Flashback: Rubio Doubles-Down on H-1B Increase Amid Microsoft Layoffs

[Originally published July 13, 2015]

Presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has doubled down in his efforts to push legislation that would triple the number of H-1B visa holders in the United States, even after Microsoft’s announcement last week that it will terminate another 7,800 U.S. workers in order to replace them with cheaper labor — this on top of the 18,000 it’s already laid off.

Rubio’s I-Squared bill would effectively further the plight of American STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and IT workers. Computer World notes that during a speech in Chicago last week, Rubio emphasized the false narrative that a lack of skilled American workers is the cause of these massive layoffs, using the phrase “skills gap” as his hook; a code phrase which is also employed by Microsoft, Southern California Edison and other companies.

In reality, there is a surplus, not shortage, of skilled U.S. workers and not enough STEM jobs to accommodate these citizens.

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) responded to Microsoft’s mass layoffs announcement last week saying the mass tech corporation is crushing Americans’ dreams: “Any increase to the H-1B visa would only quash the dreams of more talented Americans, glut the labor market and keep pay low, and push more of our own homegrown best and brightest students out of work.”

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