The Inimitable Tiff

In a letter made public today, Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa addresses Microsoft’s layoffs and asks CEO Steve Ballmer to give Americans preference over foreign guest workers brought to the country under the H-1B visa program.

“My point is that during a layoff, companies should not be retaining H-1B or other work visa program employees over qualified American workers,” Grassley wrote. “Our immigration policy is not intended to harm the American workforce. I encourage Microsoft to ensure that Americans are given priority in job retention. Microsoft has a moral obligation to protect these American workers by putting them first during these difficult economic times.”

Seriously? Does every company laying off employees for the first time* get such disproportionate coverage and jingoistic rhetoric?

* The cyclical de-contracted contract workers obviously not counting one lick.