This is something most of us on here predicted would happen back in 2010 when the Arizona legislature passed the draconian "Papers Please Law" SB1070, which pretty much made it legal to pull someone over for simply "looking illegal."
But now, thanks to an article in the Arizona Republic, we have empirical evidence that the law has indeed been bad for businesses in that state.
Just take a look at some of the statistics:
Projected bookings for the Phoenix Convention Center are down by as much as 30 percent for the current fiscal year compared with 2009. The city projects about 184,300 convention guests, down from a high of about 275,400 in the 2009 budget year — a difference of about $132 million in direct spending, according to the city.
So, could this just be a result of other factors such as a bad eceonomy? It doesn't seem likely given the following fact:
Meanwhile, other cities with comparable convention facilities, including San Diego, Denver, San Antonio and Salt Lake City, have experienced a different trend. In those locales, guest counts are slowly rebounding or relatively flat.
What is the actual connection between the law and the unfavorable business climate in the state?
“The misperception that our city does not value diversity continues to be an impediment to attracting national convention groups,” said Scott Dunn, a spokesman for the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In some cases, the damage from what happened in 2009 or 2010 won’t wash ashore until 2013 or 2014.”
And there's also plenty of anecdotal evidence tying the two together:
Tracking losses tied to SB 1070 is difficult. But convention and tourism officials say it has been a frequent issue in discussions with prospective convention groups, including several that have said they will not consider Arizona because of the law.
So, way to go "pro-business" Republicans in Arizona. You've screwed up the business climate in your state in your quest for ideological purity. Ah well, at least other states have benefited from your short-sighted racism and cruelty.