Three of the world’s richest men -- Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Sheldon Adelson -- criticized the U.S. Congress, and particularly the Republican-led House, over its failure to revamp immigration laws.
“Whatever the precise provisions of a law, it’s time for the House to draft and pass a bill that reflects both our country’s humanity and its self interest,” Microsoft Corp. co- founder Gates, Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Chairman Buffett and Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Adelson wrote in a New York Times op- ed posted online yesterday.
“It’s time for 535 of America’s citizens to remember what they owe to the 318 million who employ them,” they wrote, referring to the total membership of the House and Senate.
The three men are worth a combined $184.3 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
While business representatives have long favored rewriting immigration laws, the push for that effort by corporate titans who have varying political beliefs and interests is unusual.
President Barack Obama requested this week that Congress pass $3.7 billion in emergency spending to deal with a urge in recent months of children entering the U.S. illegally at the Mexican border, and he continues to press the House to pass a broader rewrite of immigration laws.
Funding Candidates
Adelson, 80, and his wife, Miriam, have been major donors to Republican candidates for years. They pumped $15 million into a super-political action committee backing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign in 2012, according to data compiled by the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics. They later gave $20 million to the super-PAC supporting the eventual Republican nominee, Mitt Romney.
Buffett, 83, has given money largely to Democrats over the years, including more than $200,000 to Obama and the Democratic National Committee since Obama first ran for president, according to Federal Election Commission records. He has also cultivated relationships with Republicans as he encouraged compromise on political issues.
Gates, 58, has donated money to members of both parties and a variety of causes, including efforts to support gay marriage.
A comprehensive revision of U.S. immigration policies passed the Senate last year. The House hasn’t acted on similar legislation or piecemeal bills that would create a conference committee to negotiate differences with the Senate.
After House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost a Republican primary in Virginia last month in part due because of his willingness to consider debate on rewriting immigration laws, Republican lawmakers said the chances were nil for legislative action on the issue before November’s mid-term elections.
“The three of us vary in our politics and would differ also in our preferences about the details of an immigration reform bill,” Gates, Adelson and Buffett wrote. “But we could without a doubt come to together to draft a bill acceptable to each of us,” and “it’s time this brand of thinking finds its way to Washington.”
Gates, Buffett And Adelson Call On House To Pass An Immigration Bill
July 11, 2014
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Comments
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I agree with kweber, however it does not make sense to have a never ending stream of illegal aliens marching across our borders either. At the present time all we have is an influx of UNEDUCATED workers, criminals etc. Our border allows anyone to enter including potential terrorists. No amount of legislation will secure the boarder. It is unbelievable to me that this dialog goes on with no action. I may be mistaken but I believe legislation has been put forth by the House and submitted to the Senate for discussion. But Reid will not allow it to come to the floor. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
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Good golly. This article completely blew by the main point made by those 3 very different men in their op-ed. They wrote, "We believe it borders on insanity to train intelligent and motivated people in our universities — often subsidizing their education — and then to deport them when they graduate." And of course, they are right, it does border on insanity. American high tech firms desperately need the scientists and engineers we train by the thousands and then ship back to their home countries. Democrats (mostly) and some Republicans have been trying for years to remedy this frustratingly misguided policy. Let's hope this op-ed piece makes a difference.
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Alfred Sloane who managed General Motors in the early part of the 20th century would ask this question to focus in on the real issues to be decided: "What is this about" What is the immigration about? Whatever it is, the American public has been subjected to believe in whatever the radio, television, talk radio, and internet sites. Does it matter that Gates, Buffet, and Adelson want a change in immigration and what does it mean? Donating to parties is misleading. Each member of Congress is not loyal to the party organization. Districts have been drawn where they are so secure that so long as a congress members represent their districts they have safe seats. Of course there are the primaries to warn elected officials about their voting. And there is MONEY. Access to money and where to get it is more varied than probably the 19th century. So what is immigration about? Where will you get the votes, in congress, to approve a bill? Will the immigration bill matter?