How immigrants impact the American economy is a question open to, often fierce, debate. Do immigrants take American jobs or complement American workers? Do they contribute to our fiscal coffers or drain them by over-consuming benefits?
Although these important questions are unlikely to be answered definitively any time in the near future, there is one topic – immigrant entrepreneurship – where most everyone seems excited. Why not? If immigrants can come here and create a business that makes more jobs, then perhaps this is the ultimate free lunch. The Obama administration (White House Startup America), many states, and lots of cities are thus pursuing initiatives to attract immigrant entrepreneurs.
BOSTON — Boston's city councilors voted to give themselves a $12,000 pay raise just days before they face voters for re-election — though most are running unopposed.
The salary measure, which passed 9-4 on Wednesday, will boost the annual pay for a councilor by 14 percent to $99,500 from $87,500 currently. Councilors Ayanna Pressley, Michelle Wu, Charles Yancey and Josh Zakim voted against the raise, according to WBUR radio's website.
