Jobless push for visa reform (Bills in congress to fight L1 abuse)

http://www.computerworld.com/careertopics/careers/story/0,10801,83888,00.html ^ | Patrick Thibodeau

[Mick2000]

AUGUST 11, 2003 ( COMPUTERWORLD ) - WASHINGTON -- The controversial L-1 and H-1B visas are under assault in Congress, in large part because of the activism of a group of laid-off Connecticut IT workers. Of the five bills that have been introduced this year to reform the two visa programs, three were written by Connecticut lawmakers.

"We've heard quite a bit from constituents in our district concerned about losing their jobs," said Lesley Sillaman, a spokeswoman for Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), who is seeking restrictions on L-1 visa use.

The group DeLauro has been working with, the Organization for the Rights of American Workers (TORAW) in Meriden, Conn., was formed less than a year ago. One of the group's founders, James Pace, a laid-off IT consultant, learned the ropes of activism in the early 1970s, when he fought the state's motorcycle helmet law. "It all comes down to backyard politics," said Pace.

Laid-off IT consultant James Pace is a leader in TORAW’s fight for L-1 and H-1B visa reform. Among other activities, TORAW attended an open forum meeting that Rep. Nancy Johnson held in her Connecticut district several months ago. Six TORAW members in the audience peppered Johnson with questions about the visa programs. "We took over the whole meeting," said Pace. Subsequent local newspaper coverage focused on offshore outsourcing.

On July 28, Johnson, a Republican, joined Democratic Sen. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut in sponsoring the USA Jobs Protection Act to reform the visa laws.

[Mick2000]

Best news of seen in awhile, amazing that six people could make such a difference and help get this started.

[BushCountry]

This is a cause I think that many of us should support.

[Zathras]

Too bad we have to rely on these commies to fix this problem.

[junta]

Always a good idea for a government to alienate people with IQs at least two standard deviations above the average Democratic voter.

[anniegetyourgun]

Ever considered the possibility that more government restriction will lead more employers to move those ops offshore?

[adam_az]

Bush could lose the election to the Rats on this issue.

He better wake da hell up.

[Bobby777]

you are correct.

[mabelkitty]

No visa elimination, so Patriot Act.

[ArneFufkin]

Chris Dodd and Rosa DeLauro are with you. How revealing.

[Mick2000]

Agreed, but then I think it becomes a matter of removing the disparity in our costs of labor, primarily between our country and India and China. With India, we have to bring down their tariffs (second highest in the world) and with China, I'm pretty sure there are tariffs to contend with as well as the primary driver which is that the yuan is pegged to our dollar at a 8.3 to 1 ratio making their costs 8 times as cheap as ours.

We need (and the Bush Administration is currently working on this but it's an uphill battle) to get that disparity to be lessened significantly over the next couple years so that the playing field will even out more.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

ping

[Mick2000]

So is Johnson (a Republican).

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

This should pass,BUT IT NEVER WILL!

[ArneFufkin]

Ah, yes, that bastion of Conservatism, Nancy Johnson. I believe she'd be known round here parts as a "RINO".

You people are Democrats, go to them, they are nannies who are here to protect you and satisfy your every whorish need.

[EagleMamaMT]

Read later.

[Mick2000]

So, what would you do? The L-1 (government legislation if I remember) is currently uncapped. What would you do? Just let as many guest workers into our country as we can get in here? Reforming this visa is actually reducing the number of guest workers in this country, reducing the impact of this legislation. I thought that was what Conservatives were for, less government intervention.

What does that say about you?

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

The idea that this is a liberal issue won't wash. At this link is a nice picture of Hillary:
TCS press release; March 10, 2003
Senator Hillary Clinton shows her support for the offshoring, the H-1B and L-1 visa.
http://www.tcs.com/0_media_room/releases/200303mar/20030310_buffalo.htm
Furthermore, there is a growing list of Conservative Republicans trying to stop the abuse of these visa programs. And, whenever a foreign guest worker is hired over a qualified unemployed American, it is abuse.

[lelio]

Chris Dodd and Rosa DeLauro are with you. How revealing.

What's that saying about Bush where a lot of people on FR support the other party's moves? Yeah I know: they'll all commie symps and DUhers at heart.

[ArneFufkin]

I'm a conservative. I'm an American. I have skills, education and an innovative mandate that cannot be matched by some schlump from a Third World country. I have pride, dignity and an obligation to produce. I don't cry like a toddler when life's challenges get thrown in my face.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

When American laws are being broken by companies hiring visa workers over qualified Americans, or hiring visa workers due to loopholes in a law (in the case of the L1), then it is the obligation of the government to enforce or modifiy those laws. Just as it is the obligation of the citizens to make the government aware of the problems. Which is what we are doing.