Dahm Joins Rand Paul, Norquist In immigration Push

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2014

CONTACT: Jenn Ketchum, CMA Strategies

OKLAHOMA CONSERVATIVE LEADERS APPLAUD SENATOR RAND PAUL (R-KY) FOR DISCUSSING PASSAGE OF IMMIGRATION REFORM THIS YEAR
Paul joins Grover Norquist to address need for immigration reform on national teleconference series

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) joined Grover Norquist to talk about immigration reform and the Senator’s ideas to strengthen border security, reform existing immigration laws for employers and attempt to find common ground on smaller immigration related matters, on the second teleconference in a new monthly series hosted by the Partnership for a New American Economy and Americans for Tax Reform. Last month, the series launched with Tea Party Express Co-Founder Sal Russo and Al Cardenas, former Chairman of the American Conservative Union, expressing their support for immigration reform. The calls feature prominent conservative leaders’ perspectives on the need for reform and are moderated by Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform.

“Immigration is the United States’ great competitive advantage,” said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. “The hardest working, brightest people in the world want to come and work and thrive here. Those were our grandparents and now they are our neighbors and future in-laws. Our nation’s immigration laws need to catch up with our opportunities. We cannot live hobbled with a 55 mph speed limit in a 75 mph nation.”

“I agree with Sen. Rand Paul,” said state Senator Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow).  “We conservatives must admit that no action on reforming our immigration system means we accept the status quo which has allowed tens of millions of people into our country illegally.  I support a solution to our immigration system which honors and respects human dignity and the rule of law—these need not be mutually exclusive.  Securing our borders is the duty of any sovereign nation and so is embracing those who want to come to our great country to legally work, to prosper, and to be freer.  Conservatives must define the debate on immigration and I am grateful to true free-market conservatives like Senator Paul for respecting our nation’s founding principles and I believe those principles can help conservatives win the immigration debate.”

“Everyone agrees that our immigration system is broken and that simply maintaining the status quo is unacceptable and unworkable,” said John Feinblatt, Chairman of the Partnership for a New American Economy. “Today’s call with Senator Rand Paul shows strong support for fixing our outdated laws from one of the leading conservatives in Congress.  Senator Paul and the majority of the American public want reform this year, and political spin over a single house district primary election does not change the reality that our immigration system is broken, hurts our economy and needs to be overhauled.”

Some Key Facts About Immigration Reform

– Tea Party voters want immigration reform this year: In a national survey of 400 Republican Primary voters who identify with the Tea Party released last month by the Partnership for a New American Economy, Americans for Tax Reform, and the Tea Party Express, 71 percent said it is important that Congress act on immigration reform this year.

– Oklahoma voters support immigration reform: In a recent survey of likely voters, 75 percent of registered voters in Oklahoma said that they would support an immigration reform plan that includes a way for undocumented immigrants to achieve legal status.

– Oklahoma’s immigrant business owners are helping the economy: 11,983 businesses in Oklahoma were founded by immigrants. 6.9% of businesses owners are immigrants.

– Many of Oklahoma’s brightest students are forced to go back home after graduation: 55.1% of STEM graduates are foreign born.

About the Partnership for a New American Economy

The Partnership for a New American Economy brings together more than 500 Republican, Democratic and Independent mayors and business leaders who support immigration reforms that will help create jobs for Americans today. The Partnership’s members include mayors of more than 35 million people nationwide and business leaders of companies that generate more than $1.5 trillion and employ more than 4 million people across all sectors of the economy, from Agriculture to Aerospace, Hospitality to High Tech and Media to Manufacturing. Partnership members understand that immigration is essential to maintaining the productive, diverse and flexible workforce that America needs to ensure prosperity over the coming generations. Learn more at www.RenewOurEconomy.org.

About Americans for Tax Reform

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) is a coalition of taxpayer groups, individuals, and businesses opposed to higher taxes at the federal, state, and local levels. ATR organizes the taxpayer protection pledge, which asks all candidates for federal and state office to commit themselves in writing to oppose all tax increases. Realizing that Americans not only need to be protected from higher taxes, but from higher spending, Americans for Tax Reform created the Cost of Government Center (CoGC). CoGC focuses on all issues related to fiscal responsibility and accountability, especially spending restraint. Learn more: www.atr.org and follow us on Twitter @taxreformer.