Like many bills in Congress, the Gang of Eight’s immigration reform bill includes funding for a number of pet projects, designed to protect foreign workers in certain state-centric industries:
From the Wall Street Journal:
South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham wants more visas for the meat industry, a major employer in his state. Sen. Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) pushed for special treatment for Irish workers; his state is home to a large population with Irish ancestry.
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio sought help for the cruise-ship industry, a big business in his home state of Florida. And Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado wove in a boost for ski areas.
UPDATE: This post has been updated to clarify that the provisions included in the bill are meant to benefit foreign workers in each state.
