ITAA starts new lobbying campaign to increase H-1B

Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2007 5:31 PM

<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1788 -- 11/21/2007 >>>>>

We haven't heard much from the Information Technology Association of America
(ITAA). ITAA's president, Harris Miller, resigned in a misguided effort to run
for Senator from Virginia. We enjoyed a calm period after Miller lost the
election to Webb in which the ITAA seemed to fall out of the limelight.

It now looks like the monster may be arising again. ITAA seems to have found a
big wad of cash, and they are spending some of it to hire a K Street lobbying
firm. PLM will be tasked with lobbying for increasing the H-1B cap, and you
can bet the ITAA will also try to push some of their other agenda items such
as unfettered free trade and open borders.

The lobby firm hired goes by two different names: PLM Group or the Livingston
Group. They are a heavyweight lobby firm staffed by revolving door DC insiders
like John Scofield. I find this development highly disturbing in view of the
fact that we know there will be an end-of-the-year push for an expansion of H-
1B. This band of crooks should not be underestimated!

You can view their website at:

http://www.livingstongroupdc.com/

The ITAA is listed as one of their clients -- click "select clients". ITAA is
one of their chosen few.

I checked the ITAA website but found no mention of their new lobbying push.

http://www.itaa.org/

***** HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING! *****

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/11/19/ap4356074.html?partner=email

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21887804/

Tech Group Taps Lobbyist for Visa Issues

Associated Press 11.19.07, 4:35 PM ET

WASHINGTON -

The Information Technology Association of America, whose more than 300 members
include Microsoft Corp., Dell Inc. and Yahoo Inc., hired PLM Group LLC to
lobby the federal government on immigration matters, according to a disclosure
form.

The firm will lobby on issues related to the H-1B visa program, which allow
companies to hire skilled foreign professionals for up to six years, according
to the form posted online Nov. 13 by the Senate's public records office.

Tech companies argue there aren't enough visas to meet their needs for certain
skilled positions and have long pushed to increase its cap from the current
65,000 per year - a number that has stayed relatively flat since 1990. Earlier
this year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services received 150,000
applications for the 2008 H-1B visas in a single day.

Congress also is questioning the use of the visa program by nine India-based
companies, who collectively used nearly 20,000 of the H-1B visas available
last year. Some lawmakers said the program has been subject to fraud and
abuse.

Among those registered to lobby on behalf of ITAA are: Andrew Kauders, former
senior adviser to Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.; Walter Pryor, who was
legislative director for Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; and John Scofield, former
communications director for the House Appropriations Committee.

PLM Group is a joint venture between two lobbying firms, the Podesta Group and
the Livingston Group.

Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of
the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995.
They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in
lobbying.

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Newsletter Homepage:
http://www.JobDestruction.com/shameh1b/JobDestructionNews.htm

Support this Newsletter and www.JobDestruction.com by donating:
www.zazona.com/Donations.htm

To Be removed from this mailing list, reply to this email with UNSUbSCRIBE in
the subject window

Back to archives