At a March 5 news conference, State Treasurer Sarah Steelman claimed Missouri government is losing an estimated $49 million a year from illegal immigrants not paying state income taxes. The Associated Press, however, immediately reported that Steelman had overstated the financial loss.
Steelman based her estimate on a Pew Hispanic Center report that says Missouri is home to between 35,000 and 65,000 illegal immigrants. Steelman used the higher number, assumed they are all adults, that all are working and that none are paying taxes. According to the AP, the Pew report says that only about 65 percent of illegal immigrants in the state, many of whom are children, are working. The AP further reported that the Missouri Department of Revenue says thousands of illegal workers are paying state income taxes.
Steelman initially defended her estimate, but when the AP later brought the discrepancies to her office’s attention, Assistant State Treasurer Doug Gaston admitted Steelman had relied “on bad info.”
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2 comments:
Just a thought, but perhaps our esteemed State Treasurer should rely on GOOD info from now on, before opening her big mouth? Nothing like making a mountain out of a molehill, eh, Steelman?
Like I said... just a thought!
I favor making the path to citizenship EASIER for people who have foresaken their past and come here with faith in America and hope for their future.
Sign them up. Educate them. Employ them so they become one of us and pay taxes. Don't throw them out of the country, even temporarily, so they have to start all over at the bottom of the heap.
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