What I Say, Not What I Spend

Via Mike

 

The Sunlight Foundation reports that $1.5 billion went to immigration lobbying from 2007 through 2012. The money was spent by 678 organizations in 170 sectors on 987 proposed bills.

Analyzing nearly 1,000 bills is no small task, even for those devoted exclusively to the immigration issue. Proposed immigration legislation can get complicated, with attempts to reform the entire system nearing 1,000 pages. Since immigration affects practically every aspect of American life and Congress keeps trying to change the existing law, you can see why the public might want to invest substantial amounts to influence what is being decided.

That, however, is not what is happening. The vast majority of immigration lobbying is conducted by narrowly focused interest groups that take positions contrary to the majority. The Sunlight Foundation found that ethnic activists, universities, chambers of commerce, and industries that prefer foreign laborers dominate efforts to influence legislation. In other words, disproportionately represented elites who benefit politically or financially from mass immigration are aggressively pushing bills that would significantly expand the legal system.

Their efforts have brought unprecedented success. The number of immigrants residing the country hit a record 40 million in 2010. This development comes at a cost to the public, much of which faces increased competition, diminished wages, higher fiscal costs, and social disruption. Those driving this policy can insulate themselves from most of the negative consequences by living in gated communities and sending their children to private schools.

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