Revisiting Jeb Bush on the H-1B visa -- and the displaced IT worker who asked for help

[OhioChick]

The then-Florida governor demurred on aid to worker in '02, now favors expanding the visa cap

Jun 16, 2015 2:06 PM PT

Florida has a history when it comes to the replacement of U.S. workers with foreign workers on temporary visas. It ought to be a familiar story to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who on Monday announced plans to run for the Republican presidential nomination.

In 2002 and 2003, IT workers at a Siemens unit in Lake Mary, Fla. had to train their temporary visa-holding replacements -- they had either an L-1 or H-1B visa through an India-based IT services firm. Mike Emmons was one of the affected IT employees who lost his job.

In September, 2002, Emmons wrote then-Gov. Bush about it. "Management has their permanent employees training these Indians to take over their jobs," wrote Emmons, who wanted help. (The email is part of an email archive released by Bush covering his years as governor from 1999 to 2007.)

An aide to the governor told Emmons there wasn't much the state could do because visas were a federal matter. "Governor Bush has limited abilities to intervene," the aide wrote.

More: http://www.computerworld.com/article/2936336/it-outsourcing/revisiting-jeb-bush-on-the-h-1b-visa-and-the-displaced-it-worker-who-asked-for-help.html

[antigop]

1. k&r nt

[LiberalEsto]

2. Nobody is going to reduce these dratted visas

unless strict limits are placed on corporate campaign contributions.