In a message dated 11/7/07 4:03:35 P.M. Central Standard Time, News@JobDestruction.info writes:

<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER  No. 1780 -- 11/07/2007 >>>>>

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said "I like H-1B visas." He likes H-1B
so much he said he wants an unlimited number of them to flood the U.S.
labor market.

Does that sound so outrageous that you just can't believe Romney would said
say such things? It gets worse, you can listen to it yourself by going to
the Techcrunch page. They have a podcast as well as a streaming audio file
so you can listen to Romney in person.

Keep in mind that Romney not only wants to flood the U.S. with more H-1Bs,
he wants more green cards too. Last month he said this to a group of
foreign tech students:

   "I'd rather staple a green card to your diploma and say
   that if you can get a Ph.D. from one of our great
   institutions, we'd love you to stay here."

I did a google search to try to find some articles about this interview in
the United States media. I couldn't find a single one, but it's all over
the Indian press. Looks like the Democrats aren't the only ones who have a
Senator from Punjab!

NumbersUSA has a fax to send to Romney. Hope you are all faxers and please
-- give this perfidious panderer a piece of your mind!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/11/01/mitt-romney/

November 1 2007
Interview With Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney On Technology Issues

Michael Arrington

Last week I wrote asking for reader input into the questions we would ask
Governor Mitt Romney, a Republican candidate for President in 2008, in an
upcoming interview. Thanks to the great feedback in the comments, we were
able to put together a list of questions to use for the Romney interview,
as well as future podcasts with other candidates we are scheduling now.

The interview is below. Due to time constraints with Governor Romney,
however, we weren’t able to get through all of the questions. Instead of
rushing, we divided the questions up into two parts; his campaign says
they’ll try to schedule a follow up session. The campaign also requested
that we push some specific questions for later so that he could give more
thoughtful answers.

The areas we were able to cover include technology growth policies in the
U.S., Internet taxes, H1B visas, venture capital tax issues (see Fred
Wilson and the NYT on this issue) and renewable energy.

We were not able to cover net neutrality, the digital divide, mobile
spectrum allocation issues, identity theft, China censorship or
intellectual property issues on this call.

Overall, we got through a lot of material in a short amount of time. I also
learned that Governor Romney is strictly a Windows guy, but he says three
of his five sons are on Macs. And we get to hear what he’s listening to
on his iPod these days (he does own an iPod, of course).

I want to thank Governor Romney for taking the time to do this interview,
and going out on a limb somewhat. Most of the candidates are a little
standoffish on bloggers - we’re seen as somewhat unpredictable at times
(the political blogs are particularly nuts).

Listen to the podcast, or just read the transcript, below. For more on
Governor Romney, see his official website, PoliticalBase and the Yahoo News
page on Mitt Romney. As always, we are posting this interview at TalkCrunch
as well.

Special Thanks to BitGravity, a new content delivery network specializing
in rich media, for hosting the podcast for us. This is being linked to from
Yahoo News and other sources, so we wanted to make sure that it streams
quickly. Thankfully, BitGravity is making sure it just works.

Listen Now:

Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download


Transcript

Michael Arrington: Hello, this is Mike Arrington from TechCrunch. Today I
have the privilege of getting a few minutes to talk with Republican
presidential candidate Mitt Romney about his positions on technology
related issues. Governor Romney, thank you for taking the time to talk with
me today and welcome.

Governor Mitt Romney: Thank you Michael. Good to be with you.

MA: So I noticed the new Iowa and New Hampshire polls were released
yesterday and that you continue to have a very large lead among republican
candidates. Congratulations on that.

MR: Well, thank you. I’m pleased that the places I spend most time in
I’m doing better. If it were the other way around, where I spent the
least time I was doing better, I would be in trouble.

MA: I have five or six questions for you and I’d like to just jump right
in. I think the first one is fairly broad. The US technology industry, of
course, has been a world leader. And a lot of the growth has been through
international markets, particularly over the last ten to twenty years. What
would you do as president to advance these efforts?

MR: Well, first it’s important to communicate as you do to your audience
that the trade and opening markets to American goods is essential. The only
way America is going to remain the world’s superpower is if we can
compete globally, so I want to open more markets to our goods and I will
negotiate with other nations to do so. At the same time I want to make sure
that our trading with other nations is done on a fair basis, and when a
nation like China does not honor our intellectual property rights then
we’re going to have to get serious with our Chinese friends and say guys
you just can’t do that or you’re going to suffer consequences in our
markets. So we’re going to have to fight to make sure that our products
are protected and our technology is protected but also to not close down
foreign markets, open them up, we can compete around the world.

MA: Ok, great. Let’s jump into internet taxes, some news today on that
actually. The 1998 Internet Tax Freedom Act bars federal state and local
governments from taxing internet access or imposing discriminatory internet
only taxes. Things like bit taxes, bandwidth taxes, email taxes. It
doesn’t of course prohibit states from collecting sales taxes on things
like e-commerce. It was twice extended by Congress and actually was set to
expire this Thursday, but last week the Senate voted to extend the ban and
then this morning the house voted 402-0 to approve the bill as well for a 7
year extension. I’d just like to get your position on internet only
taxes.

MR: I think the indication of the house vote indicates that most
American’s are of the point of view that Internet only taxes of the type
you describe are not something we want to see. I have a specific position
on that issue, but I do not want to see internet only taxes as you
described them or access fees or email charges and so forth. We do enough
taxing in this country and let’s not add more taxes. I’d rather see the
tax for innovation reduced rather than expanded.

MA: It seems like along general party lines the Republicans wanted a
permanent ban and Democrats wanted something less than that and they
compromised on 7 years. Do you have any particular position on whether the
ban should be permanent?

MR: Well I think it makes more sense to make it permanent. I think the
Democrats recognized that if they do it every 7 years then they can go out
and get contributions from companies that care and then vote for it every 7
years. It’s an old political ploy which is bring it back for a vote
regularly and go back and hit people up for contributions…

MA: I didn’t think of it that way, that’s interesting. Let’s jump
into visas, probably the most politically, one of the most sensitive issues
in Silicon Valley at least. The H1B in particular, allows US employers to
temporarily seek help from skilled foreigners, they have to have the
equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree to qualify. We used to give, in the
late 90s, 100-150k a year, there’s at least demand for 200k a year. In
the last couple of years, the US quota for that has been brought down to
65k, and that was last year and this year. A lot of Silicon Valley startups
and large companies in particular are saying it’s really hurting them
with their hiring. Proponents of the program say it helps U.S. businesses
stay competitive and it helps avoid outsourcing. It also brings some of the
worlds best and brightest to the U.S. Quite a few of the most successful
entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley started off as H1B visa holders. The other
side says it can take jobs away from US citizens and lowers wages. What’s
your position on H1B in general?

MR: I like H1B visas. I like the idea of the best and brightest in the
world coming here. I’d rather have them come here permanently rather than
come and go, but I believe our visa program is designed to help us solve
gaps in our employment pool. Where there are individuals who have skills
that we do not have in abundance here, I’d like to bring them here and
contribute to our economy. Ultimately we’re in a competitive battle with
the rest of the world; a battle where we need to stay the most powerful
nation in the world. And the only way our nation stays ahead forever is
with superior technology and innovation. And if we need additional folks
who have skills that can contribute to our country then by all means lets
welcome them in and if we see that our kids are not competing in certain
areas lets help our kinds understand what they need to become competitive.

MA: Do you think the quota should be increased? Do you think their should
be no quota? Should we let in everyone that is qualified?

MR: I would like to see us increase the number of people who receive an H1B
visa and can provide skills and experience that we may not have. As to the
exact number in my view that would follow a review of a number of things.
Number 1: What’s the overall economy doing? What’s happening to the
size of our workforce. Number 2: What’s happening to our own capacity in
the jobs that are being requested. Number 3: What are the demands from our
employers? How many additional folks do they need? You’d have to do an
assessment of that on a regular basis, but my overall view is we need more
H1B visas, not less.

MA: There’s an issue we talk about quite a bit in Silicon Valley about
how venture capital is taxed. Venture capital is clearly the lifeblood of
Silicon Valley that allows startups to form and grow without worrying about
initial capital needs. Without that capital most public technology
companies in the U.S. today would probably not exist or be in a much
different form. one of the benefits of venture capital is the way they get
their gains on their funds is they only pay capital gains on that carries
interest even though they’re not investing their own money they’re only
investing their limited partners money. It’s clearly a big incentive to
be a successful venture capitalist because they’re taxed the capital
gains rate. The capital gains rate is far below normal income tax rate.
Congress in late spring looked at the issue to see if change is needed.
Some prominent Venture Capitalists, Fred Wilson being one of them, came out
and said they’re being taxed too low today and they should be paying
normal income tax rates on what is effectively income. I have two questions
for you, first what is your position on capital gains rate in general?

MR: I don’t believe that we should increase our capital gains tax rate.
My view is in fact that for people earning 200k or less, we should
eliminate the cap gains tax, the dividends tax, and the tax on interest
altogether. I’d like Americans to save their money, and not get taxed on
their savings. And with regard to carried interest associated with venture
capital, real estate, private equity, I do not believe in raising taxes.
And it is a capital gain because those individuals do make an investment,
it’s a small investment, but they make an investment of their own capital
and I would treat capital gains as capital gains instead of trying to
re-categorize them as normal income.

MA: One more question and then I actually have a fun question. On renewable
energy, strictly speaking we’re talking about science now and not just
the internet and the areas I cover, it is a big area, an important area. My
question is, what would you do to encourage U.S. innovation into renewable
and sustainable energy sources?

MR: Well, first of all, as I mentioned a moment ago, the way a nation like
ours stays ahead permanently from other nations is having superior
technology and innovation and one of those areas that is certainly going to
be true in relates to energy and I would like to see the federal government
substantially increase its investment in basic science and basic research
related to energy efficiency, energy production, energy distribution, and I
will substantially increase funding in those areas . I will also work on
public product partnerships to put in place coal to liquid capacity,
potentially even nuclear power plants, and if you will, prime the pump
again to get nuclear power plants online and under construction again in
this country. I believe that we’re going to have to become to partner to
encourage the development of these additional sources of energy, at the
same time I want to create incentives for individuals and businesses to
become more energy efficient. When I was governor for instance I said
anybody who buys a car that is a high mileage vehicle, whether it’s a
hybrid or not, I would waive the sales tax and the annual excise tax.
Let’s give people more incentives to get fuel efficient vehicles.

MA: Here’s a more politically sensitive question. Based on current
science which I know is still forming, do you think carbon emissions should
be taxed?

MR: I’m not looking at a carbon emissions tax. No, instead I’m not
looking at increasing taxes, but instead findings ways to develop new
technology and encourage efficiency, but that’s not the course which
I’ve laid out at this point.

MA: I guess that brings us to the most important question I have to ask
you, which is…Governor Romney, Mac or PC?

MR: I have a PC. My sons have a Mac and swear by it, but I have a couple
PC’s.

MA: So one of your sons is on Mac, or most of them are?

MR: 3 out of the 5 boys I believe are on Macs, and they swear by them, but
I’m a creature of habit, I’ve got my PC.

MA: I’ve got to say I’m slightly disappointed and that’s going to
hurt you in Silicon Valley (laughs), but at least it will help you in Texas
where Dell is. Do you have an iPod?

MR: I do.

MA: Of course you have an IPod! What’s on it? What are you listening to
right now, what sort of albums have you downloaded or listened to?

MR: What I typically download is country music as well as 1960’s music.
I’m a baby boomer, so the Beatles and the Stones and some of the old
groups from the 1960’s are my favorites, I listen to them and I listen to
country. I might have some inspirational music as well, but those are the
highlights for me.

MA: Governor Romney, thank you very much for your time.

MR: Good to be with you. Thanks Michael.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/nov/02visa.htm

Republican Prez hopeful bats for raising H-1B quota

Sridhar Krishnaswami in Washington | PTI | November 02, 2007 | 12:09 IST


A leading Republican Presidential hopeful has thrown his weight behind the
H-1B visa programme stressing that bringing high skilled workers on a
permanent basis to the US will be beneficial to the economy.

Former Massachusetts Gover Mitt Romney has said that while he is for
increasing the quota for H-1B visa, a majority of whose aspirants are
Indians, the exact figures would depend on a number of things including the
strength of the US economy and the implications for the local workforce.

"I like H-1B visas. I like the idea of the best and brightest in the world
coming here. I'd rather have them come here permanently rather than come
and go, but I believe our visa programme is designed to help us solve gaps
in our employment pool," he said in an interview to TechCrunch, a weblog
dedicated to profiling and reviewing new internet products and companies.

"Where there are individuals who have skills that we do not have in
abundance here, I'd like to bring them here and contribute to our economy,"
he added.

The Republican contended that in the "competitive" global environment, the
US would stay the most powerful nation in the world only with superior
technology and innovation. "And if we need additional folks who have skills
that can contribute to our country then by all means lets welcome them in
and if we see that our kids are not competing in certain areas, lets help
them understand what they need to become competitive," he added.

Romney was asked if the H-1B quota should be increased, there should be no
quota at all or if the United States should let in everyone who is
qualified.

Romney said the US needed "more H-1B visas, not less", but the exact number
would follow a review of a number of things on regular basis.

These are "What's the overall economy doing? What's happening to the size
of our workforce... what's happening to our own capacity in the jobs that
are being requested...what are the demands from our employers," he said.

Romney also said that while American has to compete globally, it would have
to get serious with a country like China on the issue of intellectual
property rights.

"The only way America is going to remain the worlds superpower is if we can
compete globally, so I want to open more markets to our goods and I will
negotiate with other nations to do so. At the same time I want to make sure
that our trading with other nations is done on a fair basis.

"When a nation like China does not honour our intellectual property rights
then we're going to have to get serious with our Chinese friends and say
guys you just can't do that or youre going to suffer consequences in our
markets," said the Republican aspirant for contesting the Presidential
elections next year.

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