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Bush urges US Congress to lift H-1B visa limit
PTI ^ | February 03, 2006 | Sridhar Krishnaswami

Posted on 02/04/2006 4:38:34 AM PST by Tyche

Making a strong pitch for America to stay competitive in the face of emerging economies such as India and China, President George W Bush has urged the Congress to raise the number of H-1B visas that allow companies to hire foreign workers for scientific and high tech jobs.

"Congress needs to understand that nations like India, China, Japan, Korea and Canada all offer tax incentives that are permanent. In other words, we live in a competitive world. We want to be the leader in this world," Bush said in a speech in Minnesota on Thursday.

To fill vacant jobs in the US, Bush urged the Congress to lift current limit on H-1B visas that allow foreign workers to get jobs in the United States. The Congress in 2005 capped at 65,000 the number of H-1B visas, a third of the 195,000 allowed during the technology boom.

"I think it's a mistake not to encourage more really bright folks who can fill the jobs that are having trouble being filled here in America, to limit their number. So I call upon Congress to be realistic and reasonable and raise that cap," Bush said, but did not say by how much he wanted the limit lifted.

He said that one part of the agenda to stay competitive was to study math and science, a theme he touched on in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday.

"It's one thing to research, but if you don't have somebody in that lab, well… And so I got some ideas for the Congress to consider. The first is to emphasize math and science early, and to make sure that the courses are rigorous enough that our children can compete globally," Bush said in a speech at the 3M Corporation.

He said there are more high-tech jobs in America today than people available to fill them. "So what do we do about that? And the reason it's important -- and the American citizen has got to understand it's important -- is if we don't do something about how to fill those high-tech jobs here, they'll go somewhere else where somebody can do the job."

"There are some who say, we can't worry about competition. It doesn't matter, it's here. It's a real aspect of the world in which we live," he said.

"And so one way to deal with this problem, and probably the most effective way, is to recognize that there's a lot of bright engineers and chemists and physicists from other lands that are either educated here, or received an education elsewhere but want to work here. And they come here under a programme called H1B visas," Bush said.

He said America should not fear competition. "It's important for us not to lose our confidence in changing times. It's important for us not to fear competition but welcome it."

Senior administration officials noted that the number of H-1B visas has fallen to 65,000 which in their estimation was 'too low' and that it was imperative 'to bump that up.'

". . . some of reports have called for increases of 10,000; others between 20,000 and 40,000. So there is a number of options on the table to be considered. But we'll work with Congress on that," said Claude Allen, assistant to the President for domestic policy.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; china; h1b; india; screwthepoochgeorge; visa
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To: Itzlzha
See, you cannot claim that the Free Market is unlimited, then gin the game so that only cheap external labor is allowed to compete in the "Free Market".

That's exactly what's going on, our own government is busy working to find the cheapest possible foreign labor for corporations while telling American citizens you're on your own.

321 posted on 02/04/2006 9:52:35 AM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: Tyche
President George W Bush has urged the Congress to raise the number of H-1B visas that allow companies to hire foreign workers for scientific and high tech jobs.

This may be a way off subject but there is an undenialble connection so what Bush must do is, as President put America first in every case irregardless of how unpopular it may seem to the world first crowd at home or abroad and not allow himself to be at all influenced by the globalist's view!

I believe God will continue to honor this nation's watchcare over Israel because of His love for Israel and His unchangeable desire for boundaries He has set for all things, be they spiritual or physical(temporal),ie; the absolute indivisibility of the land of the Jews from time immemorial even before the foundation of the world.

Be not deceived for God is not mocked for whatsoever a man(or a nation)soweth so shall he(it)reap!

Yes, believe it or not God will keep His promise to Israel which is the only country and people He will caused to survive, as a nation, His wrath and judgements on the world and its inhabitants which are inescapable!

322 posted on 02/04/2006 9:53:43 AM PST by VOYAGER
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To: Tyche; All

The GOP deserves to lose if they keep endorsing bum stuff like this. I might just vote third party in 2008 unless they wise up and wise up fast. I know we are taking a chance of really going to Hell on this one but when you look at it, maybe this is the wake up call that is needed but it is a shame that a lot of innocents will get hurt over this, economically and perhaps militarily. I know the Democrats are not our friends but I have to ask if the Republicans are as well.


323 posted on 02/04/2006 9:54:49 AM PST by Nowhere Man (Michael Savage for President in 2008!!! He is our only hope!)
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
You like the rest of the free traders want it both ways.

No I don't.

It's ok for the government to help corporations find cheap labor but when it comes American citizens they need to butt out.

Where did I say that?

This is no longer the GOP of Lincoln, McKinley and Coolidge . .

In too many ways, it is exactly that.

(And I wouldn't boast about all the good things Lincoln did in certain parts of the country, or to certain Republicans who know better.)

. . who saw unrestricted free trade for what it was.

And what exactly is it that worries you? The "free" part or the "trade" part?

Or is it something else?

324 posted on 02/04/2006 9:57:25 AM PST by logician2u
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To: 1rudeboy; Reaganwuzthebest
I thanked B4 for what was in the body of the article...I did not go to the thread link...perhaps that is my bad.

However, if the info and data is correct, why is that an issue?

Did you real MY post with the cited url's?

My numbers and info are also credited, and I got them from CONSERVATIVE sites like NRO.

I know info is fudgeable...and statistics lie because statisticians lie...but at least argue the facts like I pointed out...the DELIBERATE devaluing of jobs and wages in America in order to outsource/justify Illegal Infiltration/increase the H-1B visas from CERTAIN countries that we are bribing to play ball with us economically and Politically.

Can you dispute that Americans have become Third Class Citizens in their own Country?

If you try, remember...GWB's Shamnesty plan says that Illegals are more valuable than Americans...and goes against between 80 and 85% rejection of his plans by the American people (depending on which poll you read).

That is the arrogance of the Ruling Eee-lites, and as Illegals are more valuable for their votes (this is from Rove AND Bush!), where does that leave the average American citizen?

325 posted on 02/04/2006 10:02:24 AM PST by Itzlzha ("The avalanche has already started...it is too late for the pebbles to vote")
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To: Tyche

Failed President bump.


326 posted on 02/04/2006 10:07:36 AM PST by dagnabbit (Vicente Fox's opening line at the Mexico-USA summit meeting: "Bring out the Gimp!")
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To: logician2u
And I wouldn't boast about all the good things Lincoln did in certain parts of the country, or to certain Republicans who know better.

Lincoln was only one of many Republicans of old who were not sold on the ideals of unrestricted free trade, that's why it's important whether you like him or not to point that out. It goes back to the principles of the party.

Where did I say that?

It doesn't matter if you say it directly it still gets said in so many words when you advocate for the type of free trade we're seeing today.

I agree with your earlier statement the federal government should stay out of the business of being an employment agency as much as possible but if they're going to get involved at all I'd rather they consumed their time helping Americans find good paying jobs instead of working feverishly to set up free trade agreements with third world countries while at the same time importing record numbers of low wage immigrants to work the jobs that are left.

So many have been saying it for the last few years and they're correct, this is all going to come back and bite the GOP big-time.

327 posted on 02/04/2006 10:16:03 AM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: A. Pole
I knew extremely bright engineers who preferred to spend their time on talking, playing games or reading books etc ...

I think you are making this one up...

328 posted on 02/04/2006 10:35:43 AM PST by Feldkurat_Katz (What no women’s magazine ever offers to improve is women’s minds - Taki)
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To: A. Pole
To secure freetraders profits?

Greetings, Hooman!!! Welcome to the world of the Ferengi. /sarcasm>

Thanx for the ping.
329 posted on 02/04/2006 10:37:23 AM PST by Nowhere Man (Michael Savage for President in 2008!!! He is our only hope!)
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To: Itzlzha

I've learned long time ago that no matter what links are posted the free traders will find fault with it. They can be from conservatives like Phyllis Schlafly it doesn't matter. The facts never get disputed it's just the messenger they seem focused on.


330 posted on 02/04/2006 10:38:21 AM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: JasonC
...or live in it and use it as you please...

You really are refusing to see reality. I cannot do anything I want to my home other than cosmetic changes without the bank's and the town's approval. What is so hard to understand about that?

Yes you own it.

No. I don't. I have a mortgage. The bank owns the home till I pay off the note.

What is it about this concept that you can't grasp?

331 posted on 02/04/2006 10:41:37 AM PST by raybbr (ANWR is a barren, frozen wasteland - like the mind of a democrat!)
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To: Tyche

What a moron.


332 posted on 02/04/2006 10:41:55 AM PST by WhiteGuy (Vote out all incumbents and pass term limits now.)
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To: Reaganwuzthebest

The horror. Members of a conservative website questioning the veracity of sources.


333 posted on 02/04/2006 10:42:25 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: JasonC; Itzlzha
What playing field? What level? What rigged? I simply pointed out that wages are up 64% in the last 16 years.

Have you done any studies in American industry to back that up. Where I work entry level people still make $9/hour. Which, in some cases, is actually less than it was ten years ago. The others that have gotten raises have not kept up with inflation.

You really do live in a world driven by numbers you see on the internet - not reality.

334 posted on 02/04/2006 10:45:33 AM PST by raybbr (ANWR is a barren, frozen wasteland - like the mind of a democrat!)
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
So many have been saying it for the last few years and they're correct, this is all going to come back and bite the GOP big-time.

And you prefer the anti-business, anti-free-trade rhetoric of a Richard Gephardt over the nominal free-trade policies of the Bush administration?

Perhaps you're right. If enough Republicans join with the populists and zenophobes and know-nothings and stir up fear among the blue-collar voters (who are not totally in the Democrats' camp, as the teachers are) and make a big enough stink about real and imagined jobs being lost to H-1B visas, illegal immigration, outsourcing, insourcing, downsizing -- and, don't forget, it's all George W. Bush's fault! -- the dishonest Dems really could have a chance to retake the Congress.

Sadly, most Americans are as ignorant of basic economics as they are of nuclear physics. Democrats more so, Republicans only slightly less so.

335 posted on 02/04/2006 10:47:30 AM PST by logician2u
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To: 1rudeboy
The horror. Members of a conservative website questioning the veracity of sources.

Most of us know the difference between legitimate questioning of posted links and patterns of simply attacking the messenger rather than confronting what's being said.

336 posted on 02/04/2006 10:48:33 AM PST by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: nwrep
Wow, dude, that would be a stunning revelation to about 270 million Americans.

You mean with the farm bill, the No Child Left Behind, the Highway Bill, and the Drug supplement; not to mention, the take over of several private pension plans, or the support and aid for some 20 million Mexican Nationals (illegally enrolled in our system). It amounts to additional $trillions in discretionary spending, of which Bush has vetoed zero.

He did pass a tax cut, but without spending cuts you will be paying for that along with interest and penalties. Bush is about as far left as Lenin; he doesn't mind tax and spend at all, he embraces it along with every communist leader he comes across; he simply wants to reserve the pot of gold for those who contributed to his campaign. His economic actions are neither conservative nor capitalistic. It is you who is confusing social rhetoric with economic policy.
337 posted on 02/04/2006 10:49:39 AM PST by ARCADIA (Abuse of power comes as no surprise)
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To: JasonC
An entirely comfortable middle class living, for which any human being ought to be incredibly thankful. I see precious little of thankful - or of work ethic - or of fairness - or of confidence - in this thread. And I don't find that terribly conservative.

What does being conservative have to do with being thankful? I am thankful for the things I have. It doesn't mean that disagreeing with Bush about his open borders policy is not conservative. In fact, I think it is very conservative.

People live in reality. There are hard times coming unless the policies of this administration are changed vis-a-vis immigration, both legal and illegal, and trade policies which are one-sided. It would take decades to truly level the playing field with those foreign countries and in the meantime Americans will suffer. Not all but those in the middle class will. The lower classes will be taken care of by your taxes. The middle class will be left hanging in the breeze.

338 posted on 02/04/2006 10:52:10 AM PST by raybbr (ANWR is a barren, frozen wasteland - like the mind of a democrat!)
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To: BlackbirdSST

I think much of this new GOP are ex Dems who jumped ship during the Clinton years when they saw the writing on the wall. I remember those numbers then being heralded by the GOP as indicative of a political sea change but those sheer numbers also changed the face of the party.

Regarding sheer numbers, can we think of any other analogies?


339 posted on 02/04/2006 10:54:10 AM PST by tertiary01 (Dems ..the party that repeats history's mistakes over and over and....)
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To: Reaganwuzthebest

Speaking of patterns, why do ostensible protectionists post from sources such as E.P.I., Common Dreams, and various Nader-affiliates? Personally, I think it's simple intellectual laziness . . . and if somebody chooses to post something by a former Clinton economic advisor that they lifted from the website of the only true socialist in Congress, you'd better darn be sure I'll point it out. Again and again.


340 posted on 02/04/2006 10:54:30 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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