The Progressive Latino

$832 Billion for Immigration Reform!!!!

Americans can benefit in an enormous way from immigration reform if it leads to legalization and citizenship.  How much?  The US economy could stand to gain $832 Billion!!  This is if we act fast and just give legal staus in 2013.  The Center for American Progress put together an infographic you need to review and share see Infographic: How Legalization and Citizenship Helps the Economy.   So immigration is not just a humane thing to do but it will improve our economy.  The leadership of the Right knows this but again it just does not matter.  All they see is more democratic votes and a less white America.  Stay on top of your congressman for this will not be an easy fight.  Imagin if over 80% of Americans are for background checks and the gun control bill still failed it will be harder for immigration.  The Progressive Latino.  Like us on Facebook and share with friends.   Credits for pic to Center for American Progress.

Related articles

INFOGRAPHIC: How Immigration Reform Will Boost The American Economy

The Gang of Eight Immigration Bill, Explained in One Infographic

Poll: Republicans need to pass - not just support - immigration reform, Latinos say

Bush NOT for Path to Citizenship

Jeb Bush has been cooped by the Right-wingnuts!!!  He was for a path to citizenship and just a couple days ago said he was against it - opps and now he says he is sort off for it.  Latinos, there you have it - the one sane republican just went to the right!!  Senator Garham, of one 8 senators working on immigration reform took issue with Bush, “Garham differs on that point, as do the rest of the members of the "gang of eight" working on an immigration reform plan. Their framework would allow undocumented immigrants already in the country to become citizens, but only after border security metrics were met and the immigrants went through a long process.

By the way, an article by Buzzfeed talks to a Latino Decision poll now shows that immigration is the number 1 issue even more important than the economy for Latinos.  The poll “also demonstrates that the vast majority of Latino voters — 93 percent of respondents — hope for comprehensive immigration reform legislation before the end of 2013.”  Check out the graphs depicitng the data at link here.  So what does this mean Latino?  More proof that regardless of who in the Right-wing, they do not really care for latinos to become citizens.  Bush is back peddling but he already revealed what he really stands for.  Credit for pic to blogspot.com

Related articles

Harry Reid: Jeb Bush 'Made A Fool Of Himself' On Immigration

Jeb Bush's new book "Immigration Wars": No path to citizenship

Sequester will hurt Latinos!!

The Republicans are having a hard time getting their act together these days.  After a nasty election campaign, they are trying to contnue their strategy of obstructionism.  David Brooks a Right wing commentator really blew it yesterday when he stated that President Obama had no plan.  Latinos this is why you have to do your own homework.  President Obama has a plan and it is located at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/deficit_reduction_table_bucketed_r8.pdf.  It is important to understand what is going on here.  yes, we have a deficit but we also need to keep the recovery going.  This calls for a balanced approach to address our nation’s problems.  Can’t just cut our way back to economic prosperity.  Take a look at this Think Progress Report and associated graphics.  They tell the story of priorities - the people or corporate elite.  The Think Progress Report calls out that “For example, we could avoid painful cuts to investments in jobs and education just by ending a giveaway to corporate jet owners.”  For information about the sequester and its impact (it will impact you not just the Defense Department), go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/02/19/setting-record-straight-about-sequester.  Latinos call your congressman, send emails to your congressman telling them you support the President.  Remember, Junto Podemos!!  TPL (www.theprogressivelatino.com) Please visit our blog and like us on Facebook.  Credits for pic to .kxan.com.

Corporate Greed's New Excuse - Obamacare!!!

Corporate greed exposed. Oh my gosh!  Papa John's pizza may go up 11 - 14 cent!!!  Why?  Because according to John Schnatter, CEO of Papa John's, Obamacare will force him to do what he should have done, and that is to provide some measure of health insurance to his company.  Get this Latinos, because Obamacare requires employee health coverage for those employees working 30 hours or more - Papa John intends to cut back on his employee hours to get out of the health care requirement!!!!  He is not alone.  This is a clear example of corporate greed.  TPL believes that paying 14 more cents per pizza, heck even 50 cents more is worth it to know fellow Americans can have some health insurance!!!  John Schnatter is the founder, chairman and CO-CEO of Papa John's International Inc.  He has a net worth of around $300 million.  Schnatter has over 3400 Papa John's restaurants around the world.   

According to Papa John's website,  "As of December 2011, there were approximately 16,500 employees."  These are low paid individuals to begin with and there is no expectation
of their having the best medical coverage but certainly  some minimal coverage.  After all it is on the backs of  16500  low paid employees that Papa John can have a home like you see in the pic provided and be worth 300 million! 

TPL will be routinely covering corporate greed.  TPL is not against being wealthy but that the wealthy should have some sense of social and moral consciousness.  The Right will be seeking to convert Latinos to Republicans as a result of this election.  As a free society it is your choice as to what party you belong to but you should be informed.  The Right believes in entrepreneurship that
as individuals take risk and get wealthy through business that society overall will benefit - the so call trickle down and that big government should stay out of the way.  Well staying out of the way is what almost got us into another major economic depression.  Please read the article at Salon.com titled, "Five Ways Corporate Greed is Bankrupting America."

Share and like us on Facebook!!!

Credits for home pic to: celebritynetworth.com and credits to Papa John pic to Jim Rollo

Newt Beware Latinos

He is the latest front runner so get ready.  He is already trying to seek out Latino votes but is it to help Latinos or help himself to be elected?  Just keep in mind that he is for a double fence; that he has not talked to how he will create jobs for Latinos among the most impacted by the economic downturn.  He is also not for undocumented immigrants becoming citizens and yes, he believes children in poor schools should work assisting the janitor to clean their school.   He has had nothing to say about the obstructionist Republican Congressmen that say no to every job creating initiaive Obama has introduced.  Is this new leadership for such challenging times?  You decide Progressive Latino.  Thoughts?

Newt Gingrich would build a DOUBLE Fence along the entire Mexico Border

Progressive Latino - take note - the same Newt Gingrich that in the recent debate talked about being more humane towards immigration is now sucking up to the hard right-wing by saying what they want to hear - to build not just any fence but a DOUBLE FENCE along the entire - yes ENTIRE Mexico-US border.  So if you were just getting a tad hopeful that one Republican had promise when it came to immigration, think twice.  You may be mad at Obama but it is no reason not to vote for Obama in 2012.  The Republicans will not do anything about immigration except to deport, arrest, and build fences.  This is off course while the Republican business owners of the large construction companies, hotels and fast food exploit immigrants by working the law in their favor to keep hiring undocumented workers.  See full story by Elise Foley, Huffington Post at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/01/gingrich-pledges-to-build-double-fence-along-entire-mexico-border_n_1123829.html

Republican Anti-Jobs Agenda

This is direct from ( http://thinkprogress.org/progress-report/ ) yesterday's Progress Report (by ThinkProgress War Room on Nov 10, 2011 at 5:22 pm) on the status of the Republican votes to block the Obama American Jobs Act. 

Today, on the eve of Veterans Day, Senate Republicans did not filibuster the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, the part of the president’s jobs plan to help put our veterans back to work. We’d note that it is the sole part of the jobs plan voted on so far not financed by making millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share, something Republicans have strenuously objected to. While today’s willingness to do anything at all to help the economy was certainly welcome, Republicans have repeatedly and unanimously voted against millions of jobs for other Americans, including teachers, firefighters, cops, and construction workers:

• Oct. 11: 100 percent of Senate Republicans voted against millions of American jobs in order to protect the very wealthiest Americans — the top 0.5 percent — from having to pay their fair share.
• Oct. 20: 100 percent of Senate Republicans voted against nearly 400,000 jobs for teachers, firefighters, and cops in order to protect the very wealthiest Americans — the top 0.5 percent — from having to pay their fair share.
• Nov. 3: 100 percent of Senate Republicans voted against 450,000 Americans jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, airports, and other critical infrastructure in order to protect the very wealthiest Americans — the top 0.5 percent — from having to pay their fair share.

TPL's view is that both the Republicans and Democrats knew it would be politically damaging to vote against jobs for veteran, especially the day before Veteran's Day.  So don't be fooled as this was a minor concession along a path as described above by The Progress Report staff that Republicans are just not going along with any Obama plan for jobs.  Don't be fooled either by their argument that this will raise taxes on American small business.  The funding for the jobs bill would come from a 5.6 percent surtax on income over those many over 1 million dollars - just 5.6 percent.  We are in an economic crisis.  Doesn't it make sense that those making so much more (median family income is roughly $26,364.00) sacrifice a little?  In the end they still stand to win for as the economy improves so does the living standard of the rich.

Income Inequality Hits All-Time High

With all the talk regarding the 99% it looks like it is a fact - the top 1% according to a Congressional report, "Trends in the Distribution of Income"  (http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/124xx/doc12485/10-25-HouseholdIncome.pdf) saw their income grow 275% from 1979 to 2007!  President Obama wants to pay for the jobs bill by having the top 1% pay just .05% more in taxes yet the Republicans have opposed the bill.  Jobs are a key issue for Latinos. Being among the worst hit, Latinos need to wake up to the Republican obstructionism as it continues to hurt the Latino community.

Obama on the American Jobs Act

 On Wednesday, October 19, President Obama visited Ashville, NC. There he gave a great speech (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TmnJKwxOcw&feature=youtube_gdata_player) which highlighted the differences between his Americans Job Act (AJA) and the Republican option. It is important for Latinos to understand the AJA. It consists on concrete proposals that can be implemented now. Several of its proposal are ones that were supported in the past by Republicans yet all the Republicans on the Senate voted against it and the Republican Congress will not even let it on the floor for debate. So this leave Obama with the only other option that is to take his cause to the American people so they can pressure Congress to act. TPL believes the AJA benefits Latinos - what do you think?

 

What Occupy Wall Street means to Latinos

The Occupy Wall Street movement is picking up steam with over 200 Occupy Wall Street groups (http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/10/04/1022722/-Occupy-Wall-Street:-List-and-map-of-over-200-US-solidarity-events-and-Facebook)  throughout the US, Canada and even Puerto Rico.  The fundamental issue regardless of who might be in the movement is that they see themselves as the 99% of America that has been victum to the greed of the 1% represented by Wall Street.  Republicans are trying to make out the "Occupy" groups as mobs.  They did not have a big problem when their Tea Party was at Congress, spitting on members of Congress afew years ago.  Nancy Pelosi, to her credit called out Eric Cantor's hypocracy (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/09/nancy-pelosi-wall-street-protests_n_1002289.html).  What does Occupy Wall Street mean for Latinos?  It should mean alot. Latinos have shared a heavy burden in this economic downturn.  Latinos should take note and keep your eyes on this movement as you may just want to become more involved. TPL

The American Job Act and what it means for Latinos

President Obama has provided an aggressive initivative called, The American Job Act. It is not a fix all for our economy but it will provide tremendous assistance to many and help jump start our economy. Do not let anyone tell you what it is - go to the Democrat's website for the specifics (http://www.americanjobsact.com/what-the-jobs-act-means-for-low-income-families.html). Within the website you will find on the right, a link to see how The American Job Act helps Latinos. Atop level summary follows:

· Help Hispanic families keep more of what they earn

· Create job opportunities for young Hispanic Americans

· Create tax cuts to benefit 250,000 Hispanic-owned small businesses

· Help Hispanic families keep more of what they earn

· Offer aid to Hispanic Americans looking for work

· Create job opportunities for young Hispanic Americans

· Rebuild and revitalize Hispanic communities

· Create tax cuts to benefit 250,000 Hispanic-owned small businesses