Minnesota's Department of Administration recently released a report showing that illegal immigrants to that state cost them $188 million a year. Governor Tim Pawlenty commissioned the study and, while offering no specific legislation at this point, appears to be intending to do something.

That caused this:

"It's playing to racism, basically," said Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis. " ... I think it is a desperate move. I'm very sad that Governor Pawlenty would go in this direction again."

Actually, Clark is the one who's playing to racism, by playing the race card. Many in that state are concerned about the issue and don't want to spend that money. Rather than offering proper public policy, the opposition simply plays the only card they have.

Focusing on illegal immigrants' costs without counting their contributions doesn't make sense, said Jared Erdmann, co-director of Hacer, a Hispanic research organization in the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He said a Hacer study estimated the buying power of Latinos, believed to make up the bulk of illegals in Minnesota, at $3.1 billion. Migrants, both legal and illegal, have revitalized entire neighborhoods, he added.

So, if someone sneaks in to your movie theater, it's OK if they buy popcorn? Sorry, I'm not buying that. One person sneaking in leads others to try to sneak in, and leads to others not respecting those doors you have on the theater. And, if your manager is paid to look the other way, he should be immediately fired because he's a corrupt crook. Many of our managers in Washington are in effect paid to look the other way, and, while it's a little difficult to fire them we've come close a couple times recently.

I'd also suggest doing the math on Erdmann's figures. Either there are a lot more "Latinos" than illegal aliens in MN, or every single one of those illegal aliens has a buying power of over $30,000.

Previously: "[MN Governor] Pawlenty Asks Cities To Rethink Immigration Ordinances"