In a message dated 12/3/07 4:33:06 P.M. Central Standard Time, News@JobDestruction.info writes:
<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1792 -- 12/03/2007 >>>>>
In the past, we were told that the reason we need more H-1Bs is because
there is a shortage of educated American workers. Now, according to the AZ
Star, what we have is a "self-imposed shortage on highly educated
foreigners". Is that diversity-think or what?
Most puzzling of all, the AZStar idiotorial makes the ridiculous contention
that liberals might not support the H-1B increase being proposed by
freshman Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Liberal elites and labor unions usually
support H-1B increases, so I'm not sure who the AZStar is referring to.
AZStar's assumption that there is some kind of liberal opposition to H-1B
is even odder if you consider that Giffords is member of the "New Democrat
Coalition", a group of liberal Democrats who signed a CompeteAmerica letter
urging the Democratic leadership in Congress to push through an H-1B
increase. To see their letter go here:
http://competeamerica.org/news/alliance_pr/New_Dem_Letter_10-22-071.pdf
Speaking of liberals, remember Robert Reich? He was the labor secretary
under Clinton who was instrumental in tripling the number of H-1B visas.
Reich hasn't changed his attitude either -- in 2003 he was quoted in the
Washington Post saying: "makes no sense for us to try to protect or
preserve high-tech jobs in America or block efforts by American companies
to outsource."
Call it a small world, or perhaps a coincidence, but guess who attended the
Giffords' wedding ceremony? Robert Reich, of course! We will never know
what Reich told Gabrielle Giffords between toasts of champagne, but you can
bet he wasn't calling for her to protect our jobs by restricting H-1B or
outsourcing.
Read all about the wedding here -- the story is so sweet it will give you
goose bumps!
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/fashion/weddings/02vows.html?_r=1&ex=13542
51600&en=fd98cff46ae294bb&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/214200
Published: 12.03.2007
We need more highly educated immigrants
Our view: Rep. Giffords' bill to boost the number of H-1B visas deserves
support
Often lost in the emotional debate over illegal immigration is the fact
that there are many highly educated immigrants that the United States wants
and needs. Such workers include those in the science, technology,
engineering and math fields.
The United States needs these immigrants because few U.S.-born students are
pursuing careers in technical fields. As a result, American companies that
need engineers and scientists struggle to find workers.
In Arizona, for example, nearly 59 percent of engineering master's degrees
awarded in 2006 went to foreign-born students. Also, foreigners accounted
for 75 percent of engineering doctorates at Arizona's universities that
year.
Meanwhile, the United States limits the number of educated workers who are
allowed into the country each year. This self-imposed shortage on highly
educated foreigners hurts America's competitiveness on the global stage.
When U.S. companies cannot find the workers they need, they are stifled. In
turn, the U.S. economy is affected.
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., last week unveiled a plan to boost
the number of H-1B visas -- the kind granted to educated foreigners in
government-defined "specialty occupations."
Under her bill:
? The annual cap on H-1B visas, which has been at 65,000 since 2004, would
be raised to 130,000 in fiscal year 2008. The cap would go as high as
180,000 in future years.
? The number of exemptions for foreign workers with advanced degrees, now
capped at 20,000, would be eliminated. Instead, any foreign worker who has
an advanced degree from a U.S. university and a job offer with an American
company would qualify for an H-1B visa.
? Up to 20,000 foreign workers with non-U.S. advanced degrees would be able
to get an H-1B visas if they have a U.S. job offer.
We support Giffords' measure and encourage Congress to support it. However,
we also recognize that it will be a tough sell.
One of the reasons a comprehensive immigration reform package failed this
summer was that liberals and conservatives in Congress were unwilling to
compromise.
Giffords' bill will probably be supported by moderates and conservatives in
Congress, but it will have little traction with liberals who will argue
that less-educated foreign workers, such as laborers and farmhands, should
also have an opportunity to work in America.
While we agree that the United States should create more H-1B visas for
engineers and scientists, we also believe Congress should create a
guest-worker program to legally allow in more laborers for non-technical
industries.
We urge members of Congress to come to a compromise so that all American
industries have access to the foreign labor they need to grow and keep the
country competitive.
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