Republicans on Capitol Hill should examine both The Heritage Foundation and Cato studies and make up their own minds But they should also note that, while the author of Heritage’s immigration research, Robert Rector, is widely credited with helping to pass welfare reform in the 1990s, the author of the Cato paper, Leighton Ku, is a liberal who supported Obamacare, personally worked on implementing Obamacare, and is still is advocating for conservative states to accept Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion.

In case their is any doubt where each side stands, The New York Times reports today that Al Cardenas, another long-time amnesty advocate, has been using the American Conservative Union’s good name, to solicit money from business groups that support big government spending. “In a draft proposal circulated to defense and transportation industry executives in recent weeks, the union is offering to use its grass-roots organization, annual conference and movement clout to lobby against cuts to federal military and infrastructure spending,” The New York Times reports.

Republicans who still claim to be part of the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party should really take a close look at who their fellow immigration reform allies are. In particular, does Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., really want to be branded as a member of the K Street, Chamber of Commerce, John McCain/Lindsey Graham wing of the Republican Party.