Republican Candidates on foreign workers

Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2007 9:45 PM

<<<<< JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER No. 1799 -- 12/12/2007 >>>>>

In case you missed the Republican debate today, the stupid moderator said that
immigration and Iraq won't be debated. Well, they didn't debate anything
anyway because the entire show was nothing but a bunch of 30 second question
and answer sessions. It was a non-event that put me to sleep way before it
ended.

In case you are wondering why immigration wasn't up for debate, the moderator
said that by now everyone knows where the candidates stand on immigration. Oh,
really?

In contrast to today's debate, the New Hampshire Business Review asked
Republican candidates a question that indirectly addressed H-1B.

Q: Many New Hampshire employers are dependent on foreign workers,
but others say they take jobs from U.S. citizens. What do you
propose to do with the immigrant visa programs specifically and
immigration in general?

Ron Paul was the only one to specifically mention H-1B. Unfortunately he
reiterated his support for it. He claims he is a tough guy on illegal
immigration, but then goes on to admit that he has been a corporate toadie on
H-1B. Paul's response is classic Libertarian -- they want unlimited
immigration as long as it's LEGAL. In other words, they want open borders.

While maintaining a hard stance on illegal immigration, I have also
supported programs such as the H-1B visa program.

John McCain hasn't changed his tune. He thinks that Americans don't have the
skills, and until they do he wants to continue to import workers.
McCain just doesn't think the USA can be competitive without foreign labor,
and you can bet that he believes Americans will have the skills to compete in
the global economy about the same time Hell freezes over.

But we must also pursue rapid economic growth by [snipped]
improving education and training so that American workers can
continue to compete with any workers, and undertaking any
needed visa reforms to attract the labor that enhance U.S.
competitiveness so that American businesses can hire and pay
the best.

Mitt Romney said that legal immigration should be increased. He didn't mention
H-1B specifically but left no doubt he wants more immigrants to come to the
US. We let over 1 million immigrants into the US per year not counting those
who come here on temp visas such as H-1B, H-2B, and L-1, but that's not enough
for Romney -- he wants more!

It is finally time to take corrective action and reform the
current immigration laws so we can [snipped]
increase legal immigration into America.

Duncan Hunter understands we are letting lots of immigrants into the U.S.
but he seems to think nothing can be done until we close our border. Just for
the record, we haven't managed to close our border since 1776, so if Hunter
gets his way it's safe to assume that something will be done about H-1B when
Hell freezes over!

We can t make changes to our legal visa programs until we secure
our border and close the "back door."

Tom Tancredo didn't name H-1B specifically but said he would temporarily
reduce legal immigration. It's not clear if he was talking about permanent
and/or temporary immigration, but he promised to reduce something. He didn't
say how much he would reduce that something, and since the reductions would be
temporary it's fair to assume that at some point he wants to increase it at
some time in the future. Tancredo's soft answer is very disappointing
considering he once sent a bill to Congress to abolish H-1B. Is Tancredo going
mainstream neo-con?

I don t believe for a moment that there are jobs Americans
won t do, a more accurate statement would be that there are jobs
Americans won t do for the price being paid to foreign workers. As
president, I would stop the flow of illegal immigration, prosecute
employers who knowingly hire illegal labor, deport those who are
here illegally, and temporarily reduce legal immigration. American
jobs belong to American workers.

Thompson, Giuliani, and Huckabee didn't participate in this Q&A but make no
mistake; they all want to increase H-1B. I have covered these three in
previous newsletters which you can review by going to the online archive.

Just FYI -- I contacted Huckabee's campaign office concerning his web page
where it says he wants to "Increase visas for highly-skilled and highly-
educated applicants." The staffers I talked to were friendly but unfortunately
didn't know what H-1B was. I was promised a call by someone who can answer my
questions. If I ever get an answer I will let all of you know what I found
out.

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

http://nhbr.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071207/POLITICS/71206001

Foreign workers
Q: Many New Hampshire employers are dependent on foreign workers, but others
say they take jobs from U.S. citizens. What do you propose to do with the
immigrant visa programs specifically and immigration in general?

MCCAIN: I have always believed that our border must be secure and that the
federal government has utterly failed in its responsibility to ensure that it
is secure. If we have learned anything from the recent immigration debate, it
is that Americans have little trust that their government will honor a pledge
to do the things necessary to make the border secure. I will restore that
trust by securing the border.

But we must also pursue rapid economic growth by keeping wasteful government
spending in check, holding down taxes, cutting unnecessary regulatory burdens,
improving education and training so that American workers can continue to
compete with any workers, and undertaking any needed visa reforms to attract
the labor that enhance U.S. competitiveness so that American businesses can
hire and pay the best.

HUNTER: I have represented a border community for over 25 years, so I know and
understand the impacts of illegal immigration on our communities. The U.S. has
one of the most generous immigration and guest worker programs in the world.
We welcome nearly 1 million people into our country each year -- hat I like to
call the "front door." We can t make changes to our legal visa programs until
we secure our border and close the "back door."

As president, securing our borders will be one of my very first priorities and
I intend to build the border fence mandated in the Secure Fence Act in six
months. After we have fully implemented border security, we can closely
consider whether any changes are needed in our existing visa programs.

ROMNEY: Legal immigration is a great source of strength for America; illegal
immigration is not. Legal immigration has brought vitality, energy and family
values to communities throughout the country, and should be encouraged.
Illegal immigration, on the other hand, presents numerous challenges for our
communities.

It is finally time to take corrective action and reform the current
immigration laws so we can secure our borders, implement a mandatory
biometrically-enabled and tamper-proof documentation and employment
verification system, and increase legal immigration into America. We must also
recognize that giving amnesty to illegal immigrants in our country did not
work 20 years ago and it will not work now.

TANCREDO: I don t believe for a moment that there are jobs Americans won t do,
a more accurate statement would be that there are jobs Americans won t do for
the price being paid to foreign workers. As president, I would stop the flow
of illegal immigration, prosecute employers who knowingly hire illegal labor,
deport those who are here illegally, and temporarily reduce legal immigration.
American jobs belong to American workers.

PAUL: I intend to increase the resources devoted to border security and end
the welfare magnet that attracts illegal immigrants who wish to live off the
U.S. taxpayer instead of contributing to this country. However, I will make
sure that our economy and businesses continue to benefit from legal
immigration.

While maintaining a hard stance on illegal immigration, I have also supported
programs such as the H-1B visa program.

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