Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), an opponent of comprehensive immigration reform, made the case Sunday that the Gang of Eight plan would bring down wages and hurt American workers, a charge Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), vigorously rejected.
“Well, I would ask Senator Schumer this, if this legislation is established by reputable economists as pulling down the wages of already suffering low-wage American workers, will you continue to push for it?,” Sessions said to Schumer, who both appeared together on ABC’s “This Week.”
“The bottom line, that’s not going to happen, Jeff,” Schumer replied.
Schumer explained:
First of all, it’s very logical, right now, who’s pulling down wage rates? Illegal people who cross the border and will work because they’re illegal and have no protections for much less than Americans will work for.
Second, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, one of the most conservative true blue economists said this will raise wages and increase GDP. Cato institute, people who you usually agree with, Jeff, say this is going to be a shot in the arm for our economy because we’ll take people in who will create jobs and prevent people who are coming in from lowering wages and taking away American jobs. It’s such a logical approach.
“Well, it’s logical that if you bring in a massive supply of low-wage workers, you’re going to pull the workers down,” Sessions responded.
