Roxanne Conlin (D) to file to run against Grassley

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/66749-conlin-to-file-to-run-against-grassley


Conlin to file to run against Grassley
By Aaron Blake - 11/06/09 02:28 PM ET


Democrats have landed an opponent for Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), in former gubernatorial nominee Roxanne Conlin.

Conlin will reportedly file her paperwork for the race next week.

Grassley's seat is one Democrats have targeted a little bit since the health care debate began. His maneuvers on the Senate Finance Committee have rubbed many Democrats the wrong way, and with few other targets left, a swing state like Iowa was a logical next step for recruiting.

Though he has consistently been popular, Grassley's numbers have come down in recent polling. He is still at 57 percent approval though.

Either way, Conlin will have an uphill battle. The 1982 gubernatorial nominee (she lost 53-47 to Republican Gov. Terry Branstad) said she hopes to raise $10 million for the race.

[bluestateguy]

1. Who?

Is she a heavyweight candidate, or is she like one of these "jobber" pro wrestlers that just get their clock cleaned by the character wrestlers in the ring?

[mule_train]

2. Grassley is the leader in the Senate telling the truth about h-1b visa fraud

he does far more for American workers than most Democrats

Roxann Conlin hasnt done anything since her 1982 loss except be a personal injury lawyer who got a DUI

[babylonsister]

3. You forgot this fun little fact. Grassley also tried/is trying to sabotage

health care reform as he tried all summer. He's got to go!

[mule_train]

5. Grassley: Pushes immigration authorities to hold employers accountable for H-1B Visa fraud

U.S. Sen. Grassley: Pushes immigration authorities to hold employers accountable for H-1B Visa fraud
11/6/2009



WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Grassley today pressed Immigration and Customs Enforcement to step up its commitment to end the fraud and abuse of the H-1B visa program.

Grassley noted that within the last year, Citizenship and Immigration Services personnel have made an effort to identify employers who may have misrepresented their hiring intentions, but it appears that very few prosecutions have moved forward.

“It’s important that the work of USCIS fraud detection agents is not ignored, and that employers who violate our immigration system are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Grassley wrote.

Grassley is a proponent of legal immigration, but believes that fraud and abuse has become all too prevalent in the H-1B visa program. He has led the effort to close loopholes and enact reform in the H-1B visa program and introduced H-1B reform legislation with Senator Dick Durbin. Grassley has also asked questions of both American and foreign based companies about their use of the H-1B visa program.

Here is a copy of the text of the letter Grassley sent to Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary John Morton.

November 6, 2009

The Honorable John T. Morton Assistant Secretary Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Department of Homeland Security 500 12th Street, SW Washington, DC 20536

Dear Assistant Secretary Morton:

When we met six months ago, we discussed the need to increase visa fraud investigations and prosecute those who abuse our legal immigration system. As I stated then, I am very concerned about the rampant fraud in the H-1B visa program, especially in light of an internal U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assessment of the program. I’m writing today to ask again for your commitment to go after fraud and abuse by employers and to help put integrity back into this visa program.

Upon release of the benefits fraud and compliance assessment last year, USCIS issued internal field guidance informing adjudicators of the findings and instructing them to make changes to how they adjudicate H-1B petitions. Additionally, fraud detection agents have poured over hundreds of already approved applications to determine if employers misrepresented their intentions and are truly hiring highly skilled individuals for work in the United States.

Unfortunately, not many cases are being prosecuted. Meanwhile, some companies continue to hire H-1B visa holders and then outsource them to other worksites. Such was the case with the indictment of Vision Systems Group, Inc. earlier this year in my home state. Your agency alleges that the company did not have jobs available for the H-1B workers they petitioned for, and placed them in non-pay status upon arrival in the United States. Additionally, Vision Systems allegedly submitted Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) that stated prevailing wage data for a location in Iowa rather than the higher prevailing wage for the location outside Iowa where the worker would actually be employed.

It’s my hope that your department will continue to focus on cases like the one I mentioned. It’s important that the work of USCIS fraud detection agents is not ignored, and that employers who violate our immigration system are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

I appreciate your consideration of this matter, and await your response to this letter.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Grassley

United States Senator





http://www.iowapolitics.com/index.Iml?Article=176094

[Telly Savalas]

6. Grassley may be serious about getting the government to be effective for some isolated issues

but on the whole we're setting the bar way too low if we aren't trying to get better people than him.

on edit: waaaaaayyyy too low

[skipos]

4. Well he sure is doing his best screwing over everyone, including American workers,

when it comes to healthcare. Why do you think his approval ratings have nosedived over the last few months. All that "help" he is giving the American workers?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

7. How come Vilsak has never run against him?

Wouldn't he be the only guy with a shot?