News stories are focusing on the nation's second-highest unemployment rate and 11 straight months of job losses in Rhode Island. But I focus on the fact that the state's two Senators and two U.S. Representatives almost invariably act to increase the importation of foreign workers and to reward illegal workers. Why do Rhode Island's citizens allow that to happen?
Of course, I'm picking on Rhode Island because it is big in the news at the moment. The fact is, many of you live in states reeling from job losses but which are represented by politicians who prefer foreign labor and the corporations that hire them over the unemployed workers of your state. You can pretty much substitute your state's name every time I mention "Rhode Island" below.
But let's stick with Rhode Island for a minute, because it makes such a good case study.
The Washington Post reports:
Eleven straight months of job losses -- another 4,000 jobs disappeared between October and November -- have put Rhode Island's unemployment rate at 9.3 percent, higher than the national average and second only to recession-hit Michigan. While most of the country began to feel the economic downturn in recent months, this state has been in recession far longer, and the pain is deeper, according to Rhode Island economists, government officials and some of those struggling to find work.
Well, if any state would have politicians with a finger on how bad things were becoming all year, it ought to be Rhode Island. NOT!
NumbersUSA gives grades based on how well each Member of Congress has voted and co-sponsored to protect American workers from too much imported foreign labor.
The career grade for Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy?
Grade D
The other Congressman, Jim Langevin?
Grade D
Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed?
Grade F
The other Senator, Sheldon Whitehouse?
Grade F-minus
But that is for their careers. How about during this Congress, with Rhode Island citizens losing their jobs left and right? Did the state's congressional delegation go to bat for their citizens?
Nah, they were even worse.
In terms of protecting workers with immigration actions, both Rhode Island Senators in this Congress earned an F-minus!
Both Representatives in this Congress earned a D-minus!
Fortunately for Rhode Islanders, they have some politicians back home who are actually trying to move illegal foreign workers from their jobs so citizens and legal immigrants can have them. But their four Members of Congress completely abandon Rhode Islanders while in Washington. They not only fight to continue the importation of about 140,000 new legal foreign workers every MONTH, but they work to INCREASE the importation while trying to permanently give jobs to the illegal foreign workers in Rhode Island.
Here is my question to you, Rhode Islanders: Isn't it time you gave your Members of Congress some different orders?
It is clear that Rhode Island's congressional delegation will continue to do the bidding of the cheap-labor industrial lobbyists until they feel that you are going to make life uncomfortable for them if they don't start working for your interests.
Go to the NumbersUSA Action Buffet and send free faxes to your delegation. And keep coming back every week to send more. Make the phone calls. It's time to change your Members' errant ways.
The Washington Post also reported:
This state is broke. Rhode Island is facing a budget deficit of $357 million, which is the largest in the country when measured against the total spending. The bulk of that gap -- about $233 million -- is in lost revenue, with tax receipts falling as the unemployment rate has worsened. Education is facing huge cuts.
Most foreign workers who are brought into this country are an incredible drain on taxpayers, especially on those who pay property and sales taxes to state and local governments. The Heritage Foundation discovered that the typical household headed by a low-educated foreign worker uses $20,000 more in public services than paid in taxes -- with most of the net cost on state and local governments.
The cost is similar whether the foreign workers and their families are legal or illegal.
The immigration efforts of Senators Reed and Whitehouse and of Representatives Kennedy and Langevin are contributing greatly to the state's budget deficit and to the deterioration of public services.
Some of you are in states where the voters have done a good job persuading Members of Congress to vote against foreign labor importation.
But most of you are not.
To see just how bad your state is, go to our Report Card map at: http://grades.betterimmigration.com/
Click on your state. That will bring up a page that will show the grades of your entire state delegation. Many of you will see a pretty sad picture of scoundrels acting repeatedly against the interests of the workers of your state. Let them know what you think. Go to your Action Buffet now.
ROY BECK is Founder & CEO of NumbersUSA
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Gerold 1032 of MI
Tue, 12/30/2008 - 12:31am
Ken1820 of IN Thu,
It sounds like you listen to the media too much. If it wasn't for the unions protecting american jobs and demanding a livable wage from the billions in profit, we'd most likely have an all illegal work force in the auto industry and most likely we would all be working for illegals wages oin the manufacturing sector of america.
I don't understand, people don't want illegals driving down wages in america, but when americans are making a living wage, the american people, themselves, want that decent wage lowered. Very confusing!!!
If we cater to the politicians that want U.S. workers, working for the same wages as foriegn manufaturers, what makes anyone think they wont want us working for the same wages as our illegal foriegn counterparts? The camels back got broke one straw at a time. The politicians want illegals here for a reason and people need to think about what that reason might be. Remember the only thing illegals do is work for less money and make taxs rise thru the use of social services. You can't lower wages and expect higher taxs. The real question is..."What's in the bigger picture here"
There is also something wrong with the statement that illegals only do jobs we americans won't. I just don't believe that. When someone has a family and no job, they'll do just about any kind of work to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. That in itself is a very lame arguement. About as lame as all americans who wish to preserve their jobs and want the E-Verify program used are racist. It just don't stand up on it's own.
Here's a link to a paycheck from one of the big 3. I don't think it's anything an autoworker will get rich on. http://www.riverviewflorist.net/xcart/check/check.jpg
BTW I live in Michigan. The first hardest hit state.