White House report states immigration reform would bring economic boost for Oklahoma

Trying to push the U.S. House to take up immigration reform, the White House releases report touting state-by-state economic benefits.
by Chris Casteel Published: August 1, 2013

Immigration reform would boost Oklahoma's economic output by $290 million next year and create nearly 3,500 new jobs, the White House states in a report intended to spur action in the U.S. House on the issue.

Grabbing statistics and assumptions from a number of studies, the White House report about the state impacts of immigration reform says the boost to Oklahoma's economic output by 2045 would near $1.7 billion, measured in 2012 dollars.

White House economic adviser Gene B. Sperling told reporters Wednesday that immigration reform that expands temporary worker programs and provides a path to earned citizenship would lower the deficit and create broad economic growth for the country.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the legislation passed by the Senate in June would reduce the deficit by $850 billion over a decade. That would “swamp” the costs of additional benefits or costs associated with the bill, Sperling said.

House Republican leaders have said they would not consider the comprehensive Senate legislation and would instead approach the issue with several different bills. However, it's not clear when the House will take up the matter; lawmakers are leaving Washington this week and won't return until after Labor Day, when they'll be confronted by pressing budget deadlines.

Among the Oklahoma-related statistics contained in the White House report:

by Chris Casteel
Washington Bureau
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