The Missouri House Committee document claims policies have enticed foreigners to cross the U.S. border.

By DAVID A. LIEB

The Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A divisive new report from a Republican-led Missouri House committee claims abortion is partly to blame for illegal immigration by causing a shortage of American workers.

The report from the Special Committee on Immigration Reform also claims "liberal social welfare policies" have created a disincentive for Americans to work and an enticement for foreigners to cross the border illegally.

All 10 Republican committee members signed the report, but all six Democrats refused to do so. Democrats called the abortion assertion ridiculous and embarrassing.

"There's a lot of editorial comment there that I couldn't really stomach," Rep. Trent Skaggs, D-Kansas City, said Monday. "To be honest, I think it's a little delusional."

The statements about abortion, welfare policies and a recommendation to abolish incomes taxes in favor of sales taxes all were inserted into the immigration report by the committee chairman, Rep. Ed Emery, R-Lamar.

Emery, who equates abortion to murder, defended the assertions in an interview Monday.

"We hear a lot of arguments today that the reason that we can't get serious about our borders is that we are desperate for all these workers," Emery said. "You don't have to think too long. If you kill 44 million of your potential workers, it's not too surprising we would be desperate for workers."

National Right to Life estimates there have been more than 47 million abortions since the Supreme Court established a woman's right to abortion in its 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.

Immigration report

The immigration report estimates there are 80,000 fewer Missourians because of abortion, many of whom now would have been in a "highly productive age group for workers."

The abortion connection to illegal immigration was listed under the report's recommendations on federal social policies and potential state legislative actions on illegal hiring.

"Suggestions for how to stop illegal hiring varied without any simple solution," the report states. "The lack of traditional work ethic, combined with the effects of 30 years of abortion and expanding liberal social welfare policies have produced a shortage of workers and a lack of incentive for those who can work."

Credibility questioned

But Democrats contend the abortion assertion wasn't discussed, much less agreed to by the committee. Skaggs said it undermines the credibility of the entire report.

"That's ridiculous to draw that conclusion," added committee member Rep. Ed Wildberger, D-St. Joseph, the chairman of the House Democratic caucus. "I don't think that has anything to do with immigration."

Although he had signed the report, Republican Rep. Billy Pat Wright, of Dexter, said Monday that he didn't recall it including the connection between abortion and illegal immigration and wanted to first read the report before commenting about it.

Emery said there was some testimony about abortion during a question-and-answer session at one of the hearings, although he couldn't recall specifically by whom. "I felt like that was significant enough and fundamental enough that it warranted addressing it in the report," he said.

The report also includes short essays by Emery about the history of immigration, the purpose of immigration laws and the importance of a common language. In those, he notes "the issue of illegal immigration does not lend itself to compromise."