Unholy alliance, pigs flying or both

The AFL-CIO, the SEIU and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are exploring a joint effort on immigration reform. Enlightened business interests have for years been pushing sane immigration policies. Labor economists predict labor shortages in coming years. One of the effects of the Hispanic participation in the 2012 election is to remove demonizing immigrants from the political debate.

Immigration reform?

The Republican party seems to have awakened to addressing a reality based immigration policy. It took the crushing reality of an electorate increasingly unfavorable to hard line positions on immigration, but moderation on the issue now seems positively to warn the hearts of reasonable Republicans. Many economists have suggested immigration reform is good for the economy, if not necessary to ensure labor is available to fill the positions which will be created in the 21st century.