The author of a legislative committee report that suggests a link between abortions and illegal immigration says the comment has been blown out of proportion and is taking attention away from the real issues. The special committee report put together by chairman Ed Emery suggests Missouri would have 80-thousand more people who could be highly productive workers today if abortion had not been legalized 33 years ago. And it suggests employers would not be tempted to hire illegal immigrants if those 80-thousand had been born. Emery says the suggestion is just two lines in a 50-page report and should not be considered the dominating factor behind use of illgal immigrants in Missouri. He says the comment is based on testimony taken during hearings about labor shortages. He says he doesn’t really know if there is a shortage of workers but felt the issue should be mentioned in the report. He does not mention the possibility that birth control, even by people who are part of strong pro-life groups, has led to far more people NOT being born and thus not being in the workforce, either. He says there’s no way to quantify that assertion. Emery does not think the issue will make any difference in January. He says the strongly pro-life legislature will be able to quickly move on to the ten specific issues the committee recommends become laws next year.