure our borders and prevent more from entering our country illegally, but also to increase the number of those who can legally come here, and to treat those who are already here in a humane way that preserves families and integrates them into the mainstream of our economy and society. After all, that is the American way.
Other corporate leaders attending Monday's event include Todd Maisch, Illinois Chamber of Commerce CEO; John Rowe, Exelon Chairman Emeritus; Rich Guebert Jr., President, Illinois Farm Bureau; Ron Gidwitz, CGC Partners Co-Founder; William Kunkler III, CC Industries, Inc.; Susan Crown, Susan Crown Exchange Inc. President; Michael Caruso, St Ignatius College Prep President; Ed Wehmer, Wintrust Financial Corporation CEO; Omar Duque, CEO, Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Sam Toia, Illinois Restaurant Association CEO; Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, DePaul University President.
"Since the President has gone rogue, and House Speaker Boehner couldn't put the votes together to stop funding for the President's amnesty program, the Republican party is divided," Mehlman said. "You've got leadership that just wants to cut a deal. The rank and file Republicans aren't in support of that."
The forum will take place Monday, March 9th, at 9:30 am at the Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.
