The circular firing squad that is today's Republican Party had better get a life, or it is going to lose it.
This last manufactured crisis over the government shutdown and the debt ceiling is further evidence that the Republican Party doesn't have anything to offer to the American people.
They've got no plan.
If President Obama (or Michelle) is for it, they're agin it. The GOP's sole agenda is to make sure President Obama fails. Unfortunately for them, that's not happening. The Affordable Care Act is here to stay, and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindhal, a Republican, is right. "Stop being the stupid party," he said.
But to the delight of moderates, independents, Democrats, and liberals everywhere, the GOP isn't paying attention.
It is an ADHD party the likes of which we have never seen before. And if it continues to suffer from this chronic disorder, none of its members will ever occupy the White House.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
USCIS recognizes immigration scam artists are a problem
USCIS has published new brochures in Spanish and English to highlight the problem of immigration scam artists who victimize desperate people. To get one, copy and paste or click on the link below:
http://tinyurl.com/6gazof8
http://tinyurl.com/6gazof8
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Immigrant entrepreneurs fuel innovation in Alabama
Immigrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to Alabama's economy, according to the Immigration Policy Center of the American Immigration Council.
■ From 2006 to 2010, there were 7,968 new immigrant business owners in Alabama, and in 2010, 4.6 percent of all business owners in the state were foreign-born.
■ In 2010, new immigrant business owners had total business revenue of $337.3 million, which is 3.4 percent of all business income in the state.
■ According to the Fiscal Policy Institute: “It is interesting to note that Alabama ranks toward the bottom of the list of immigrant share of population (3 percent) and labor force (4 percent), but is in the top half of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia (at 20th) in the ratio of foreign-born share of business owners to U.S.-born share. In Alabama, immigrant workers are 10 percent more likely than U.S.-born counterparts to be small business owners.”
Highly skilled immigrants are vital to Alabama’s innovation economy.
■ In 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor certified 1,283 H-1B labor certification applications in Alabama, with an average annual wage of $66,137, which is higher than Alabama’s median household income of $42,934 or per capita income of $23,483.
■ High-skilled immigrant workers contribute to the success of many Alabama-based companies and institutions with a significant presence in the state, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Atlas Healthcare, Hyundai, Mercedes Benz U.S. International, LG Electronics, AltaPointe Health Systems, Adtran, Intergraph, the University of Alabama, Auburn University, the University of South Alabama, Thyssenkrupp Stainless USA, University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, Houston County Healthcare Authority, Baptist Health System, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and ST Aerospace Mobile.
■ The Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area had 444 H-1B high-skilled visa requests in 2010-2011, with 63.4 percent of H-1B visa-holders working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations.
■ An expansion of the high-skilled visa program would create an estimated 3,200 new jobs in Alabama by 2020. By 2045, this expansion would add around $1.5 billion to Gross State Product and increase personal income by more than $1.4 billion.
While the numbers are compelling, they don’t tell the whole story.
■ In Birmingham, immigrants old and new from many points of origin have contributed to the diverse culinary offerings found in restaurants and markets throughout the metro area, and to the city’s status as a prominent food city in the U.S. The city’s various immigrant and ethnic business chambers of commerce are examples of the metro area’s broad base of immigrant-owned businesses.
■ Greek immigrant and prominent restaurateur George Sarris has been making his mark on the central Alabama restaurant scene for years. Today, he owns and operates several restaurants around Birmingham, including the popular Fish Market Restaurant.
■ One of the Birmingham area’s oldest and most revered restaurant, the Bright Star, was originally started by Greek immigrants, and is still run by the same family.
■ Greek immigrants have been influential in owning and operating Birmingham area restaurants for decades: “Greek immigration and restaurant history can be traced through a place like Gus’s Hot Dogs, which was started by a man named Gus, then owned by Aleck and now run by George—all Greeks who saw opportunity in The Magic City. Whether it’s souvlaki or hot dogs, baklava or peanut butter pie, Greeks in Birmingham have perfectly melded their own food traditions with those of the Deep South.”
■ In the Birmingham suburbs of Hoover and Homewood, Latino and Asian immigrants have created vibrant restaurant, market, and retail shopping areas from what were previously aging shopping centers. Additionally, Hispanic immigrant entrepreneurs also helped create a new Latino-themed shopping center in Hoover—Plaza Fiesta.
■ In northeast Alabama, the town of Albertville, which had a 2010 population of 21,160 (approximately 75 percent White and 25 percent Hispanic), is home to more than 50 licensed Latino-owned businesses. Many of these businesses line Baltimore Avenue, while others a found among white-owned storefronts in Albertville’s compact downtown.
■ From 2006 to 2010, there were 7,968 new immigrant business owners in Alabama, and in 2010, 4.6 percent of all business owners in the state were foreign-born.
■ In 2010, new immigrant business owners had total business revenue of $337.3 million, which is 3.4 percent of all business income in the state.
■ According to the Fiscal Policy Institute: “It is interesting to note that Alabama ranks toward the bottom of the list of immigrant share of population (3 percent) and labor force (4 percent), but is in the top half of the 50 states plus the District of Columbia (at 20th) in the ratio of foreign-born share of business owners to U.S.-born share. In Alabama, immigrant workers are 10 percent more likely than U.S.-born counterparts to be small business owners.”
Highly skilled immigrants are vital to Alabama’s innovation economy.
■ In 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor certified 1,283 H-1B labor certification applications in Alabama, with an average annual wage of $66,137, which is higher than Alabama’s median household income of $42,934 or per capita income of $23,483.
■ High-skilled immigrant workers contribute to the success of many Alabama-based companies and institutions with a significant presence in the state, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Atlas Healthcare, Hyundai, Mercedes Benz U.S. International, LG Electronics, AltaPointe Health Systems, Adtran, Intergraph, the University of Alabama, Auburn University, the University of South Alabama, Thyssenkrupp Stainless USA, University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, Houston County Healthcare Authority, Baptist Health System, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and ST Aerospace Mobile.
■ The Birmingham-Hoover metropolitan area had 444 H-1B high-skilled visa requests in 2010-2011, with 63.4 percent of H-1B visa-holders working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations.
■ An expansion of the high-skilled visa program would create an estimated 3,200 new jobs in Alabama by 2020. By 2045, this expansion would add around $1.5 billion to Gross State Product and increase personal income by more than $1.4 billion.
While the numbers are compelling, they don’t tell the whole story.
■ In Birmingham, immigrants old and new from many points of origin have contributed to the diverse culinary offerings found in restaurants and markets throughout the metro area, and to the city’s status as a prominent food city in the U.S. The city’s various immigrant and ethnic business chambers of commerce are examples of the metro area’s broad base of immigrant-owned businesses.
■ Greek immigrant and prominent restaurateur George Sarris has been making his mark on the central Alabama restaurant scene for years. Today, he owns and operates several restaurants around Birmingham, including the popular Fish Market Restaurant.
■ One of the Birmingham area’s oldest and most revered restaurant, the Bright Star, was originally started by Greek immigrants, and is still run by the same family.
■ Greek immigrants have been influential in owning and operating Birmingham area restaurants for decades: “Greek immigration and restaurant history can be traced through a place like Gus’s Hot Dogs, which was started by a man named Gus, then owned by Aleck and now run by George—all Greeks who saw opportunity in The Magic City. Whether it’s souvlaki or hot dogs, baklava or peanut butter pie, Greeks in Birmingham have perfectly melded their own food traditions with those of the Deep South.”
■ In the Birmingham suburbs of Hoover and Homewood, Latino and Asian immigrants have created vibrant restaurant, market, and retail shopping areas from what were previously aging shopping centers. Additionally, Hispanic immigrant entrepreneurs also helped create a new Latino-themed shopping center in Hoover—Plaza Fiesta.
■ In northeast Alabama, the town of Albertville, which had a 2010 population of 21,160 (approximately 75 percent White and 25 percent Hispanic), is home to more than 50 licensed Latino-owned businesses. Many of these businesses line Baltimore Avenue, while others a found among white-owned storefronts in Albertville’s compact downtown.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
USCIS alerts customers about telephone scam
This just in:
In recent weeks, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) learned of a new telephone scam targeting USCIS applicants and petitioners. Scammers are using a technique called “Caller ID spoofing” to display a misleading or inaccurate phone number in a recipient’s Caller ID. The scammer poses as a USCIS official and requests personal information (such as Social Security number, passport number, or A-number), identifies supposed issues in the recipient’s immigration records, and asks for payment to correct these records.
If you receive a call like that, USCIS urges you to say “No, thank you” and hang up immediately.
USCIS never asks for any form of payment or personal information over the phone. Do not give payment or personal information over the phone to anyone who claims to be a USCIS official. In general, we encourage you to protect your personal information and not to provide details about your immigration application in any public area.
If you have been a victim of this telephone scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/, or report it to an appropriate state authority. (Visit www.uscis.gov/avoidscams for information on where to report scams in your state.)
If you have a question about your immigration record, please call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283, or make an InfoPass appointment by visiting our website at http://infopass.uscis.gov/.
Kind Regards,
Public Engagement Division
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
In recent weeks, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) learned of a new telephone scam targeting USCIS applicants and petitioners. Scammers are using a technique called “Caller ID spoofing” to display a misleading or inaccurate phone number in a recipient’s Caller ID. The scammer poses as a USCIS official and requests personal information (such as Social Security number, passport number, or A-number), identifies supposed issues in the recipient’s immigration records, and asks for payment to correct these records.
If you receive a call like that, USCIS urges you to say “No, thank you” and hang up immediately.
USCIS never asks for any form of payment or personal information over the phone. Do not give payment or personal information over the phone to anyone who claims to be a USCIS official. In general, we encourage you to protect your personal information and not to provide details about your immigration application in any public area.
If you have been a victim of this telephone scam, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/, or report it to an appropriate state authority. (Visit www.uscis.gov/avoidscams for information on where to report scams in your state.)
If you have a question about your immigration record, please call the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283, or make an InfoPass appointment by visiting our website at http://infopass.uscis.gov/.
Kind Regards,
Public Engagement Division
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Budgetary impact of comprehensive immigration reform
The Congressional Budget Office has released an updated study of the budgetary impact of comprehensive immigration reform as described in S. 744, the bipartisan Senate bill. This is in portable document format. You will need Acrobat Reader to view. This is a 10-page letter to Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which reported the bill to the Senate floor for debate and a vote of approval. The bill now goes to the House.
http://tinyurl.com/ks7xkne
http://tinyurl.com/ks7xkne
Friday, June 21, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
First Quarter U.S. travel, tourism exports contribute $43 billion to economy
Spending by international visitors to the United States in March 2013 totaled more than $1 4.4 billion, an increase of nearly 3 percent when compared to last year. International visitors spent $43 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the first quarter of 2013. This according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
“International travel and tourism represents our country’s largest services export,” said Commerce Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank. “So far this year, international visitor spending in the United States has markedly outpaced U.S. spending abroad by more than $13 billion, which continues our momentum from 2012’s record-setting year."
Last week’s jobs report showed continued strong job growth in the leisure and hospitality industry.
Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $11 billion during March. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel. Fares receiv ed by U.S. carriers and U.S. vessel operators from international visitors also increased by nearly 3 percent to $3.4 billion for the month, an increase of $70 million when compared to March 2012.
Overall, the United States enjoyed a favorable balance of trade for the month of March in the travel and tourism sector, with a surplus of $4.2 billion.
“International travel and tourism represents our country’s largest services export,” said Commerce Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank. “So far this year, international visitor spending in the United States has markedly outpaced U.S. spending abroad by more than $13 billion, which continues our momentum from 2012’s record-setting year."
Last week’s jobs report showed continued strong job growth in the leisure and hospitality industry.
Purchases of travel and tourism-related goods and services by international visitors traveling in the United States totaled $11 billion during March. These goods and services include food, lodging, recreation, gifts, entertainment, local transportation in the United States, and other items incidental to foreign travel. Fares receiv ed by U.S. carriers and U.S. vessel operators from international visitors also increased by nearly 3 percent to $3.4 billion for the month, an increase of $70 million when compared to March 2012.
Overall, the United States enjoyed a favorable balance of trade for the month of March in the travel and tourism sector, with a surplus of $4.2 billion.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Deaths resulting from attacks on U.S. consulates, embassies
During the two terms of President George W. Bush, there were a number of attacks on U.S. consulates and embassies around the world that resulted in deaths. Most were in the Middle and Near East.
2002 U.S. consulate, Karachi, Pakistan - 12 deaths
2004 U.S. embassy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan - 2 deaths
2006 U.S. consulate, Damascus, Syria - 4 deaths
2008 U.S. consulate, Istanbul, Turkey - 6 deaths
2008 U.S. embassy, Sana'a, Yemen - 19 deaths
And who could forget the collosal intelligence failures that resulted in 2,977 killed on our soil on Sept. 11, 2001?
2002 U.S. consulate, Karachi, Pakistan - 12 deaths
2004 U.S. embassy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan - 2 deaths
2006 U.S. consulate, Damascus, Syria - 4 deaths
2008 U.S. consulate, Istanbul, Turkey - 6 deaths
2008 U.S. embassy, Sana'a, Yemen - 19 deaths
And who could forget the collosal intelligence failures that resulted in 2,977 killed on our soil on Sept. 11, 2001?
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Lessons not learned
Republicans have a very weird way of showing they have learned the lessons of 2008 and 2012, when they lost the White House twice. To be charitable, Republicans were taught two woodshed lessons in coalition politics ... and they didn't get it.
I think some Republicans are smart, and the ones who are smart are generally true conservatives. But the stupid Republicans are not. (Think "neo-con" and "tea party".)
What demographic do you alienate when you pass voter ID legislation requiring a government-issued picture ID?
What demographic do you alienate when you pass anti-immigrant legislation?
What demographic do you alienate when you pass new restrictions on contraception, abortion clinics and their services?
That's right.
I think some Republicans are smart, and the ones who are smart are generally true conservatives. But the stupid Republicans are not. (Think "neo-con" and "tea party".)
What demographic do you alienate when you pass voter ID legislation requiring a government-issued picture ID?
What demographic do you alienate when you pass anti-immigrant legislation?
What demographic do you alienate when you pass new restrictions on contraception, abortion clinics and their services?
That's right.
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