06 February 2004 04:40
Democrat hopefuls- Kerry, Dean- Lawmakers denounce outsourcing
Washington, Feb 6 (PTI) Outsourcing of hi-tech jobs to India, China, Russia, the Philippines, and elsewhere has
become an issue which is being debated in the Democratic primaries and in the US Congress, with current Democratic
frontrunner in the presidential race, Senator John Kerry, calling companies which outsource "Benedict
Arnolds." The name refers to an American "traitor" who defected from the ranks of American
revolutionaires to join the British colonists. Kerry was quoted by Contra Costa Times on the West Coast as denouncing
the Bush Administration for "rewarding Benedict Arnold CEOs who move "profits and jobs overseas." Kerry
had also introduced a bill in November that would require call centre operators to disclose their physical locations to
consumers with the aim of discouraging the practice. Howard Dean, the former Vermont Governor who is fighting to
continue in the Presidential race has told audiences that America needs a President "who doesn't think that
big corporations who get tax cuts ought to be able to move their headquarters to Bermuda." Income can be
transferred by American corporations to Bermuda without being subjected to higher American taxes. The Contra Costa
Times, which credited Bush for an economic recovery, however, questioned job growth, claiming only 1,000 jobs were
created in December, a fraction of the 300,000 new jobs projected by the Bush Administration. "As the temperature
rises over disappointing job growth, the controversial practice of 'offshoring'..has worked its way into the
rhetoric of of the presidential campaign trail", it wrote. (THROUGH ASIA PULSE)
[Press Trust of India] |
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