The Takeaway: The war over H-1Bs heats up
So when Microsoft announced layoffs last week, opponents of the "I-Squared" bill quickly weighed in. As Sen. Jeff Sessions, (R-Ala.), noted, the Microsoft cuts show "there is a surplus -- not a shortage of skilled, talented and qualified Americans seeking STEM employment."
Sessions is chairman of the Senate's Immigration Subcommittee and his criticism of Microsoft was aimed as much at the company as at Senate supporters of the I-Squared bill. Among those supporters: Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican now seeking the GOP presidential nomination.
Here's how the fight over the H-1B program is playing out politically:
Although the I-Squared bill seems to have little traction at the moment, opponents fear that powerful backers like Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch might still could find a roundabout way to move the measure forward. Hatch serves in a top Senate leadership post.
With reports by Patrick Thibodeau at Computerworld.