Crist: Immigration Reform Would Benefit Social Security

“„

“Studies show that 11-14 million people are in the country as non-citizens, and if we are willing to have a thoughtful, reasonable pathway to citizenship — earning citizenship — then those 11-14 million people can become productive, participating members of the American economy, paying the payroll taxes, helping Social Security going forward, and making America stronger financially,” Crist told The Huffington Post in an interview on Friday. [...]

“„

Crist disputed the claim that there is a Social Security “crisis,” noting that it is projected to be solvent until 2037or 2041. Nevertheless, bringing more immigrants into the system would, according to Crist, extend that even further. “I think that would be a responsible way to approach it going forward and realizing that number one, we hope the economy continues to improve — certainly that’s important,” he said. “And number two, by the time you get to 2037 or 2041, when expected problems may occur, you’ve already found a solution by increasing the number of citizens that are paying into Social Security, in a legal way.” He added that he would “absolutely” push legislation on this issue if he is elected to the Senate.