zlacker

Well, sort of. You said "the jobs are being done by someone else", but that's not quite true - that person having to do that job means they can't do another job, etc. I think your argument only makes sense if there's a large pool of low-skilled workers looking for jobs with clean backgrounds (which might be true, but possibly isn't in that area/job area).

Here are some examples:

1. A former felon is unable to work a low paying job at a library, because they have a background check. Someone else takes that job - but only if they couldn't find a higher paying job. In this case tax revenue doesn't change.

2. A former felon has a unique skill (e.g. manufacturing specialty welding machines), that it is impossible to find someone to replace. That business opportunity goes by, and in this case tax revenue decreases.