Opinion: Immigration reform is a perfect fit for budget reconciliation

Swim19 · 08-20-2021, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Several tests — collectively known as the “Byrd rule” after the late Sen. Robert Byrd — determine whether a measure is eligible for reconciliation.

First, the policy must produce a change in “outlays or revenues;” in other words, it must have an impact on the federal budget. Irrefutably, enabling immigrants to earn permanent residence has a clear and significant budgetary impact, primarily by allowing a new class of people to become eligible for public benefits and services. For example, the Congressional Budget Office estimates that passing the Dream and Promise Act — which would enable Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status recipients to earn permanent residence — would cost $42.5 billion over 10 years.

Quote:

The second Byrd rule test assesses whether the budget costs of a policy are “merely incidental” to the “nonbudgetary components.” Enabling a class of people to earn permanent residence easily survives this test: A central consequence of a person obtaining permanent residence is their eligibility to participate in the full spectrum of public social services.

Opponents of these provisions cannot argue in good faith that the budget impacts are “merely incidental” given that one of their central rationales for opposing legalization is that granting undocumented immigrants legal status would burden U.S. taxpayers by making them eligible for federal benefits. Indeed, their argument directly strengthens the case for reconciliation.

https://www.rollcall.com/2021/08/20/...econciliation/

2MoreYears · 08-20-2021, 08:50 PM

I've heard there's already precedent of passing immigration legislation via Reconciliation in the past. So that emboldens the possibility of passage this time.

It's now or never really.

Outsider626 · 08-20-2021, 08:54 PM

Not good timing with Talibans

Got_Daca · 08-20-2021, 09:23 PM

Biden just can't f up everything

Just pass Reconciliation and say goodbye at least

Def not seeking re election

So time to use any remaining political capital

dreamer12345 · 08-21-2021, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Got_Daca

Biden just can't f up everything

Just pass Reconciliation and say goodbye at least

Def not seeking re election

So time to use any remaining political capital

The GQP smells blood, I don't know if their saboteurs (Manchin and Sinema) will hand him a W.

Outsider626 · 08-21-2021, 12:18 PM

When we are so close always something happens not in our favor

dtrt09 · 11:45 PM

Of course it's appropriate for reconciliation!
Undocumented immigrants contribute significantly to the economy of the US.

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Opinion: Immigration reform is a perfect fit for budget reconciliation