On Sunday’s airing of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” New York Times columnist David Brooks said immigration reform is necessary for the United States to get its economy back on track.
“You know, I have been so frustrated this week,” he said. “We’ve got an aging society with stagnant education levels. Out there, there is this global pool of talent. If they come here, they’ll start more jobs than the natives. They’ll pay more taxes than they receive. They’ll create a much more dynamic economy.”
Debate about the particulars of the bipartisan “gang of eight” Senate immigration proposal, Brooks said, is clouding the important issues. (RELATED VIDEO — Buchanan: Immigration proposal will fail in Congress)
“And the last week in Washington, we’ve been sidetracked. … What’s going to trigger what? Does gay marriage affect all of this? It’s like this moral capital of obtuseness. I mean, this is really our only shot at getting a growing economy. I think the Senate has done an outstanding job of getting this — putting this attempt to win the race for global talent out.”