Immigration restrictions hurt the economy Re: "Obama faces backlash on his immigration plan," July 8 First it was Byron York, now Chris Stirewalt. Why does The Examiner continue to spread lies that pander to the biases of the Republican base instead of doing its part to inform people that immigration reform is the principled conservative thing to do? The conservative Cato Institute had this to say on reducing the number of low-skilled immigrant workers: "A policy that reduces [them] by 28.6 percent ... wouldreduceU.S. household welfare by about 0.5 percent, or $80 billion." That's $80 billion taken out of our collective pockets byrestrictiveimmigration policy. If you are going to talk about immigration as an economic issue for the middle class, remind people that they are better off with more immigration, not less. Paaqua Grant
Arlington

Rhee can finish the job under different mayor Re: "Gray's education plan mimics Fenty's," July 7 Jonetta Rose Barras' latest effort is a waste of column space. There is no contradiction in Vincent Gray's stand on education reform. He voted for education reform, voted to confirm Michelle Rhee, and continues to support education reform. Gray has only opposed the secretive wayRhee and Mayor Adrian Fenty went about some of it. Calling for policy and budget transparency is a positive, not a negative. Barras also suggests that it is not good to have town hall meetings, or for Vince Gray to continue education reform involving parents, teachers and the community. It isn't! Gray never said he would fire Rhee if elected mayor. She is taking herself out of the equation by her injudicious comments, which are not unusual for her. Gray knows education, which became clear when he attended the education forum that Mayor Fenty ducked. He will be a mayor who is personally involved in education reform, unlike Mayor Fenty. Working with a Mayor Gray, Rhee could be even more effective as she works to finish the job she started. I hope she will. Peter D. Rosenstein

Washington
Where's the proof that Gov. Brewer is wrong? Re: "Facts not fiction in immigration debate," July 4 Linda Chavez says that "illegal immigration is down, not up" and "has not lead to an increase in crime," that "half of the 10 lowest-crime big cities ... are in border states" and "the U.S. Border Patrol has more resources than ever." Her statements attempt to prove that the facts do not bear out Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's claim that "the majority of the people that are coming to Arizona and trespassing are now becoming drug mules." But Chavez proves nothing. Brewer didn't say that more aliens equal more violence. With border crossings down due to enforcement, it's not unreasonable to expect that drug warlord-facilitated, nonviolent drug-carrier pawns are becoming a greater fraction of the reduced number of successful trespassers. Brewer's comment may be unsupported, but Chavez's red herrings and agenda are also showing.

Ronald Sheinson
Silver Spring