Bloomberg, in Chicago, Urges Campaigns to Discuss Immigration Reform

By KAREN ANN CULLOTTA

CHICAGO - Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg appeared with William M. Daley, a former White House chief of staff, for breakfast here on Tuesday, united in their belief that immigration reform is one of the best and cheapest ways to revive the nation's economy.

Speaking at a gathering of the Economic Club of Chicago, Mr. Bloomberg chided both President Obama and Mitt Romney for what Mr. Bloomberg perceives as a bipartisan reluctance to discuss immigration reform during an increasingly fractious campaign season.

“Neither candidate is talking about immigration reform,” Mr. Bloomberg said. “But there is no way to help the economy as quickly and as cost-free as opening the borders to create jobs and create business.”

“Around the world, people want to move to America, and they vote with their feet,” Mr. Daley added. “The world wants to come here, and we need them to come here.”

Indeed, according to a recent report by the Partnership for a New American Economy, a group of mayors and business leaders led by Mr. Bloomberg and Rupert Murdoch, the chief executive of News Corporation, immigrants are more than twice as likely to start a business as the native-born, accounting for the start of 28 percent of new American businesses in 2011, despite representing just 12.9 percent of the population.

In recent years, Mr. Bloomberg has repeatedly argued for the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

The breakfast meeting in Chicago â€" home of Mr. Obama's campaign headquarters â€" was the first of two forums sponsored by the partnership. Mr. Murdoch was expected to join Mr. Bloomberg on Tuesday evening for a second immigration reform discussion in Boston, where Mr. Romney has his headquarters. Meanwhile, Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney spent more time in swing states on Tuesday, with Mr. Obama in Iowa and Mr. Romney in Ohio.

While the nam ing of Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin as Mr. Romney's running mate has accelerated demands that the candidates define their plans for reducing the federal budget deficit, Mr. Bloomberg urged Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney to share their ideas for immigration reform, despite its being an often polarizing issue with voters.

“There has got to be something more important than getting elected,” Mr. Bloomberg said.