Anti-immigration law costing Arizona millions

At a time when Michigan can use all the economic growth it can find, lawmakers would be wise to pay attention to a story from our sister site the New Mexico Independent before passing a clone of Arizona’s harsh anti-immigration law. Scot Kersgaard reports on a new study that finds that the passage of that law has resulted in huge losses in revenue as a result of boycotts.

Since passing the law, many organizations, including cities and counties, have announced they will boycott the state.
Boycotts have also been announced by hundreds of musicians and performing artists.

In a conference call with reporters this morning, Lea Marquez Peterson, president and CEO of the Tuscon Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said that Pima County alone in the past has generated about a billion dollars a year in business from Mexican tourists, much of which has dried up since the law was enacted…

Bookings through the Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau were down 35 percent in August on a year to year basis. If that 35 percent decline continues for an entire year, the study says there will be an additional $151 million in lost business. In a best case scenario, where business begins to pick up again soon, the study estimates additional lost convention business of $21.6 million.

He said when you factor in jobs lost by Arizona residents, reduced spending by those people, and reduced taxes collected, the total projected impact reaches around $500 million.

The latter figure is based just on the loss of revenue from conventions.