La Opinión

Editorial: Trump’s Diplomatic Move

La Opinión — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 22:54:54 +0000

It’s only normal to be worried when the person picked to defend the interests of the U.S. and it’s allies around the world is celebrated by their main strategic rival

Editorial: Trump and Recovering Jobs

La Opinión — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 23:09:18 +0000

The advantages of getting on the new administration’s good side mean great business.

Will the next Congress lift the Cuba embargo?

Impremedia — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 19:12:00 +0000

When President Barack Obama announced last week his intent to begin normalizing relations with Cuba, he acknowledged his powers were limited and that only Congress could lift the half-century embargo against Cuba. But he also seemed optimistic about engaging next years Republican-controlled Congress in a debate over the lifting of the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, which has been in place since 1961. Theres going to be a process where Congress digests it, Obama said Friday during his year-end news conference, referring to his effort to normalize relations with Cuba. There are bipartisan supporters of our new approach, there are bipartisan detractors of this new approach. People will see how the actions we take unfold, and I think theres going to be a healthy debate inside of Congress. The debate, indeed, has already started. And its hard to predict whether or not there could be enough votes in Congress to pass a measure to lift the U.S. embargo on Cuba, as lawmakers are split on the issue. SEE ALSO: Gov. Chris Christie wants cop killer Assata Shakur to return from Cuba Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba in 1956, has been one of the most vocal supporters the U.S. embargo on Cuba. During a news conference last Wednesday, he bluntly said: This Congress is not going to lift the embargo. He also criticized Obama for moving toward normalizing relations with Cuba, saying the policy shift was based on an illusion, on a lie, the lie and the illusion that more commerce and access to money and goods will translate to political freedom for the Cuban people. All this is going to do is give the Castro regime, which controls every aspect of Cuban life, the opportunity to manipulate these changes to perpetuate itself in power, Rubio added. The Republican senator also vowed to use his powers as the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere to try to prevent the new policy changes on Cuba from moving forward. Were going to have a very interesting couple of years, discussing how youre going to get an ambassador nominated and how youre going to get an embassy funded, Rubio said. There have also been a few Democratic lawmakers whove criticized the president for calling on Congress to lift the embargo and for moving to normalize relations with Cuba. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, whose parents are immigrants from Cuba, is one of them. President Obamas actions have vindicated the brutal behavior of the Cuban government, Menendez said in a statement last week. SEE ALSO: Majority of Cuban-Americans in favor of lifting embargo Meanwhile, there are also lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who oppose the embargo and want to see it be lifted. They argue that restoring relations with Cuba could help create political change in Cuba. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is among the opponents of the embargo. He explained his stance in a recent op-ed published by Time magazine: I think a policy of isolationism toward Cuba is misplaced and hasnt worked. The supporters of the embargo against Cuba speak with heated passion but fall strangely silent when asked how trade with Cuba is so different than trade with Russia or China or Vietnam, Paul added. It is an inconsistent and incoherent position to support trade with other communist countries, but not communist Cuba. Rep. Joe Garcia (D-Fla.), who is the son of Cuban immigrants, is among the Democrats who want the embargo to end. Garcia has questioned the effectiveness of the U.S.s strategy to isolate Cuba. He is also seen as someone who represents a new breed of Cuban-Americans who are much more supportive of ending the embargo. The Congressional Progressive Caucus also opposes the embargo and said that it looks forward to working with President Obama and members of Congress who want to stabilize relations between the U.S. and Cuba. SEE ALSO: The biggest winners of the renewed US-Cuba relations

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Majority of Cuban-Americans in favor of lifting embargo

Impremedia — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 19:12:00 +0000

In 1961, the United States closed its embassy in Havana and imposed an embargo on Cuba in the hopes that these rigid foreign policy moves would help topple Castros regime. Its been over five decades since the U.S. implemented the embargo, and Cubas regime hasnt fallen and the embargo never crippled the countrys economy. The 50-year-old embargo didnt work the way it was supposed to, and now President Barack Obama wants to take steps in reducing the embargo and resuming diplomatic relations with Cuba. Obama isnt the only one who feels that the embargo is doing more harm than good. Recently, Cuban-Americans have changed their tune as well. SEE ALSO: Critics, spies and more questions on US-Cuba diplomatic talks According to a poll released by the Florida International University (FIU) in June, a majority of Cuban-Americans oppose the embargo, which is a drastic shift from 1991, when the polls results showed 89 percent in favor for the embargo. Since Fidel Castro took power in 1959, almost 900,000 Cuban exiles and their children have taken up residence in South Florida, comprising a traditionally Republican voting bloc in the nations most important swing state. FIU has conducted the survey among Cuban-Americans in Miami every few years since 1991, and the results have altered drastically over the past two decades. The poll shows that 68 percent of Cuban-Americans are now in favor of reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, possibly because they feel that the embargo has done little to help Cuban citizens. Cuba still remains one of the most repressive governments in the world, with strict press censorship and widespread arrest of dissidents. One of the purposes of the U.S. embargo on Cuba was to punish the country for their horrendous human rights abuses, but the country hasnt lightened their repressive hold on its citizens over the course of the fifty-year embargo. This is likely why 71 percent of the FIU poll respondents said that the embargo is not working at all or at least not very well. In addition, the United Nations has repeatedly asked the U.S. to lift the embargo. In 2014, 188 countries out of the 193 in the UN voted in favor for the U.S. ending the embargo. This means that 97 percent of the UN nations want the U.S. to restore diplomacy with Cuba. SEE ALSO: The biggest winners of the renewed US-Cuba relations Both parties want to end the embargo Cuban-Americans and UN nations arent the only ones that believe that the embargo should be lifted; a majority of American citizens also approve relaxing restrictions against Cuba. According to a 2014 Atlantic Council poll, 52 percent of Republicans and 60 percent of Democrats favor normalization with Cuba. There seems to be a growing sentiment in the U.S. that the country needs to try another method of dealing with Cuba, as cutting diplomatic ties with the country provided little benefit to Cubans. These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked, Obama declared in his dramatic announcement on Wednesday. Its time for a new approach. Obamas plans to restore relations with Cuba include opening an embassy in Havana and lessening travel restrictions. While tourism travel to Cuba will still remain banned for the time being, travel restrictions for government business, educational activities, and family visits will be eased. Of course, Obama needs Congress approval before lifting a 50-year-old embargo, but the White House does have some power to normalize trade and travel to Cuba.

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Obama at year-end press conference: Sony made a mistake

Impremedia — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 17:12:00 +0000

President Barack Obama said Friday that Sony Pictures made a mistake by choosing not to release its controversial film The Interview. The film, based on a plot to assassinate North Korean President Kim Jong-Un, was to be released on Christmas Day. But Sony cancelled the release after receiving threats from hackers warning of an attack against American moviegoers who went to see the film. Obama said the move by Sony sets a bad precedent. We cannot have a society in which some dictator some place can start imposing censorship here in the United States, Obama said speaking from the White House. Because if somebody is able to intimidate folks out of releasing a satirical movie, imagine what theyll start doing when they see a documentary that they dont like or a new report that they dont like. Or even worse, he continued, imagine if producers and distributors and others start engaging in some censorship because they dont want to offend the sensibilities of somebody whose sensibilities probably need to be offended. SEE ALSO: Christmas Day showings of the The Interview cancelled by Sony amid threats Besides making threats against American moviegoers, the hackers also released embarrassing e-mail conversations between Sony executives as well as films the company hadnt released yet. The president also said he was sympathetic to the concerns Sony faced and the significant damage to the company caused by the hackers. But he added: I wish they had spoken to me first. I wouldve told them do not get into a pattern in which youre intimidated by these kinds of criminal attacks. Obama blamed North Korea for the cyber attack and said the United States will respond. However, he declined to elaborate on how and when that would happen. We will respond, he said. We will respond proportionally, and we will respond at a place and time that we choose. Obama made these remarks during his end-of-the-year press conference just hours before heading off to Hawaii with his family for a 17-day vacation. The latest cyber attacks from North Korea were just one of the topics he discussed during the one-hour press conference. The president also touched on how he had promised that 2014 would be a year of actionand, indeed, it has been. He took executive action to raise the minimum wage for federal employees, he signed a historic deal with China to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and he took steps to reform as much of the immigration system as he could without the help of Congress. SEE ALSO: Bitter divisions after Obamas executive action on immigration In addition, this years job growth was the strongest it has been since the 1990s and the nations uninsured rate is nearing the lowest level it has ever been. Most recently, Obama took major steps to restore diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba. The president defended his decision to normalize relations with Cuba on Friday even as he noted that Cuba is still a regime that oppresses its people. I dont anticipate overnight changes, he said. But what I know deep in my bones is if youve done the same thing for 50 years and nothings changed, you should try something different if you want a different outcome. And this gives us an opportunity for a different outcome, because suddenly Cuba is open to the world in ways that it has not been before. As for next year, Obama said he hopes hell be able to work with the House and Senate, both of which will be controlled by Republicans, to pass bills related to issues like increasing American exports, simplifying the tax system and rebuilding infrastructure. But he also said hell continue to keep taking executive actions when needed and delivered this message to members of Congress: Pass bills and work with me to make sure Im willing to sign those bills. SEE ALSO: The biggest winners of the renewed US-Cuba relations

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Pope Francis helped make U.S.-Cuba deal a reality

Impremedia — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 17:12:00 +0000

The deal to re-establish diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba might not have become a reality had it not been for the involvement of one leader: Pope Francis. In a conference call with reporters, a senior administration official explained the key role Pope Francis played in helping broker the U.S.-Cuba deal, which also included the release of U.S. citizen Alan Gross who had been jailed in Cuba for five years. SEE ALSO: Obama says its time for a new approach on Cuba Pope Francis personally issued an appeal through a letter he sent to President Obama and to President Raul Castro, calling on them to resolve the case of Alan Gross and the cases of the three Cubans whove been imprisoned here in the United States and also encouraging the United States and Cuba to pursue a closer relationship, the official said. The Vatican then hosted the U.S. and Cuban delegations where we were able to review the commitments that were making today. The senior administration official said the appeal from the Pope was very rare and unprecedented. We havent received communications like this from the Pope that Im aware of, the official added. In a 15-minute speech on Wednesday, Obama thanked Pope Francis for his engagement in talks between American and Cuban officials. In particular, I want to thank His Holiness Pope Francis whose moral example shows us the importance of pursuing the world as it should be rather than simply settling for the world as it is, the president said. Castro also thanked Pope Francis for his work to help improve relations between the U.S. and Cuba. The news about the U.S. and Cuba agreeing to restore diplomatic ties came the same day Pope Francis was celebrating his 78th birthday. He began his day watching as thousands of tango dancers gathered at St Peters Square to wish him a happy birthday and ended his day hearing the news on the U.S.-Cuba deal. The Vatican released a statement Wednesday congratulating the U.S. and Cuba for re-establishing diplomatic relations. It also confirmed that Pope Francis wrote letters to Obama and Castro earlier this year and that the Vatican hosted delegations from the U.S. and Cuba in October. In addition, the Vatican stated that Pope Francis will continue to assure its support for initiatives which both nations will undertake to strengthen their bilateral relations and promote the wellbeing of their respective citizens. SEE ALSO: US-Cuba relations after President Obamas speech According to a White House official, the engagement of Pope Francis was particularly important given the esteem with which many Americans and Cubans hold the Catholic Church and also given that Pope Francis was the first-ever pope to be elected from Latin America. The official also said that when Obama met with Pope Francis in March, the U.S. relations with Cuba was among the top issues they discussed. President Obama has enormous respect for Pope Francis and his personal engagement in this was important to us, the official added.

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Obama says its time for a new approach on Cuba

Impremedia — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 15:12:00 +0000

President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that the United States is taking steps to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba, putting an end to 50 years of frozen relations between the two nations. I believe that we can do more to support the Cuban people and promote our values through engagement, he said in a televised address. After all, these 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked. Its time for a new approach. The relations between Cuba and the U.S. have been severed since 1961. That year, the U.S. closed its embassy in Cuba and imposed an embargo. Obama said that while only Congress can lift the embargo, he is making a number of policy changes to improve relations with Cuba. SEE ALSO: Alan Gross released from Cuba after five years Obama announces policy changes The president said he instructed State Secretary John Kerry to immediately initiate discussions with Cuba on the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with the communist country. The president also instructed Kerry to review Cubas designation as a state sponsor of international terrorism. Cuba has been on the list since 1982. Obama also announced that the U.S. will also re-establish an embassy in Cuba and allow high-ranking American officials to visit the island to advance shared interests on issues like health, migration and counter-terrorism. Furthermore, the president also announced his administration is easing economic and travel restrictions on Cuba. Obama noted he had been prepared to take these steps for some time but that the wrongful imprisonment in Cuba of U.S. contractor Alan Gross and a man described as a U.S. intelligence asset kept him from moving forward. Gross had been jailed in Cuba for five years, while the intelligence agent had been jailed in Cuba for nearly 20 years. The Cuban government on Wednesday released Gross on humanitarian grounds. Cuba also released the U.S. intelligence agent who was convicted of espionage. He was released in exchange of three Cuban spies who were also convicted of espionage. Senior administration officials told reporters prior to Obamas televised speech that the policy changes came after multiple meetings between American and Cuban officials. The meetings have been ongoing since June 2013. Canada hosted most of these meetings but did not participate in the discussions. The Vatican also played a critical role in hosting and participating in an important meeting that took place in the fall between American and Cuban officials. That meeting led to final decisions being made, according to a senior administration official. Pope Francis, who is the first pope from Latin America, also played an important role. He issued a personal appeal to Obama and Castro through separate letters, urging them to resolve their problems and pursue a closer relationship. SEE ALSO: A huge moment in the history of US-Cuban relations Senior administration officials also noted that the U.S. has been severely criticized by other countries for its policies on Cuba. They said they hope that opening up relations with Cuba will substantially help the U.S. have greater influence in the hemisphere, especially when it comes to issues like democracy and human rights. They also noted that Obama spoke to Cuban President Raul Castro over the phone on Tuesday, which marked the first engagement at the presidential level between Cuban and the U.S. in more than 50 years. The two presidents discussed the new policy changes as well as potential for cooperation between the U.S. and Cuba in the future on issues like counter-terrorism. The president also made clear his intent to pursue these policy changes but also to continue our advocacy for human rights in Cuba, a senior administration official told reporters. Members of Congress react But not everyone is supportive of Obamas new policy shifts on Cuba. Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the outgoing Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair and the son of Cuban immigrants, praised the release of Gross. But he also criticized the Obama administration for swapping the Cuban prisoners for Gross, even though administration officials say Gross was released on humanitarian grounds. Trading Mr. Gross for three convicted criminals sets an extremely dangerous precedent, Menendez said in a statement. It invites dictatorial and rogue regimes to use Americans serving overseas as bargaining chips. I fear that todays actions will put at risk the thousands of Americans that work overseas to support civil society, advocate for access to information, provide humanitarian services, and promote democratic reforms. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the son of Cuban immigrants, also expressed disappointment over the release of the three Cuban spies, whom he noted were linked to the murder of several pilots of a Miami-based humanitarian organization. He said the shift in U.S. policy toward Cuba is just the latest in a long line of failed attempts by President Obama to appease rogue regimes at all cost. He also said that once he becomes chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committees Western Hemisphere subcommittee next year, he plans to make every effort to block this dangerous and desperate attempt by the President to burnish his legacy at the Cuban peoples expense. SEE ALSO: Implications of ending the Cuban embargo

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Detaining women and children is just plain wrong

Impremedia — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 09:12:00 +0000

The opening of a new family immigration detention center has drawn criticism from advocates who argue it is inappropriate to detain women and their children who pose no threat to national security. The 50-acre facility, located about 80 miles from the southern border in a small Texas town called Dilley, will soon become the countrys largest family immigration detention center. It will first hold up to 480 people but will expand to a maximum capacity of 2,400 once construction nearby is finished in May. SEE ALSO: American Bar Association launches website to aid unaccompanied minors The new facility will be called the South Texas Family Residential Center. Women who cross the border illegally with their children will be housed there while their cases move through immigration courts. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson visited the new detention center on Monday. Johnson said the Dilley facility will serve as a way to let families know that they will be detained if they attempt to cross the border illegally. This must be clear going forward: Our borders are not open to illegal migration, he said. But immigration advocates, lawyers and faith leaders argue that the Obama administrations policy of detaining women and their children is just plain wrong. Not only is it cruel and inhumane, but it just doesn’t work, Laura Lichter, a Denver-based immigration attorney, told VOXXI. The government says it must detain and quickly deport children and their mothers to make an example of them and prevent others from trying to come. But detention and deportation wont stop desperate mothers from seeking safety for themselves and their children. The National Immigrant Justice Center referred to the policy as misguided, inhumane, and a waste of taxpayer dollars. The group also said the federal government should look for humane alternatives to detention that would cost no more than $17 per person per day. The projected daily cost of detention at the Dilley facility will be $296 per person. The New York Times reported the facility will be run by the Corrections Corporation of America, the nations largest private prison company. Elanie Cintron, a Denver-based immigration attorney, also spoke out against the opening of the new detention center. In an interview with VOXXI, Cintron said she thinks its atrocious that the Obama administration continues to detain women and children instead of releasing them to family members already living in the U.S. while their cases are pending. She also said it makes zero sense to spend so much money to detain women and children when there are plenty of alternatives to detention. What essentially is happening is theyre putting them in a prison-like environment, Cintron said. A lot of them have viable claims and are traumatized from what happened in their countries, so you exacerbate the trauma by placing them in these facilities. The Obama administration tried to showcase a different side to detention on Monday by giving reporters a guided tour of the Dilley facility. Reporters were able to go inside the cabins where up to eight people will be housed. The cabins are furnished with bunk beds, cribs, couches and flat screen televisions. The new detention center also has playgrounds, classrooms for children to attend school and a place for people to get medical care. SEE ALSO: Jeh Johnson: Far fewer unaccompanied minors are crossing the border The Dilley facility will replace a temporary detention center located in Artesia, New Mexico. That facility, which could hold up to 700 people, is being shut down. It was set up in June in response to the wave of unaccompanied minors and adults with children crossing illegally into the U.S. The Artesia facility, however, has been highly criticized. In August, a coalition of immigrant and civil rights groups sued the Obama administration, alleging that the facility had turned into a deportation mill. They argued detainees were being denied due process and were being put in fast-track deportation proceedings. Lichter and Cintron saw first-hand the conditions inside the Artesia facility as they worked on a case involving a young woman who fled Honduras with her 2-year-old son. The woman suffered through years of domestic violence and rape in her home country under the hands of her boyfriend who was a gang member. Lichter said many women and children inside the Artesia facility were being pushed through a complex legal process at breakneck speed and were not given adequate time to prove their claims for asylum or other forms of humanitarian relief. Meanwhile, Cintron recalled hearing from detainees who complained about the food making them sick and not having enough blankets to keep them warm. We learned a lot of lessons in the six-month fight to shut down Artesia, Lichter said. But by opening another, larger detention facility, the administration has shown it hasn’t learned a single thing.

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Will Marco Rubio run in 2016 after Bushs announcement?

Impremedia — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 19:12:00 +0000

After former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced on Tuesday that he is exploring a 2016 presidential run, eyes are now on another Republican presidential contender from Florida Marco Rubio. The 43-year-old senator was considered to be a frontrunner for the 2016 Republican presidential candidacy, but the tides seem to have changed now that Bush has formally declared that he will consider campaigning. Bush and Rubio live mere miles apart, with Bush in Coral Gables and Rubio in Miami, and Rubio even considers the former governor a mentor and a friend. SEE ALSO: Marco Rubio and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen banned from Nicaragua This may complicate matters for Rubio, as both he and Bush share many of the same supporters and financial backers. Competing with his mentor may not deter Rubio from running, however. Marco has a lot of respect for Governor Bush, and believes that he would be a formidable candidate, Alex Constant, Rubios spokesman, said in a statement after Bushs announcement Tuesday. However, Marcos decision on whether to run for President or re-election will be based on where he can best achieve his agenda to restore the American Dream not on who else might be running. According to The Miami Herald, if Bush and Rubio were to run against each other today, Bush would come out as the clear winner. Recent polls of Florida voters have shown that Bush would pull 34 percent of the GOP votes, while Rubio would only pull 10 percent. While Rubio has strong support among Florida Republicans, it seems like more voters would choose the more experienced 61-year-old former governor to vie for the presidency. Both Bush and Rubio are deemed desirable candidates for many Republican voting groups in Florida, in particular the South Florida Cuban Americans. SEE ALSO: Are Americans ready for another President Bush? Marco is literally one of our own, and Jeb has been adopted as one of our own, said Mauricio Claver-Carone, the U.S.-Cuba Democracy PACs executive director in Washington. Our community holds them equally in high regard. We couldnt lose either way. Rubio has yet to confirm whether or not he will run for presidency, even though the dynamics of the race have shifted since Bushs announcement. The Republican Party feels that Bush, who has presidential blood in his veins (he is the son of former President George H. W. Bush and the brother of George W. Bush), is one of the strongest presidential candidates because of his ability to reach out to the Hispanic population. Bushs wife, Columba, is a native of Mexico and he is fluent in Spanish. Many Republicans believe that he may be the GOPs best shot at appealing to the nations growing Hispanic population, which currently makes up 11 percent of all eligible voters and trends strongly Democratic.

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Jeb Bush to actively explore running for president

Impremedia — Tue, 16 Dec 2014 12:12:00 +0000

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced Tuesday that he will actively explore the possibility of running for president of the United States. Bush, whos a Republican, made the announcement via a Facebook post. He wrote that over Thanksgiving he talked about the future of our nation with his family. As a result of these conversations and thoughtful consideration of the kind of strong leadership I think America needs, I have decided to actively explore the possibility of running for President of the United States, Bush said. SEE ALSO: Are Americans ready for another President Bush? He also wrote on the Facebook post that he will create a leadership political action committee in January to help “facilitate conversations with citizens across America to discuss the most critical challenges facing our exceptional nation. He said the main purpose of the committee will be to support leaders, ideas and policies that will expand opportunity and prosperity for all Americans. In the coming months, I hope to visit with many of you and have a conversation about restoring the promise of America, Bush added. Reaction on Facebook was mostly positive, with one person saying it was the Best news of the week! and another referring to Bush as Mr. Future President. Bush is the son of former President George H.W. Bush and the brother of George W. Bush. He was governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is married to Columba, a native of Mexico. Several media outlets have reported that Jeb Bushs publicity-shy wife was reluctant about him running for president. Bush had repeatedly said he would decide by the end of this year based on whether his wife and family are on board, as well as whether he can run joyfully. SEE ALSO: The private life of Jeb Bushs Mexican wife Columba Bushs announcement that he will explore the possibility of running for president came a day after he delivered the commencement address at the University of South Carolina. During that speech, he gave no indication about running for president. The announcement also came two days after Bush announced he planned to release about 250,000 emails as well as upcoming e-book that document his time as governor. The move is seen as a way for him to remind Americans of some of the things he did as governor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHpv-Jjy-vA

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Congress agrees on a $1.1 trillion spending bill: Whats in it?

Impremedia — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 14:12:00 +0000

Just two days before the federal government ran out of money, House and Senate negotiators reached a deal on a $1.1 trillion spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. Released late Tuesday night, the 1,603-page spending bill funds most of the government through September 2015. The Department of Homeland Security, however, would only be funded through Feb. 27. The bill includes funding for various government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, which will receive more money than what the White House had asked for. Theres also funding to combat the Ebola epidemic, as well as funding to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). SEE ALSO: Congress works to avoid government shutdown In addition, the spending bill also provides more funding to ensure veterans are given the medical care they need in light of the recent scandals at the Department of Veterans Affairs. On immigration, the bill provides money for immigration programs, including $948 million for a program run by the Department of Health and Human Services that provides health and education services to unaccompanied minors. Though the main intent of the spending bill is to provide funding for the federal government, it is also packed with dozens of policy riders. Perhaps one of the most controversial policy rider included in the bill is one that would dramatically increase the amount of money the wealthy can contribute to a national political party. Currently, a person can donate a maximum of $32,400 to either the Democratic National Committee or the Republican National Committee. But the spending bill seeks to increase that maximum to $324,000. Also controversial is a policy rider that would block the District of Columbias ballot initiative legalizing marijuana. The initiative passed in November with nearly 70 percent of the vote. The news shocked elected D.C. leaders and people who advocated for the ballot initiative. Both of these policy riders, if debated, would likely face contentious arguments from both sides. But they are now likely to pass without any congressional debate, because they are part of the must-pass spending bill. SEE ALSO: Boehner proposes a plan to avoid a government shutdown The House and Senate are expected to vote just hours before Thursdays funding deadline. Though its expected to pass both chambers, there are some House Republicans who oppose it because it doesnt do anything to block President Barack Obamas executive actions on immigration. Meanwhile, there are also some Democrats who arent happy with some of the policy riders attached to the bill. House Speaker John Boehner defended the spending bill on Wednesday, saying all the provisions in it were worked out in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion. The Republican leader from Ohio also said he expected the bill to pass. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid echoed Boehners remarks on Wednesday. Theres no reason the government should shut down, and we’re ready to pass a yearlong spending bill to take care of this, the Democratic leader from Nevada said.

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Obamas popularity among Latinos is back

Impremedia — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 12:12:00 +0000

President Barack Obama has once again improved his standing among Latinos. A new Gallup poll released this week finds Obamas approval rating among Latinos has surged to 68 percent following the announcement of his executive actions on immigration. Meanwhile, Obamas approval rating among all voters across the nation stands at 43 percent. SEE ALSO: Obamas approval rating among Latinos takes a beating Obamas approval rating among Latinos had been declining ever since it peaked at 75 percent at the end of 2012, according to Gallup. This year, the presidents approval rating among Latinos has mostly hovered in the fifties. In September, however, it dropped to a low of 47 percent. Thats around the same time Obama announced that he would delay taking executive action on immigration until after the November elections, instead of by the end of the summer like he had promised. When Obama was first elected as president in 2008, he received 67 percent of the Latino vote. He also received 71 percent of the Latino vote when he ran for re-election in 2012. Over the years, the presidents approval rating among Latinos has ranged from a high of 82 percent in 2009 to a low of 48 percent in 2011. Another peak occurred in 2012 when he had an approval rating of 75 percent among Latinos. Thats around the same time he announced that undocumented youth who came to the United States as children would be protected from deportation and granted work permits under a new deferred action program. The latest Gallup poll results come more than a week after a Latino Decisions poll found that 89 percent of Latino voters surveyed said they supported Obamas decision to use his executive powers to offer deportation reprieve and work permits to millions of undocumented immigrants. The poll also noted the immigration issue is personal for many Latino voters, as 64 percent of Latinos surveyed said they know someone who is undocumented. SEE ALSO: Support for Obamas executive actions among Latinos is staggering

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Rep. Ben Ray Luján elected to head the DCCC

Impremedia — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:11:00 +0000

House Democrats on Tuesday voted to elect New Mexico Rep. Ben Ray Luján as the next chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The 42-year-old…

Edward R. Roybal to be honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom

Impremedia — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 14:11:00 +0000

Former Rep. Edward R. Roybal of California is remembered as a devoted public servant who believed the role of government was to help people, including…

Are Democrats facing a Latino political exodus?

Impremedia — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 20:11:00 +0000

The Latino vote once considered a lock in the Democratic coalition and crucial to the partys prospects in 2016 and beyond is showing signs of…

Gov. Brian Sandoval: A Republican who knows how to win over Latinos

Impremedia — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 16:11:00 +0000

As the Republican Party continues its efforts to win over Latino voters, they could turn to one GOP leader for help: Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval.…

Texas first Latina First Lady steals the thunder

Impremedia — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 09:11:00 +0000

The Texas gubernatorial election Tuesday was expected in some circles to be a celebration of women, and it was just not the woman some…

4 tight governor races where the Latino vote will matter most

Impremedia — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:10:00 +0000

A total of 36 states have gubernatorial seats that are up for grabs on Nov. 4, and polls show 10 of those races remain too…

6 Latinos running in highly competitive congressional races

Impremedia — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 17:10:00 +0000

With just days before the November 4 midterm elections, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials finds that six Latino candidates are running in…

Hispanic Caucus endorses Thomas Perez for attorney general

Impremedia — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:10:00 +0000

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is throwing its support behind Labor Secretary Thomas Perez to be selected as the next U.S. attorney general. In a statement…

The California nightmare of Richard Alarcon

Impremedia — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 12:10:00 +0000

I am not Richard Alatorre! Richard Alarcon, a rising star in California politics at the time, used those words as a mantra to voters in…

Why is California President Obamas political safe haven?

Impremedia — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 18:10:00 +0000

If Barack Obama were a state, Former Golden State First Lady Maria Shriver once said of the president, he would be California. Never has that…

The midterm paradox of the US Latino vote

Impremedia — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 17:10:00 +0000

The 2014 midterm elections have become the year of the Latino, with record numbers eligible to vote in a campaign where control of the Senate…

Latino voters poised to be deciding factor in Colorado Senate race

Impremedia — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 12:10:00 +0000

In a Colorado Senate race thats key in determining whether Democrats can hold on to their Senate majority, Latino voters are expected to play a…

Eva Longoria tells Latinos: Dont sit out the November elections

Impremedia — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 17:10:00 +0000

Actress-turned-activist Eva Longoria delivered a clear message to Latinos on Thursday: Dont sit out the elections in November. In an interview with MSNBC host Jose…

The Lone Hispanic Ultra Conservative Ted Cruz

Impremedia — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 17:10:00 +0000

OPINION When Ted Cruz was first elected to the United States Senate in 2012, practically all of Americas media outlets went gaga over him. We…

Ted Cruz slams SCOTUS decision supporting gay marriage

Impremedia — Wed, 08 Oct 2014 08:10:00 +0000

While most Republicans on Capitol Hill remained quiet over the Supreme Courts recent move to pave the way for widespread same-sex marriage legalization, Sen. Ted…

Will a Hispanic succeed Eric Holder?

Impremedia — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 16:09:00 +0000

President Barack Obama finds himself in the curious position today of having to woo Latinos in America, a constituency that once was among the formidable…

The takeaway for Puerto Rico from Scotlands NO vote on independence

Impremedia — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 09:09:00 +0000

Following an unprecedented turnout in the nations referendum vote, 55% of Scottish voters opted this week to remain members of the United Kingdom. The vote…

Obama vows to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL

Impremedia — Thu, 11 Sep 2014 09:09:00 +0000

President Barack Obama said in a nationally televised address Wednesday that he is ready to take action to degrade and ultimately destroy Islamic state militants who…

Charlie Crist wins Democratic gubernatorial primary in Florida

Impremedia — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:08:00 +0000

Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist won the Democratic primary Tuesday, setting the stage for a general-election matchup in November with Republican Gov. Rick Scott. The Associated Press…

Many Latino voters have lost faith in the political system

Impremedia — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 08:08:00 +0000

Theres a possibility that many Latino voters will stay home and not vote at all during the November midterm elections, because theyve lost faith in…

American Latino National Summit to address issues affecting Latinos

Impremedia — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 16:08:00 +0000

When a diverse group of Latino leaders convene for the American Latino National Summit this week, they will put forward an agenda that summarizes the…

Oh, to be that role model, Jorge Ramos!

Impremedia — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 08:07:00 +0000

OPINION During a college campus stop in Hillary Clintons 2008 presidential campaign in California, a lovely young woman volunteering for the candidate rushed up to…

A letter from an undocumented mother

Impremedia — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:07:00 +0000

OPINION Maru Mora Villalpando is the director of Latino Advocacy and a member of the #Not1More Blue Ribbon Commission of undocumented leaders that issued its…

Contested elections have LULAC in turmoil

Impremedia — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 14:07:00 +0000

OPINION Last week I was honored to be present at the 85th annual convention of LULAC in New York City. I was there as an…

Gay marriage is halted in the Florida Keys

Impremedia — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:07:00 +0000

Last week a judge in Monroe County announced Floridas ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional, sending a flurry of comments on social media of gay…

Obamas image remains positive worldwide

Impremedia — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 17:07:00 +0000

The world still prefers Obama more than Bush, says a Pew poll. According to the Pew Research Center, the public has a relatively high amount of…

Can Obama Fire up Latinos in Texas?

Impremedia — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 18:07:00 +0000

President Barack Obama flies into Texas Wednesday on a political trip that could go a long way in determining whether the Latino vote can be…

Sen. Menendez seeks probe of Cuban plot to smear his name

Impremedia — Tue, 08 Jul 2014 08:07:00 +0000

The Cuban government was allegedly behind a plot to smear Sen. Bob Menendez’s name with accusations that he solicited underage prostitutes, according to a letter sent…

Adriano Espaillat vying to be the first Dominican-born congressman

Impremedia — Mon, 23 Jun 2014 15:06:00 +0000

Democratic state Sen. Adriano Espaillat is hoping to become the first Dominican-born member of Congress. But he faces a tough battle to win the Democratic…

In Guatemala, Joe Biden addresses rising flow of unaccompanied minors

Impremedia — Fri, 20 Jun 2014 15:06:00 +0000

Vice President Joe Biden traveled to Guatemala on Friday to meet with Central America leaders and discuss how they can work together to address the…

Salvador Mendoza: From migrant farm worker to federal judge

Impremedia — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 14:06:00 +0000

Salvador Mendoza, Jr., who grew up as a migrant farm worker, will become the first Latino federal judge in Eastern Washington. The Senate confirmed Mendoza…

Borinqueneers get Congressional Gold Medal

Impremedia — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 13:06:00 +0000

President Barack Obama signed Tuesday into law legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the 65th Infantry Regiment, known as the Borinqueneers, recognizing the Puerto…

Openly gay elected mayor of Long Beach makes history three times

Impremedia — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:06:00 +0000

Robert Garcia, the newest mayor of Long Beach, made history three times over on Tuesday night: Hes not only the citys youngest mayor ever, but…

Can a Latino overcome the Kennedy dynasty in LA?

Impremedia — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 17:06:00 +0000

A local political campaign in Los Angeles has pitted the fabled Kennedy clan against Hispanics, long one of the familys most loyal supporters but now…

Are Latinos fighting the Tea Party for Texas future?

Impremedia — Sat, 31 May 2014 17:05:00 +0000

Dont tell Texans like George Rodriguez that Latinos and the Tea Party are incompatible. Even in his hometown San Antonio, known as the stomping ground…

Immigration hardliner seeks Latino vote in Texas lt. governor race

Impremedia — Fri, 30 May 2014 17:05:00 +0000

State Sen. Dan Patricks landslide win over three-term incumbent David Dewhurst in the Republican runoff for Texas lieutenant governor last Tuesday night was no surprise.…

House passes Venezuela sanctions bill to punish Maduro regime

Impremedia — Wed, 28 May 2014 17:05:00 +0000

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill to impose sanctions on individuals who are suspected of committing human rights violations against the people…

Eva Longoria is hopeful for a Latino president in the US

Impremedia — Wed, 21 May 2014 11:05:00 +0000

Actress and political activist Eva Longoria told the public at the Cannes Film Festival that a Latino president might be in the near future for…