In an article for Bloomberg, H-1B critic Norman Matloff blames U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, among others for what he calls the demonization of an ethnic group. Sen. Schumer had referred to Indian businesses as “chop shops.” That does not mean, argues Matloff, that he believes the IT industry offshore is in the clear; they often hire cheap labor. But, he says, India does not “abuse” the foreign worker system more than any other country within the technology industry.

If Congress does boost the current H-1B visa cap, as so many hope, there is a concern that U.S. tech workers will be at a greater disadvantage, battling against a theoretically flooded employment market. Lawmakers who oppose a raised cap say they want to protect U.S. high tech workers by restraining visa use by offshore firms.

But others argue that a continued tight cap on the number of H-1B visas as proposed by Sen. Schumer and others is just a way to hobble offshore outsourcing firms.

Outsourcing firms offshore are not required to disclose who makes up their workforce and how many employees are working with a visa status. And if a company is forced to change the percentage of visa-based workers due to an immigration bill, will they then increase their domestic U.S. workers and fill the gap left by the low number of allowed visa holders?

Will visa restrictions or a restriction that bars the largest H-1B employers from sending their visa holders to work at third-party sites push offshore outsourcing businesses to hire more domestic-based employees? There may be business acquisitions which work to increase the U.S. domestic workforce based in offshore firms, or other workarounds which will make the restrictions moot.

Some companies such as IBM may even see gains from these restrictions. IBM continues to be one of the largest IT employers of Indian workers. If visa restrictions simply raise the costs for competitors offshore, U.S.-based companies may grab more of the market –or they may simply expand their own overseas workforces.

A. Banerjee is a Houston immigration attorney in Texas. Before selecting an lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Annie Banerjee by visiting their website at http://www.visatous.com.

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More states are pushing to give disabled vets a much-needed tax break. 

In Michigan, State Senator Glenn Anderson (D-Westland) has introduced legislation to reduce taxes for his state’s disabled vets. His latest bill, Senate Bill 104, would allow local governmental units to exempt vets who are 100 percent disabled from paying local property taxes. Sen. Anderson’s bill is now going before the Senate Finance Committee. 

“It is heartening to see lawmakers push to give our country’s disabled vets a break to help them keep their homes,” commented veterans disability attorney James Fausone. 

Anderson stated that even if local communities wanted to give disabled vets the tax break, currently they cannot under state law. But vets who are 100 percent disabled often find it impossible to become gainfully employed in civilian life and face a number of financial hurdles. Anderson said that he believed many communities throughout the state of Michigan would be glad to waive local property taxes on primary residences for those vets as a way to thank them for their service and sacrifice. Senate Bill 104, co-sponsored by Republicans and Democrats, has widespread veteran advocate support from several veteran organizations.

Meanwhile, in Washington State, lawmakers have approved a tax exemption for disabled veterans in need of a vehicle modification. The senate unanimously voted to establish a tax benefit for disabled vets who need installation and/or repairs on any equipment to help them get into, out of or drive a car or truck. The measure would cost Washington State just over $60,000 over the next two years in tax revenue.

Connecticut is also considering a tax break for disabled vets. Senate Bill 383 is currently before General Assembly, awaiting the support of the state legislators. The bill would give a tax break to that state’s bets disabled during service in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.

And in New York State, more than 50 percent of the 14,000 vets in Chautauqua County have yet to apply for tax breaks which would save them at least several hundred dollars each year. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. has initiated a plan to support newly returned vets from Iraq and Afghanistan by ensuring they are getting the benefits to which they are entitled. He is pushing the VA to use a universal property tax exemption application for vets discharged from service and considering the purchasing of a home. He is also asking that social media helps spread the word to newly discharged vets that federal and state benefits are available to them, as the area’s home buying season heats up.

Sources

http://abc10up.com/bill-could-cut-taxes-for-disabled-veterans/
http://www.americanhomecomings.com/news/2013/04/29/washington-senate-approves-tax-break-for-disabled-vets/
http://articles.courant.com/2013-04-19/news/hcrs-14460hc–20130417_1_property-tax-relief-state-legislators-persian-gulf
http://www.observertoday.com/page/content.detail/id/584309/Schumer-sessions.html

Legal Help for Veterans, PLLC fights for veterans rights. We fight to make sure you get the benefits you deserve from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To learn more or contact a veterans attorney, visit http://www.legalhelpforveterans.com/ or call 800.693.4800