Joe Carr in 2014 OK Senate debate


On Immigration: Refugees cost millions in school & medical costs

Joe Carr has been arguing that Tennessee's refugee population is bad for the state because they cost us money. So, they commissioned a study. The estimates show Tennessee taxpayers spent $40 million last year to educate school-age refugees and $26 million to cover those on TennCare. But refugees remit more than $103 million in taxes.

That sure sounds like refugees add a lot to our state. But Carr is now dismissing the study, saying, "We don't know if it's flawed." Apparently one of the flaws is that the study doesn't take into account how many immigrants might be in prison.

Well, it costs roughly $25,000 a year to house a prisoner. We also know that there are roughly 21,000 inmates in our prisons--0.3% of the population. Even if 1% of all refugees were incarcerated--more than triple that rate--that would cost Tennessee $14 million. Even if we take out the money for our hypothetical prisoners, refugees in general are still making a huge positive economic contribution to the state.

Source: Nashville Scene on 2014 Oklahoma Senate debate Nov 14, 2013

The above quotations are from 2014 Oklahoma Senate debates.
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Joe Carr on other issues:
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Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018