Reuteman: Tancredo's name mud with execs at First Data

InsideDenver.com ^ | June 5, 2004 | Rob Reuteman

[hedgetrimmer]

Tom Tancredo has made a powerful new enemy.

First Data - Colorado's second-largest corporation in terms of revenue and market cap - is hopping mad over the Littleton Republican's proposal to slap a 5 percent tax on money transfers to people in other countries.

And, as late as Friday afternoon, they were no less upset that the controversial congressman has quietly dropped the idea.

"It appears to me he's trying to get over a big 'oops,' " said Fred Niehaus, senior vice president for public affairs with First Data. "That doesn't cut it. This guy is off in left field, and we're tired of his antics, tired of his games."

First Data is the parent company of Western Union, which handles such money transfers worldwide. Fees from the transactions made up about $3 billion of First Data's $8 billion in revenue last year. And First Data, with 29,000 employees worldwide, is headquartered smack dab in the middle in Tancredo's congressional district - a fact he apparently was unaware of when he floated the remittance tax idea last month.

[hedgetrimmer]

Too bad Congressman Tancredo dropped this idea. Remittances take $34 billion out of our economy a year, and the American citizen has no voice in the matter.

The company justifies its attack on Tancredo by saying "In Mexico, remittance money is the country's second- largest source of revenue. In El Salvador, it's No. 1.""

So First Data wants no regulation of foreign aid by US citizens and their representatives. The fact that so much money flows out of our country unregulated is bad for the United States and creates a systemic dependency on illegal immigration by these other countries, is lost on this corporation.

[hedgetrimmer]

FYI

[hedgetrimmer]

Link to article:

Reuteman: Tancredo's name mud with execs at First Data

[cgk]

Tancredo ping...

[bayourod]

"First Data ... with 29,000 employees worldwide, is headquartered smack dab in the middle in Tancredo's congressional district - a fact he apparently was unaware of when he floated the remittance tax idea last month. "

I know some freepers worship him (some worship Buchanan), but everything I've read about the guy indicates he's a maroon.

[hoot2]

question.
if first data moved to mexico, would they be transfering any $$$ to the u.s.?
or, would they just go out of business?

[IronJack]

First Data Resources was started in Omaha. It originally was the largest processor of credit card authorizations in the world. It has since expanded into money transfers, ecommerce, and a host of other computer and electronic services.

FDR (as it is affectionately known around these parts) was the brainchild of three entrepreneurs who built a better mousetrap. The legacy system those guys put together more than 20 years ago is still in use today, and still manages to give the company an advantage over its competition.

Now some misguided govt wiener is going to suck them dry? Bad idea.

[bayourod]

OK. Someone legally immigrates to America, works 80 hours a week at hard labor, goes to wire money back to his poor parents, wife and children back in Mexico, and this jerk wants to take 5% away and give to the federal government?

This isn't conservative. It isn't wise. It isn't compassionate. It's the demagoguery of a fake conservative who thinks real conservatives are ignorant, hate-filled, racist Neanderthals.

[dcwusmc]

I am torn here. It's a LOT of illegals sending money out of the country and THEY are a no-no. OTOH, it's their money to send (until we catch them and send them home)... on the THIRD hand, being such a huge source of revenue to the home country, this would seem to encourage MORE illegals to sneak into MY HOME and drive down my wages and drive UP the cost of living. Perhaps a 25-30 percent tax on such transactions would dissuade some from sending money home and others from coming here illegally in the first place. Which would be a GOOD thing.

[hedgetrimmer]

You don't get it do you. The number one source of revenue in El Salvador is remittances-- by illegal aliens. It is unregulated foreign aid.

The worst thing is that remittances create an unnatural dependency by the foreign government on illegal immigration to the United States. In other words they will do everything in their power to assure the US citizens do not control their own borders.

True consvatives would not burdent their fellow citizens with this unconstitutuional ploy to prop up illegal immigration. Also, true conservatives would not force the burden of support of an entire country (like El Salvador) on US citizens without allowing them some say or vote in the matter. The last time I checked Tacredo represents citizens, First Data Corp, was never elected and should not be coercing foreign policy concessions out of our elected officials that hurt American citizens.

[dcwusmc]

I am torn here. It's a LOT of illegals sending money out of the country and THEY are a no-no. OTOH, it's their money to send (until we catch them and send them home)... on the THIRD hand, being such a huge source of revenue to the home country, this would seem to encourage MORE illegals to sneak into MY HOME and drive down my wages and drive UP the cost of living. Perhaps a 25-30 percent tax on such transactions would dissuade some from sending money home and others from coming here illegally in the first place. Which would be a GOOD thing. Such funds could go to the States to help pay for the public services (hospitals, etc) used by the freeloaders.

[hedgetrimmer]

being such a huge source of revenue to the home country, this would seem to encourage MORE illegals to sneak into MY HOME

You are absolutely correct. South American nations will fight to the death to stop us from controlling our borders. This abdication of duty of our Congress encourages lawbreaking, and foreign government spend millions to teach their citizens how to invade our country .

[ModelBreaker]

but everything I've read about the guy indicates he's a maroon.

He's my congressman. He's smart, articulate and flamboyant. He has little fear of political consequences since he is very popular in a safe republican district. So he pretty much says what he thinks. That comes across as 'unpolitical' and shocking at times because most politicians spend most of their time figuring out how not to do anything controversial. Tancredo doesn't care.

[bayourod]

"You don't get it do you. "

I get it very clearly that this clown wants to impose an additional 5% tax the earnings of hard working people.

Even this idiot was smart enough to immediatly withdraw his proposal. Why do you suport it when even he thinks it's a bad idea?

[lonewacko_dot_com]

Tancredo does a lot of good, or at least tries to: http://www.house.gov/tancredo/Immigration/

Sure he makes mistakes. Trying to deport the poster child for illegal aliens getting discounted college educations was one of them. Making the current proposal and then withdrawing it was another.

All of this money flowing out of the U.S. is a huge problem. In addition to allowing other illegals to come, it help prop up corrupt governments.

[sinkspur]

This isn't conservative. It isn't wise. It isn't compassionate. It's the demagoguery of a fake conservative who thinks real conservatives are ignorant, hate-filled, racist Neanderthals.

Tancredo, like Pat Buchanan, skirts the edges of David Dukedom, and revels in the applause he receives from his small posse of true believers.

He's an oddity to the rest of the GOP.

[JohnnyZ]

So he pretty much says what he thinks.

Maybe he should think beforehand and say something halfway intelligent, and while he's at it not run around the country endorsing every RINO who announces he's a born-again immigrant-basher (Jim Oberweis).

Tancredo doesn't care.

That much we all agree on.

[bayourod]

"this unconstitutuional ploy to prop up illegal immigration."

Unconstitutional ploy? What "ploy" and what provision of the constitution is it "un."?

So your daughter is vacationing in London and has her purse stolen with all her credit cards and traveler checks in it. She calls and ask you to wire her some money so she can complete her vacation and come back home. WHICH CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION MANDATES THAT THE GOVERNMENT TAKE 5% OF THE MONEY YOU WIRE HER?

[JohnnyZ]

The last time I checked Tacredo represents citizens, First Data Corp, was never elected and should not be coercing foreign policy concessions

Tancredo was coerced? Are you alleging he was bribed, and is corrupt? And are you saying that corporations have no right to freedom of speech?

[dcwusmc]

Yes, but then to you, ANYONE with principles is an oddity... I am hardly his staunchest fan, but I do recognize, as he does, that continued, unfettered entry of ILLEGALS is a serious problem with all that it portends for just national security, let alone issues of labor and wages. Tom Tancredo is about the ONLY ONE of either branch of the ruling party to stand up and squarely address the issue. Yet "conservatives" like your gang do nothing but badmouth the messenger, doing zilch to address the problems or issues he raises. No wonder you have so little respect outside your own gaggle of sycophants.