Editorials / Opinion

Seattle Times letters to the editor

Possible conflicts of interests should be defused

I agree with U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene that her background does not present a conflict of interest with her current role [“Foreign workers’ visas familiar issue for DelBene,” NWSunday, March 3]. In fact, it would be an advantage in understanding the intricacies of current immigration law.

However, I take issue with her belief that a conflict of interest does not currently exist.

When the largest contributors to her campaign for the House of Representatives, and her family’s income via her husband Kurt DelBene, are directly impacted by any work she may do on H-1B visas, there is a conflict of interest.

Either she does not know what conflict of interest is, or she just does not care. I find either option frightening.

Her constituents, the people that voted her into office, deserve better.

The bar should not be that she would benefit or has benefitted; it should be that she might. If Suzan DelBene or any other representative or senator might personally benefit from a piece of legislation, they should recuse themselves. DelBene, (as well as all U.S. representatives and senators) should not even allow the perception that their vote is for sale to the highest contributor.

–Jeffrey D. Myers, Bellevue

Unemployed, underemployed domestic workers ignored

In the softball article featuring Rep. Suzan DelBene, the Microsoft insider says she met with industry officials to bolster her labor immigration opinions.

I note she did not mention meeting with unemployed or underemployed computer scientists. Many of these incurred significant subsidized student debt to get their degrees, but many job opportunities have been pre-empted by imported H-1B indentured labor.

DelBene seems to have absorbed the corporate line. Corporate Kool-Aid is not a health drink, even if your mother gives you lots of it.

–Dwight Rousu, Redmond