This is incredible. While Unemployment is at record high and college tuition jumps, the state of Washington gives a subsidy to foreign guest workers for instate tuition.

Right o! Screw your own residents, ignoring soaring education costs, blow off your own deficits, continue to cut social services to the vulnerable, your own citizens, all of those people looking to get another degree because they lost their job... yup, but give instate tuition as further incentive to bring over more foreign guest workers who displace U.S. citizens.

Under House Bill 1487, which takes effect July 1, the foreign workers would qualify for the same tuition rate as state residents if they have been in the state at least a year on certain kinds of temporary work visas, such as the H-1B.

The measure passed amid a roiling budget crisis and hundreds of millions of dollars in cutbacks to higher education. It was nicknamed the "Microsoft subsidy bill" by some lawmakers who say the software giant and its workers surely could afford to pay the higher tuition rates.

Subject to lively legislative debate, the bill received little attention outside the Capitol. An analysis put the immediate tuition revenue loss at the University of Washington at about $430,000, with potential for bigger losses in future years, and about $215,000 at Washington State University .

State Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, the bill's sponsor, retired from Microsoft in 2000 after 17 years. He said employers in his Eastside district sought the provision as a tool for recruiting foreign talent.

In-state tuition and fees next year at the University of Washington are $7,677 compared with $24,352 for non-residents.

An analysis put the immediate tuition revenue loss at the University of Washington at about $430,000, with potential for bigger losses in future years, and about $215,000 at Washington State University.

The Washington Legislation should be ashamed and I hope this warrants corruption investigation. Positively disgusting and obvious corrupt act by a state bought and paid for by Microsoft. It's not only completely unfair to the citizens of Washington State but is also a very obvious example of cheap labor and corporate welfare.