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Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KLP who wrote (7787)	5/8/2006 10:00:31 AM
From: Peter Dierks	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71588

Resource for states' legislation on immigration: ncsl.org

To: KLP who wrote (7787)	5/8/2006 1:24:56 PM
From: Father Terrence	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 71588

Semantics are sometimes important. The hordes pouring across our borders are not immigrants. They are invaders. Therefore, I would properly call them illegal invaders. That brings to mind another erroneous phrase heard multiple times every day: global warming. Actually, the Earth is experiencing cyclical climate change. This is an important difference because the climatologists' models show that as some regions of the Earth heat up, other regions cool down. It could even kick us into a new Ice Age. FT

To: KLP who wrote (7787)	5/19/2006 12:06:15 PM
From: Peter Dierks	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 71588

Lawmakers oppose 'Social Security for illegals' Some in Congress rip 'immoral proposal' that could give U.S. benefits to Mexicans -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: March 17, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern © 2005 WorldNetDaily.com While President Bush continues his push to "save Social Security," immigration-reform advocates in Congress are battling an administration proposal they believe could result in Social Security benefits being paid to Mexicans living and working illegally in the U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., has introduced a resolution expressing congressional disapproval of the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo. And in a new letter to supporters of his Team America PAC, leading reform advocate Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., commented: "At a time when the administration is telling us that the Social Security system designed to protect the retirement years of American citizens is in 'crisis,' it is incredible that such an immoral proposal should be put forward." Tancredo added, "[B]ut you know as well as I that the political establishment in this city will do anything to keep the flow of cheap illegal labor coming over the border! " The Colorado congressman said he is one of 30 co-sponsors of Goode's resolution, "which is a very significant warning shot across the administration's bows." The U.S. has similar totalization agreements with 20 other nations, as they're designed to ensure retirement benefits for those who legally work and contribute to another country's retirement fund. The difference in the Mexico proposal is that it would apply to illegal workers in the U.S. who would be eligible for benefits after working only six quarters. Tancredo noted that for the U.S.-Mexico agreement to become law, President Bush will have to submit it to Congress first. "The fact that 30 House members –29 Republicans and 1 Democrat – are willing to take a stand against it in advance bodes ill for its success," he said. Tancredo noted other immigration proposals in Congress, including Rep. Chris Cannon's "AgJOBS" amnesty bill, which would extend amnesty to illegal immigrants, and their families, working in U.S. agricultural jobs. Tancredo calls Cannon, R-Utah, "one of the most aggresive 'open borders' advocates in the House." Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, has introduced a companion bill in the Senate. Tancredo said President Bush's own amnesty plan has even less support in the new Congress than in the previous one, but he expects the administration to press forward. Tancredo's Team America PAC is a political action committee aimed at generating grassroots pressure on Congress to block "open borders" legislation.

To: KLP who wrote (7787)	11/26/2006 3:29:20 PM
From: Peter Dierks	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 71588

Immigrant Entrepreneurs New evidence that newcomers create jobs and wealth. Sunday, November 26, 2006 12:01 a.m. EST Everyone knows that Intel, Yahoo, Google, eBay and Sun Microsystems are wildly successful U.S. technology companies. Less well known is that immigrant entrepreneurs played a role in founding each one--and a whole lot of others. After an election season that featured an unfortunate amount of anti-immigration posturing, a new study from the National Venture Capital Association is a welcome reminder that foreign workers make their fair share of important contributions to our economy. Titled "American Made: The Impact of Immigrant Entrepreneurs and Professionals on U.S. Competitiveness," the report found that "Over the past 15 years, immigrants have started 25 percent of U.S. public companies that were venture-backed." These businesses employ some 220,000 people in the U.S. and have a current market capitalization that "exceeds $500 billion, adding significant value to the American economy." The authors surveyed smaller, private venture-backed companies as well and discovered that nearly half of the founders also were immigrants. Protectionists insist that immigrants "steal" jobs from native workers, but this survey found evidence that these newcomers are more likely to expand the job pool. "Almost two-thirds (66 percent) of the immigrant founders of privately held venture-backed companies have started or intend to start more companies in the United States," according to the report. Despite these contributions, and the potential for more, U.S. policies today have made it increasingly difficult for foreigners to come here and start businesses. H-1b visas, which go to skilled workers, are capped and tend to reflect not market demand but the political mood of Congress. And of late, lawmakers have been content to raise immigration fears instead of adjusting U.S. policy to fix the problem. The U.S. currently grants just 65,000 visas annually to foreign professionals in certain fields, such as computer science and biotechnology. This year, as in nine of the past 11, the cap was reached well before the beginning of the fiscal year in which the visas can be used. Earlier this year, Republican Congressman John Shadegg of Arizona introduced a measure that raises the limit and allows it to fluctuate with market demand. The Shadegg bill also would shorten the average wait for a green card, which is currently between five and seven years and a disincentive for these skilled workers to stay in the U.S. It's unfortunate that so many of Mr. Shadegg's GOP colleagues were more interested in using the immigration issue to help demagogue their way into the minority. They'd have been better off embracing immigration as a major source of American economic vitality. opinionjournal.com