Immigration Reform News 2013: Obama, Business Leaders Agree Bill Is Good For Economy (VIDEO)

This week President Obama hosted a meeting at the White House with business leaders, CEO's and entrepreneurs from various fields to discuss the economic benefits of comprehensive immigration reform in the United States.

According to a report from the White House, the business leaders in attendance were in agreement with the president in the belief that achieving immigration reform promises economic benefits for the U.S. as it creates a fair playing field for employers and a new class of workers as well.

"All of these business leaders recognize the degree to which immigration is a contributor to growth, a contributor to expansion, a creator of jobs," Obama said. "But they also recognize that the immigration system that we currently have is broken."

At the meeting Obama referenced a report that the Congressional Budget Office released last week. He pointed out that among other things, the report made note that the immigration reform legislation currently being touted on Capitol Hill "would bring more money into the federal government, reduce our deficit" and have a significantly higher number of people "paying taxes," which can only benefit the country, its leaders and citizens.

Obama said that although the current immigration reform package is a compromise, it incorporates the basic tenets he feels are needed for reform, Chron reports. The president suggested to attendees that to pass the legislation would help strengthen the ability of business leaders to invest, create jobs and offer increased career opportunities for their employees. Combined, he said, this would significantly assist in aiding economic recovery.

"And if we get this done, when we get this done," Obama said, "I think every business leader here feels confident that they'll be in a stronger position to continue to innovate, to continue to invest, to continue to create jobs, and ensure that this continues to be the land of opportunity for generations to come."

A White House representative said that at the meeting the president reiterated his support for the ongoing bipartisan efforts in Congress toward immigration reform.

According to the representative, Obama said that he would continue to urge Congressional leaders to take action by way of the reform bill, suggesting it would ultimately grow the economy, strengthen the middle class, improve the country's fiscal outlook and create new opportunities for Americans everywhere. The president is encouraging lawmakers to act immediately in working toward compromises on immigration reform so that the bill can be completed before Congress goes into summer break in August, UPI.com reports.

"As I've said before, it's not a bill that represents everything that I would like to see. It represents a compromise," Obama said. "And I think all of the business leaders here recognize that there are elements of it that they might want to tweak one way or another. But it does adhere to the core principles that we need for comprehensive immigration reform."