[John Jorsett]

In what just has to be a stunning coincidence, Microsoft delays plans for West Des Moines, Iowa center:

Microsoft Corp. has delayed plans to build a $500 million data center in West Des Moines.

West Des Moines City Manager Jeff Pomerantz said he received a call from Microsoft on Friday morning, telling him that plans for the data center have been postponed.

Telephone messages left Friday for Microsoft officials weren't immediately returned, but the call to West Des Moines comes a day after the company said it would lay off workers for the first time in its 34-year history, cutting 5,000 jobs.

[cripplecreek]

Can’t wait to hear the Microsoft response.

[org.whodat]

One could hope that Microsoft has been caught with its pants down here.

[Drango]

could have sent to any number of IT vendors that have announced layoffs recently

As the article suggest, it's not just Microsoft. We continue to import foreign workers (H1Bs) while thousands of Americans are unemployed. Bizzaro.

[null and void]

But but but the H1-Bs are cheaper and more fearful, uh, compliant...

[sten]

"These work visa programs were never intended to allow a company to retain foreign guest workers rather than similarly qualified American workers, when that company cuts jobs during an economic downturn"

gee... where have you been? this is all they have been doing.

[Doohickey]

It was 1400 jobs, not 5000. But who bothers to try and comprehend a press release? Journalists should only cull the highest numbers and write a story based on those.

If Senator Grassley down’t like the H1B program, then introduce the necessary legislation to end it. If Americans want those jobs that would otherwise go to a foreigner, then develop the necessary skillset.

Lastly, since Microsoft hasn’t taken a single dollar of federal bailout money they don’t owe the Senator from Iowa any sort of explanation.

[stevio]

Gates you SOB.

[pabianice]

[gubamyster]

ping

[BobL]

I do have some sympathy for the H1B companies. After all, they do need to have some people on staff who can read...rather than just products of the American educational system.

[Enterprise]

Hey get with the program Grassley. As long as they lay off white males it’s ok!

[kalee]

ping

[Will88]

Obama has yet to announce any detailed H-1B plans, but his Cabinet nominees include supporters of a cap increase, such as Janet Napolitano,

A real question there. What's to be done about the current H-1b quotas, and those foreigners now in the process of applying to be part of the program? Seems the need for new participants should definitely be diminished.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Headline?

American citizens needed elsewhere, will keep all H1Bs
Microsoft responds to Senator Grassley
Citizens needed by the military to protect our interests, says MS.

[dennisw]

The last thing Steve Balmer cares about is his US workers. And Bill Gates could care less too plus he’s too busy blowing his foundations money in Africa

Whatever Charles Grassley says will be ignored

[redgolum]

Actually, I suspect MS will layoff Americans and then hire more H1B’s.