We're still looking for the video, but last night's Republican presidential debate included reference to the Center's analysis of job growth in Texas, which found that about 40 percent of job growth there from 2007 to 2010 went to illegal aliens, with another 40 percent going to legal immigrants. Here's the exchange between Romney and Perry from CNN's transcript:
ROMNEY: Yeah. With regards to track record in the past, Governor, you were the chairman of Al Gore's campaign, all right?
(LAUGHTER) And there was a fellow -- there was a fellow Texan named George Bush running. So if we're looking at the past, I think we know where you were.
Secondly, our unemployment rate I got down to 4.7 percent, pretty darn good. I think a lot of people would be happy to have 4.7 percent. And with regards...
(APPLAUSE)
With regards to the -- to the record -- to the record in Texas, you probably also ought to tell people that if you look over the last several years, 40 percent, almost half the jobs created in Texas were created for illegal aliens, illegal immigrants.
PERRY: That is an absolute falsehood on its face, Mitt.
COOPER: You have 30 seconds, Governor Perry.
ROMNEY: It's actually -- it's actually...
PERRY: That is -- that is absolutely incorrect, sir.
ROMNEY: Well, take a look at the study.
PERRY: There's a third -- there's been a third party take a look at that study, and it is absolutely incorrect. The fact is, Texas has led the nation in job creation. eBay and Facebook and Caterpillar didn't come there because there weren't jobs and there wasn't an environment to be created.
That's what Americans are looking for. They're looking for somebody that they trust, that knows has the executive governing experience. I've got it. You failed as the governor of Massachusetts.
Perry's claim that the CIS study is "an absolute falsehood" is itself false. CIS Director of Research Steven Camarota's response to the Perry campaign's "third party" analysis of the study is here.
