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Home Page > News > GOP Senator Grassley still blocking Irish and hi-tech immigration bill in US Senate

GOP Senator Grassley still blocking Irish and hi-tech immigration bill in US Senate

Attention now on Senator Scott Brown after comments bill was “ready to pop”

NIALL O'DOWD,

IrishCentral Founder

Published Monday, March 12, 2012, 7:16 AM

Updated Monday, March 12, 2012, 11:10 AM

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Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa

Photo by AP

Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa continues to block passage of an E3 immigration bill for Ireland, and a hi-tech bill for India, China as well as some higher quotas for Hispanics.

Grassley had looked likely to do a deal with both Democrats and members of his own party, but hopes for that have now faded according to sources who spoke with IrishCentral.

The man on the spot appears to be Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown who stated a few weeks ago that the E3 bill was “ready to pop”. However, there has been no significant developments since.

It was felt that Brown, who is facing a tough re -election battle in Massachusetts, would gain considerable Irish American support there by passing an E3 bill. Indeed, Brown had received very positive reaction at an Irish event he attended with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny in Boston a few weeks ago.

But Grassley has apparently refused to work out a compromise with Brown on the bill which could damage Brown back home.

“It’s one thing to verbally come out and support it, which is great, but there has to be follow through,” said James Gallagher, head of the United Irish Counties of Massachusetts. “We’ve been led down the primrose path before.”

A major renewed effort with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell involved is seen as the only way forward now by proponents of the Irish bill.

The E3 visa would allow up to 10,000 Irish workers a year to come on non - immigrant visas that could be renewed every two years. Twenty other countries have visa bil deals with the US but Ireland has none.

Senator Charles Schumer of New York has linked the fate of the Irish bill to the hi-tech bill which has already passed the House. Schumer has 53 Democratic votes behind his bill which is similar to Senator Brown’s.

Nster.com

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Patrick Henry | Mar 16, 2012, 11:10 PM EDT

Ovrpopulation & unemployment from vast numbers of Legal Immigrants & Illegal "trespassers" are related to many of this nation's problems, and with 15 Million of us unemployed, and more in low paying or part time jobs, we do not need increased immigration from any ethnic group. But if & when we do, we need to go back to the way it was, with the percentage of immigrants equal to their historic percentage of this nation.

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Irish Mick | Mar 16, 2012, 02:55 PM EDT

yes immigrant 1979, we are over loaded. because of the united states south border is being over run every day with illegal Mexican's. they are the one taking our jobs, working for 50 cents an hour, that is why american company owners keep hiring them. And our government are sending our jobs over seas to china or where ever else. look at the crime rate in the south, all the drugs from the cartels and illegal mexicans. we have terrorists in our own country, people shooting up neiborhoods just for "turf" or drugs. The government needs to focus on our country and get it back on its feet instead of invading other countries for their oil. They said its a war on "terrorism." what weapons of mass destruction have they found yet? March should be Irish American History month, why don't we? our Irish ancestors have done way more for this country than alot of other countries.

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Irish Mick | Mar 16, 2012, 02:42 PM EDT

well kirthialfad does'nt know what she is talking about for one, the Irish did build this country along with manny of other immegrants, like the polish and itialians and other immegrants. she said americans built this country, learn your history all white americans are from europe. we are all immegrants. I am Irish and I think it is bull that they won't give irishmen and women visa's to come over here, but they will give twenty other countries. I'm sure they are letting Africans come over, if not it would be "rasism". they have been playing that card far to long now. My Irish Ancestors were slaves for way longer than the African Americans. the senator is a idiot, any irishmen or women should be allowed to come over here to the U.S. when they want. As for kerthialfad, learn your history before you open your mouth, people like you make me laugh because of your ignorance.

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immigrant1979 | Mar 15, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT

I am Irish Born, now US citizen and Grassley is right on on this subject. We are overloaded with illegals and we need to cut back on all immigration until our economy takes care of its own first. Nothing wrong with that. Obama is causing a lot of problems and is looking for the vote of anyone he can, including illegals. And don't tell me they don't vote, they do!!!!

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Tiger | Mar 14, 2012, 05:59 AM EDT

Irish didn't built America, They were emigrated there because of famine, just review your history, even if Irish have the ability to built America why not start building up their country & their crap economy right now?!! My question is: As the reports show every week 100 Irish leaving their country because of the economic crisis in Ireland ... we presume if the economy recover there ,, will they accept 100 immigrants on the weekly basis!!

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section4 | Mar 13, 2012, 05:57 PM EDT

The ironic thing about this is that Ireland is importing thousands of people from all over the world to do jobs in ireland, 10000 people given permission to come to ireland to work this year to date, and 70000 people came into ireland to work last year, in 2008 8 out of every 10 jobs in ireland went to people from outside ireland, the people dont like it but the politicians wont do anyhting about it. When they come to the US to plead for more visas for irish ask them why they are letting all the world to come and work in ireland while irirsh people are leaving. All this immigration only dilutes workers rights in their own country, whether in the US or Ireland

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 13, 2012, 04:50 PM EDT

I posted yesterday to the effect that I had written to the good Senator assuring him of my support. I also asked that folks who agree with me that the Irish should not be given special treatment by US Immigration while there are countless jobs available in Ireland should consider writing to that effect to Grassley. Why was my post censored by Irish Central?

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hollabackgurl | Mar 13, 2012, 04:49 PM EDT

US companies exploit Ireland's competitive tax rate and ship the profits back to the US. We give them little in return and no visas. They deserve our help.

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kerthialfad | Mar 12, 2012, 11:11 PM EDT

We import 125,000 foreign workers each month to compete directly against Americans for jobs in the USA. This is disgraceful. The employer doesn't even have to look for a qualified American worker. This requirement was abandoned in October 2000 with the ironically named "American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act". Fix this large loophole in our economic landscape before you go importing even more foreign workers. And the Irish didn't build America - the Americans did!!

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mopickelly | Mar 12, 2012, 08:30 PM EDT

Speaking as an American who descends from an Irish immigrant, I am totally against favoring any ethnic group by the granting of visas or special quotas. To even suggest that Americans who happen to have an ancestor from a particular country or ethnic group would vote for or against a person or issue due to that background is an insult. However, the bottom line is that we should NOT be increasing immigration quotas to compete with unemployed American workers. Likewise we should never grant amnesties to illegal aliens.

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galway2001 | Mar 12, 2012, 08:18 PM EDT

i guess he wants the criminal from mexico the talaban and everyone that has a shady back ground to enter this country i guess he forgot that this IRISH BUILD THIS COUNTRY not the people from china or mexico or the pakistan i wonder what wrong with his brain he must be on something

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alisaann | Mar 12, 2012, 06:29 PM EDT

and that's WHY we need a KENNEDY in the US SENATE....all this fool is doing is HURTING his party, by losing the IRISH /AMERICAN VOTE.....jmo. alisa

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jonycakes | Mar 12, 2012, 03:41 PM EDT

faberm1 is right, is America supposed to rescue the rest of the worlds unemployment issues while we have high unemployment here as well? Not to mention the little known fact that these 10,500 visa holders spouses would be allowed to come here and work as well in any profession of their choice, regardless of whether it was a skilled profession or not, thus potentially increasing the amount of jobs taken away from U.S citizens up to 21,000 yearly, all while the visa can be renewed every 2 years! Grassley is doing the right thing for his constituents, US citizens, not foreigners from India, China, or Ireland. This bill has no wind behind the sails.

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omadon1 | Mar 12, 2012, 02:59 PM EDT

Looks like we are back to the APA's. If they had the same standards 100 years ago not many of us would be here, because our parents or grandparents would bhave been locked out. Same arguments were made then about stealing jobs. Yes there are illegals here from Ireland, but there are illegals here from almost every country. If we had this bill then there would not be as many illegals. I always find it a compliment to America that people from every nation wish to live here. That says that we are the greatest and have something to offer. Let the people in and let them contribute. If they don'ty chase them out and do not renew the E#. Other countries have a program, why not the Irish?

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SeamusMartin | Mar 12, 2012, 01:11 PM EDT

Grassley is a decent guy, but stubborn as a "Missoura Mule" However, the linkage of the the deal with China and India is wrong. One needs to ask Grassley what he'd do without the linkage.

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