undocumented immigrants

Three bills we think are important for Colorado's future went the wrong way in the legislature this week, one because it failed and two others because they passed.

Senate Bill 126 would have offered college tuition at an unsubsidized, in-state rate to qualifying Colorado high school graduates who are not documented citizens. We believe in education for all Coloradans, and we believe the bill was good education policy, good workforce development policy and good economic development policy.

What's churning:

Senate Bill 11-126, which would create a form of resident tuition for undocumented students who meet certain requirements, is scheduled for a hearing in the House Education Committee at 1:30 this afternoon.

By Amy Gillentine
Colorado Springs Business Journal

Undocumented immigrants are a significant contributor to the state's economy, according to a new study by the Bell Policy Center and the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.

According to the two groups, illegal immigrants contribute as much to the economy in sales, property and income taxes as they cost the state in mandated services such as K-12 education.

Other research finds:

By Scot Kersgaard
The Colorado Independent

Two studies released today indicate that 180,000 undocumented immigrants live in Colorado. They pay a combined $167.5 million in taxes each year and cost the state a combined $166.6 million in services according to a study by The Bell Policy Center.

Of the taxes, the bulk, $114.5 million, comes from sales taxes. Income taxes, assuming half of undocumented residents are paid on the books and half paid under the table, amounts to $30.9 million. The last $22 million is from property taxes.

Colorado's undocumented immigrants pay as much in taxes as they consume in mandated social services, according to a study Friday from The Bell Policy Center.

The state's estimated 180,000 undocumented immigrants paid $167.5 million in taxes in 2010, the Denver nonprofit's study said.

The largest share came from sales taxes - $114.6 million - with another $30.9 million paid in income taxes and $22 million in property taxes covered mostly through rent payments.

Big Government backers, The Bell Policy Center, have come out with what we first thought was a weeks-late April Fools joke, but instead appears to be a sad attempt to claim illegal immigration is in fact a net positive for Colorado's economy and taxpayers.

"New research shows that undocumented immigrants in Colorado are a significant contributor to the state's economy and that undocumented immigrants contribute as much in sales, property and income taxes as they cost in K-12 education and other mandated services."

Senate Bill 11-126
Testimony to the Senate Finance Committee
Rich Jones, Director of Policy and Research
Feb. 22, 2011

My name is Rich Jones, and I am the Director of Policy and Research with The Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a non-partisan, non-profit research and policy organization dedicated to expanding opportunity for all Coloradans.

The Bell testified in favor of Senate Bill 126 before the Senate Education Committee today. The bill would allow qualified undocumented high school graduates to pay unsubsidized in-state tuition to attend state colleges and universities. Here is our testimony:

My name is Frank Waterous, and I am a senior policy analyst with The Bell Policy Center. The Bell is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and policy organization dedicated to expanding opportunity for all Coloradans.