Well, Democrats almost stopped short of calling it racist, but it seems they just couldn’t help themselves. The Republican-led House today took a step toward its version of immigration reform by passing the STEM Jobs Act, which would reallocate up to 55,000 green cards from a diversity program and direct them to foreign students earning advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM.
House passes STEM Jobs Bill 245-139, 27 Dems voted with Republicans in support of it.
— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) November 30, 2012
The bill would also cut to one year the wait for spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents to come to the U.S.
Most people would find it difficult to call such an immigration policy racist, but Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) found a way. While the Congressman said that he wasn’t accusing anybody of racism, he insisted the program was racist in its effect if not intent.
Debate over STEM visa bill getting heated on the House floor. Rep. Hank Johnson said it was "racist" if not in intent, then in effect.
— Alan Gomez (@alangomez) November 30, 2012
Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) calls GOP immigration bill "racist." Says "it is a trojan horse and bares the ugly face of racism."
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) November 30, 2012
“Republicans have just received historically low votes from minorities in the past election, yet they want to create an immigration system that gives visas with one hand while taking visas away from minorities with the other,” he told lawmakers. “It is a Trojan horse, and the ugly head of racism will rear its ugly head if this Trojan horse, H.R. 6429, becomes law.” Really?
Recommended
House pushes thru STEM Jobs Act, which comes at the expense of immigrants w/ less education and privilege http://t.co/LkYsT249
— Julianne Hing (@juliannehing) November 30, 2012
The GOP's STEM Jobs Act says: PhDs Shantay, you stay!, regular immigrants sashay away. http://t.co/RFLWHYVV
— Jorge Rivas (@thisisjorge) November 30, 2012
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said he was “personally insulted” by the charge.
Issa tells Hank Johnson on the floor "to go to a masters or PhD… and see the diversity before accusing anyone of racism."
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) November 30, 2012
Many lawmakers, though, including New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, praised the Republican effort to create technology jobs.
Hopefully the STEM Jobs Act will begin a renewed focus on the need to overhaul & modernize our immigration system: http://t.co/xgm3nQXI
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) November 30, 2012
I voted yes as the House passed the STEM Jobs Act. More visas for high-skilled immigrants – great news for Indiana: http://t.co/djRioznI
— Todd Rokita (Archived) (@ToddRokita) November 30, 2012
Glad House passed STEM Jobs Act. Keeping more highly-skilled grads in the US will help keep us hub for tech innovation http://t.co/Zfspunpe
— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 30, 2012
Some, though, are less concerned with importing highly skilled immigrants than with filling STEM jobs with American candidates.
@ariannahuff There are hundreds of PhD chemists without jobs– there isn't a STEM talent gap, there's a STEM wage gap!
— doctor onesleepynerd (@onesleepynerd) December 1, 2012
@GOPLeader nice you r committed to foreign STEM grads but what about citizens & your own constituents who need #HR3032 to keep their jobs?
— Donna Crinklaw (@SklmarmVa) December 1, 2012
Join the conversation as a VIP Member