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'Bush totally against scrapping H1-B visas'
Indo-Asian News Service ^ | Ela Dutt

Posted on 09/16/2003 4:01:46 AM PDT by TopQuark

'Bush totally against scrapping H1-B visas'

By Ela Dutt, Indo-Asian News Service

Tuesday September 16, 10:50 AM

New York, Sep 16 (IANS) U.S. President George W. Bush is reportedly against a critical bill now in Congress that would cut down H1-B visas dramatically, affecting skilled IT and other workers from India.

At a private reception attended by eight Indian Americans in Jackson, Mississippi, Bush vehemently expressed his opposition to House Resolution 2688, a bill introduced by Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo of Colorado, according to those attending the meeting.

Immigration attorney Paresh Shah, who was present at the meeting, said he specifically questioned the president regarding his stand on the bill in which Rep. Tancredo has called for terminating the H1-B visa programme altogether.

"Bush spread his hands as wide apart as possible and stated unequivocally that 'Tancredo and I are at opposite ends of the pole. I fully do not support Congressman Tancredo's bill against H1-Bs'," Shah told IANS.

The Tancredo bill has raised hackles both in India and among Indian Americans and other supporters of the community.

"In fact in India and the U.S. there is an understanding that President Bush supports Tancredo's efforts to close the H1-B programme as Tancredo is a fellow Republican and also because the unemployment figures are so high and many people feel that it is a result of H1-Bs occupying American jobs," Shah said.

But the president's statements prove the opposite, he said. Shah is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) that presented its counter proposal on the H1-B visa reduction programme to the president at the gathering.

The private reception was in honour of the Mississippi Republican gubernatorial candidate Haley Barbour and netted $1.2 million for his campaign.

Besides Bush, other noted luminaries at the reception included former senate majority leader Trent Lott of Mississippi as well as Karl Rove, the president's chief campaign advisor. Sampath Shivangi of Mississippi organised the exclusive Indian American delegation.

The California delegation, besides Shah, included Indo-American Friendship Council chairman Krishna Reddy.

Currently, there are some estimated 900,000 H1-B employees in the U.S., 35-45 percent of whom are from India, according to AILA.

"Judging from the president's strong negative reaction to the Tancredo bill, it's apparent that the president understands that the current unemployment situation in the U.S. is not due to H1-B visa holders taking American jobs," Shah contended.

"As soon as I mentioned the visa, he knew what I was talking about, he knew about the Tancredo bill, he knew what it meant. From his immediate grasp of the H1-B issue, and his strong support for continuing the programme, he understands also that these foreign specialty workers are basically a much needed element of our economy," Shah said.

By implication, some observers contend the president is not going to be against business outsourcing as well.

Beginning October 1, the H1-B visas quota will revert back to the 65,000 per annum level it was before it was raised a few years ago to 195,000.

Shah also submitted AILA's proposal on the L-1 visa programme to counteract the various legislation currently pending in Congress to limit its usage.

"The L-1 Visa programme is heavily used by the Indian community. Last year, Indians comprised 24.4 percent of the worldwide L-1 visas issued, making them by far the number one group of users of this visa programme," Shah stated.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: bush43; h1b; visas
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To: NMC EXP
" The Iowa GOPer responded: "In the new economy, unemployment levels are not important." "

No doubt the Budget and Trade Deficits are not important in the "new economy" either.
41 posted on 09/16/2003 6:35:06 AM PDT by LibertyAndJusticeForAll
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To: A. Pole
Ping!
42 posted on 09/16/2003 6:37:00 AM PDT by LibertyAndJusticeForAll
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To: TopQuark
This is one more reason why I am leaning towards not voting for Bush this time around.

At the present time I don't see India IT workers too much of a threat to my line of work but that is rapidly changing. These folks will work for peanuts and do so gladly while working long hours.

On the other hand my experience with them is their work is mediocre at best. We're using a software vendor that employs nearly 95% Indians and their product so far is a disgrace.

I can't begin to describe how bad their code is.
43 posted on 09/16/2003 6:42:19 AM PDT by Mr. Fit
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To: Lazamataz
ping
44 posted on 09/16/2003 6:44:38 AM PDT by Fraulein (TCB)
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To: TopQuark
Well, that squares it. I will absolutely not vote for a politician who directly works against my interests.

I cannot vote for George W. Bush in the 2004 election. The ONLY thing that could change that is if Hillary Clinton runs. Otherwise, the presidential ticket will remain unvoted on my ballot.

45 posted on 09/16/2003 6:47:33 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)
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To: Mini-14
Not a chance in h*** I will vote for Bush.

You, me, and millions more. He's so damned interested in selling us out to India that he forgot he won by 500 votes last time.

Eff Bush. Seriously.

46 posted on 09/16/2003 6:49:06 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)
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To: dogbyte12
Clinton signed GATT and NAFTA, Bush is extending it. What exactly is the choice here? Tweedle dee or Tweedle dum.

Well yes, there's no choice. Still, I refuse to actively vote FOR either form of suicide. Therefore my ballot will remain blank.

47 posted on 09/16/2003 6:50:41 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)
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To: TopQuark
'Bush totally against scrapping H1-B visas'

Then "American IT workers totally for scrapping Bush".

So much for the "for the people" part of our gov't.

LQ

48 posted on 09/16/2003 6:51:17 AM PDT by LizardQueen
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To: Walkin Man
This is the reason President Bush has lost my vote in the next Presidential election.

And mine. This was the final straw. He's seen the numbers and he's PRETENDED to care. But now we see where his heart is.

49 posted on 09/16/2003 6:51:57 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)
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To: steve-b
Bush's position makes sense if and only if the Pubbies plan to go into the mass vote-fraud business....

Hey, why not. There's no way Bush is going to win legitimately....

50 posted on 09/16/2003 6:53:02 AM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)
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To: Lazamataz
bttt...
51 posted on 09/16/2003 6:53:34 AM PDT by Brian S (Vote Freedom First!)
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To: TopQuark
... not due to H1-B visa holders taking American jobs ...

Next, these immigration attorneys will tell us that these H1-Bs bring the jobs with them.

52 posted on 09/16/2003 6:57:25 AM PDT by bimbo
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BTTT
53 posted on 09/16/2003 7:03:15 AM PDT by Fraulein (TCB)
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To: searchandrecovery
why does Bush hate the middle class?

"Hate" is a pretty strong word ... I'd say that Bush, being of wealth and privelege, is just more comfortable with around Immigration Attorneys like Shah.

54 posted on 09/16/2003 7:03:40 AM PDT by bimbo
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To: TopQuark
It's a known fact that H1's are used to train Indian workers with the intention of returning home and taking the work with them. Some H1's do actually stay in the US but for the most part this is an easy way to train the replacements.
55 posted on 09/16/2003 7:05:48 AM PDT by RockyMtnMan
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To: TopQuark
U.S. President George W. Bush is reportedly against a critical bill

Like father, like son - a one term president ...

56 posted on 09/16/2003 7:12:43 AM PDT by 11th_VA (Ross was right !!!)
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To: Lazamataz
Yup.

Whats funny is the President acts like he won the election by a landslide. He just barely made it over Algore and yet he believes he can walk all over millions of unemployed Americans of all stripes? One-termer.

57 posted on 09/16/2003 7:12:58 AM PDT by Walkin Man
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To: Walkin Man
GW will be a one-term President just like his dad and for the very same reason!

They won't understand this until Hillary! enters the race with the slogan: "I'll close those borders and I'll send the illegals and H1-Bs home." She won't, of course, but it will get her elected.

58 posted on 09/16/2003 7:14:47 AM PDT by bimbo
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To: Fraulein
"Bush spread his hands as wide apart as possible and stated unequivocally that 'Tancredo and I are at opposite ends of the pole. I fully do not support Congressman Tancredo's bill against H1-Bs'"

Opposite ends of the pole, eh? Yup, that's true. Tancredo is a Republican, but it's unknown just what Bush is... besides a national disgrace.

59 posted on 09/16/2003 7:16:11 AM PDT by Tancredo Fan (Stop the invasion. Put the military on the borders, round up illegals, and tell Fox to shove off.)
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To: TopQuark
"Bush spread his hands as wide apart as possible and stated unequivocally that 'Tancredo and I are at opposite ends of the pole"

Precisely.

Trancredo's a conservative.

60 posted on 09/16/2003 7:18:32 AM PDT by Mr. Mojo
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