CEI - Supreme Court Immigration Ruling a Modest Victory for Free Market Reforms

Supreme Court Immigration Ruling a Modest Victory for Free Market Reforms

Ruling Restricts State Attempts to Penalize Immigrants Seeking Work But Leaves Limits on Free Association

 WASHINGTON, D.C., June 25, 2012 – The Supreme Court has struck down portions of Arizona’s SB 1070—the controversial immigration law that targets undocumented migrant workers. The court ruled that federal law preempted sections that allowed for arrests without warrants, required immigrants to carry “alien registration documents,” and made it a criminal offense for undocumented workers to work or solicit work.

Even though the Court upheld a section that requires police officers to check immigration status, these significant revisions are still a modest victory for free market immigration reformers, says David Bier, a policy analyst at the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI). “The ruling restricts state attempts to create further punishments for peaceful migrants who seek work from American employers,” Bier said. “Unfortunately, the law will continue to limit American citizens’ freedom of association by criminalizing those who ‘employ, harbor, or transport’ unauthorized workers.”

“Ultimately, however,” he continued, “immigration reformers must recognize that the real source America’s broken immigration system is federal laws that make legal entry nearly impossible for migrant workers and the U.S. employers that hire them. Federal and state laws that continue to reinforce this fundamentally anti-free market system hurt America’s economy by limiting productivity, forcing employers to expand overseas, and driving up prices for all Americans. Real reform means less regulations and more freedom.”

CEI Weekly: Workers Prevented From Leaving Unions

Friday, May 11, 2012

Feature: Labor bosses aren't respecting workers' choices.

FEATURE: Workers Prevented From Leaving Unions In tough economic times, having labor bosses who demand dues and force strikes can be a hard extra burden. That's why some workers are now trying to leave their unions. But in California, the SEIU is fighting desperately to prevent workers' exit. Warren Brookes Fellow Matt Patterson and Labor Policy Analyst Trey Kovacs explain what's going on in a Washington Times op-ed this week. Read the op-ed here. SHAPING THE DEBATE Forget France, the Greek Elections Are the Beginning of the End of Europe Iain Murray's article in The American Spectator Stephen King Horrified By His Low Taxes. What's Next? Bill Frezza's column in Forbes Global Warming Crusaders Lose Steam, Tempers Matt Patterson's op-ed in The Washington Examiner Lending Cap is Unfair to Small Business John Berlau's op-ed in Newsmax Immigration Policy Is an Economic Meltdown Trifecta Bill Frezza's op-ed in Real Clear Markets Opinions on Genetic Engineering That Aren't Worth a Bean Henry I. Miller's op-ed in Forbes Our Immigration Problem's Not Going Away David Bier's op-ed in Real Clear Policy Federal 'Stimulus' Spent $34.5 Million in Michigan for Only 183 Total Jobs Fred L. Smith, Jr.'s citation in Michigan Capitol Confidential Civil-Liberties Groups Urge Rejection of White House-Supported Cyber Bill CEI's citation in The Hill Obama Is Losing the Keystone Pipeline Battle Marlo Lewis' citation in Reason Magazine

CEI PODCAST May 10, 2012: Freeing Our Farms Immigration Policy Analyst David Bier explains how the Labor Department’s byzantine restrictions on immigrant agricultural workers hurt immigrants and native-born Americans alike. Current immigration policy keeps many immigrants in dangerous black markets, raises food prices for consumers, makes it difficult for farmers to hire workers and create jobs, and reduces the government’s tax revenues. BEST OF THE BLOGS Legacy Risks By Fred L. Smith, Jr. Amendments That Take Away Rights By Hans Bader Fossil Fuel Shill Sierra Club Bites the Hand That Feeds It By Myron Ebell Austerity Bites--But It Isn't the Problem By Iain Murray

NH House Leaders Comment on Chief Executive Magazine Ranking of New Hampshire Business Climate, Cite Need for Right to Work

CONCORD – House Speaker William O’Brien (R-Mont Vernon) and D.J. Bettencourt (R-Salem) today offered the following comments on Chief Executive Magazine ranking New Hampshire 26^th in terms of business climate, in which the publication cited the state’s inability to pass Right to Work legislation as a reason why the state is not higher in its rating.  In the ‘CEO comments’ section of the New Hampshire ranking, the magazine quotes a CEO saying, “New Hampshire is coming on strong. If they can ever institute ‘right-to-work’ legislation, they could rise to number one.”

House Speaker William O’Brien

“It’s clear that passing Right to Work is critical to improving New Hampshire’s business climate and creating good, new jobs here.  Each of the top 10 states in survey of best business states is a Right to Work state, and we won’t get there until we can improve our business tax rate from 46^th in the nation and pass Right to Work.  If we are committed to expanding our economy and rebuilding the New Hampshire Advantage, we need to take the common sense steps to help the 38,000 of our friends and neighbors who are currently unemployed.”

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt

“This survey showed that we are the still the best state for business in New England, but 26^th is far from good enough for our residents.  They deserve better, and we missed our chance to make a huge jump when Governor Lynch vetoed Right to Work.  I appreciate that the magazine noted our work by saying that the “Statehouse continues tax-friendly ways and nurture entrepreneurial spark,” but there is much more to do.  With a Republican governor next year, we will be able to lower taxes on our employers, pass Right to Work, get out of cap-and-trade that is driving up our electric bills and reform our health care laws to bring the free market to lower costs.”

CEI - ALEC and the Attempt to Drive Free-Market Voices From the Field

An Attempt to Drive Free-Market Voices From the Field

The attack on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is part of a broader attack by those seeking to drive all market voices from the marketplace of ideas. ("Shutting Down ALEC," Review & Outlook, April 18). As the Founders realized, "factions"—what we now call "special interests"—are an unavoidable aspect of democracy. The Founders' solution was not to suppress factions, but to "set faction against faction" to ensure vigorous debate. The attack on ALEC runs counter to that spirit. It is a concerted effort to silence one faction by driving productive economic voices from the policy debate.

When businesses seek to expose and reduce the harmful consequences of capricious legislation, that is both their right and good for democracy. When market voices are excluded from the policy debate, the only voices left are those motivated purely by ideology. And as history shows, the greatest harm to nations comes from ideologues who believe they know what's best for everybody.

Our Founders gave us a system based on the battle of ideas. If critics of the free market believe they have a strong case, they should seek to win that battle openly, rather than by silencing the opposition through intimidation. What ALEC's opponents seek is nothing less than the sabotage of democracy. It is especially unfortunate when businesses retreat from backing free-market groups like ALEC when they come under pressure. America needs more CEOs willing to stand up for free enterprise. Readers who agree should let those CEOs know now.

Fred Smith

Competitive Enterprise Institute

See also, comments to Openmarket.org by Hans Bader and Marlo Lewis, respectively:

ALEC Unfairly Demonized Over “Stand Your Ground” Laws

The ALEC Controversy — Much Ado About Nothing

ALG's Daily Grind: Obama's manipulation

April 19, 2012

Obama's manipulation

Was Obama manipulating the market by denying the Keystone XL pipeline that will allow the vast oil reserves in Alberta, Canada to reach the market, and increase the overall supply of oil?

Video: Obama's Blunders-Gov't vs. Internet

The Internet has been a great technology to build business in the last 20 years. That is perhaps the main reason it is being targeted by the government. Check out this parade of blunders from the Obama Administration with regards to the net.

Hippie Earth Day!

Throughout the years Earth Day has become a day for reminding those Americans who dare to drive non-hybrid SUV's or refuse to install cumbersome solar panels on their roofs they are endangering the welfare of the planet. 

Casey: The Coming Currency Wars

"Why Fed officials' suggestions that a third round of stimulus is possible may have sent emerging market central bankers into a cold sweat."