Jon Tester, U.S. Senator

Report details impact of Burns’ vote for Abramoff client

(Big Sandy, MT) — Sen. Conrad Burns’ vote against increased federal control over the Northern Marianas Islands has led to sex trafficking, forced abortions and indentured servitude while at the same time jeopardizing America’s border security and weakening the fight against meth, a new report reveals.

Convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff — who has close ties to Sen. Burns — had clients in the Northern Marianas before he pleaded guilty to a corruption scandal earlier this year. In 2001 Sen. Burns reversed an earlier position by voting against increased control over the Marianas after receiving a $5,000 donation related to Abramoff. [Missoulian, 01/21/06]

The new report, released today by Jon Tester’s U.S. Senate campaign, details the findings of recent investigations by Ms. Magazine and ABC’s 20/20. Those investigations showed lax immigration and labor standards in the Marianas led to abusive and inhumane working conditions for thousands of guest workers—mostly poor women from nearby Asian countries.

All told, Burns took more than $12,000 from Abramoff and people with an interest in keeping the status quo in the Marianas.

“In this case, Sen. Burns did more than grant a special favor to his favorite lobbyist Jack Abramoff,” said Tester spokesman Aaron Murphy. “In return for campaign cash, Burns voted to make lives of thousands of vulnerable women and children a living hell.”

According to Ms. Magazine, guest workers in the Marianas work under conditions “akin to indentured servitude” and have to work “tremendous hours of overtime” before they are able to pay back their recruitment fees and living expenses. The report also says that because of lax labor and immigration standards, guest workers “can remain on the islands for an indefinite period but are not eligible for U.S. citizenship.”

Before Abramoff’s donation, Burns had previously voted to strengthen immigration and labor standards for the Northern Marianas. Having received more than $150,000, Burns has taken more money from Abramoff than any member of the House and Senate.

Additional facts in the case:

• The Ms. Magazine report says if legitimate industry cannot provide for these guest workers, many of them end up working in the burgeoning “sex tourism” industry. [Ms. magazine, Spring 2006]

• Reporting on the deplorable working conditions on the Northern Marianas Islands, ABC 20/20 said, “How could this happen on American soil? Workers locked in squalid dorms, some cheated out of their meager salaries, women forced to choose between abortion and their jobs?” [ABC, 20/20, 3/13/98]

• A Department of the Interior report said, “It appears that [the Marianas] is becoming a trafficking point for the movement of young females, including minors, from third world countries.” [CNMI Labor And Human Rights Abuse Status Report, February 1998]

• A Department of Justice report says the lack of regulations for the Northern Marianas Islands leave America’s borders vulnerable to terrorism and illegal alien smuggling. The lack of regulations also weakens the nation’s fight against meth. [Department of Justice Report On Security in Guam and C.N.M.I, 2002]

Posted on Tuesday, October 24th, 2006 at 6:24 pm.