Immigration reform: If not now, when?

Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights March on Washington, at which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. During this period, Dr. King often echoed the question above, attributed to a famous Jewish religious leader during the reign of King Herod. It’s a question that can be applied equally well to comprehensive immigration reform (CIR).

Before Congress fled Washington D.C. for the August recess, the Senate had passed bipartisan CIR legislation by a vote of 68-32. Then it moved to the House, where a group of inflexible conservative representatives refused to allow a vote on it.

Yet according to a June 13 FOX News poll, 74 percent of Americans support a path to citizenship “as long as they meet certain requirements like paying back taxes, learning English, and passing a background check.”

Of course, Iowa’s perennial embarrassment, Rep. Steve King, blundered into this morass, making some of the most hateful comments issued, which did nothing to advance a solution. Rather his comments simply stoked the fears of those uncomfortable with the changing face of America.

The comments of King and others also distract from the very real benefits comprehensive immigration reform would bring to America – and Iowa. I was surprised to learn that groups as conservative as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the libertarian Cato Institute support the Senate CIR legislation because of its projected economic benefits. These include:

• Reducing the deficit by more than $800 billion over the next 20 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

• Adding more than 3.2 million new jobs, thus strengthening Social Security, according to the Social Security Administration.

And more specifically for Iowa, it’s projected CIR will: • In 2014, add more than $140 million to our Gross State Product and increase personal income by $78 million. By 2045, the expansion would add $1.2 billion to Gross State Product and increase personal income by more than $1 billion. (per Regional Economic Models, Inc.).

• Raise the wage floor for all workers, according to the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy.

• Provide a host of protections for Iowa workers, including new worksite enforcement and border security measures to deter future unauthorized immigration.

We know our current immigration system isn’t working. We’re ready to try to fix it. And we even have legislation that’s been passed by legislators from both parties. So why not now?

That’s the question we need to ask Representative Tom Latham and Senator Chuck Grassley.

With all the projected economic benefits, with the work by legislators on both sides of the aisle, with the support of the majority of Americans, why not pass comprehensive immigration reform?

If not now, when?