Mar 11, 2013

Dozens of House Republicans on Monday accused the Department of Homeland Security of using the sequester

Dozens of House Republicans on Monday accused the Department of Homeland Security of using the sequester as an excuse for releasing immigrant detainees, which they said furthers the Obama administration’s goal of weakening U.S. immigration laws.

“We are deeply concerned that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is using sequestration as a vehicle to further the Administration’s disregard for enforcing our immigration laws,” they wrote in a letter spearheaded by Reps. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and Matt Salmon (R-Ariz.) and signed by 37 House Republicans. “Specifically, we are troubled by recent reports that DHS has released hundreds of illegal immigrants, rather than finding cost savings elsewhere in the agency.”

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/287371-gop-suggests-dhs-using-sequester-as-excuse-to-weaken-immigration-laws#ixzz2NHAS9pp4
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Mar 11, 2013

Comprehensive immigration reform has become the clarion call of the GOP intelligentsia.

Laura1 Uncategorized

Comprehensive immigration reform has become the clarion call of the GOP intelligentsia.

Without it, Republican strategists worry the party’s political future is on the line.

In 2004, Republicans lagged 18 points behind Democrats in securing the Latino vote. Eight years later, the GOP lost by 44 percent among one of the fastest-growing constituencies in the country.

But while nationally, immigration reform may be a path for Republicans to regain a fraction of the Latino vote, immigration reform is not a key issue for all Republican member of congress back home; in fact, for some it may be a liability.http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/03/11/evangelicals-could-be-key-to-gop-immigration-push

Mar 10, 2013

As GOP ponders Medicaid expansion, Hispanic support hangs in the balance

Laura1 Uncategorized

For Republicans nationally, the big takeaway from the 2012 presidential election was that, as a party, they have to get right — or at least do better — with Hispanic voters.

With the opening of the 83rd legislative session, the lessons of the 2012 election seemed to have taken here as well.

No provocative emergency items like in the last session, on sanctuary cities or voter I.D., issues that roused the Republican base but lacerated Hispanic sensibilities.

But on one issue, Gov. Rick Perry did draw a line in the sand.

“We have made it clear Texas will not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act,” he declared. “Texas will not drive millions more into an unsustainable system, and that stance has not changed an iota.”

Perry’s resistance to expanding Medicaid did not stir comment that he was being insensitive to the needs of Texas Hispanics.
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/as-gop-ponders-medicaid-expansion-hispanic-support/nWnDX/

Mar 10, 2013

How GOP can get right with Latinos

Laura1 Uncategorized

San Diego (CNN) – After the epiphany that the GOP must — for its own survival amid changing demographics — learn to talk to Hispanics without offending them, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus made a smart move: He got out of Washington and headed to the Southwest.

It would have been nice if the light bulb had gone off for Priebus sometime before the November election since it might have helped make the contest for the Hispanic vote between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney more competitive, but it’s better late than never.

This week, Priebus went on a three-state Western tour that took him to Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. In each city, he met with Republicans and got their take on how the GOP became “party non grata” with Hispanics.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/01/opinion/navarrette-latino-gop

Mar 10, 2013

Jeb Bush: I’m ‘in sync’ with Senate Republicans on immigration reform

Laura1 Uncategorized

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Sunday downplayed talk that his immigration plan undercuts Senate Republican efforts and said he’s more focused now on solving the country’s problems than positioning himself for a 2016 presidential run.

Bush, a Republican, said he talked with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., part of the Senate group working on an immigration reform proposal, who last week criticized Bush for seeming to not support a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants, a key part of the bipartisan group’s plan.

Bush told ABC’s “This Week” that Graham was responding to concerns before Bush’s book on immigration was released.

“I told him that I support his efforts and I applaud what he’s doing,” Bush said. “And he concluded, after he heard what the thesis of the book is, that we’re in sync. We’re on the same path.”

Earlier in the day, Bush told “Fox News Sunday” that three months after the last presidential election is too early to announce a candidacy for 2016.

“Maybe it’s better to make decisions in the proper context at the proper time,” said Bush, whose father and brother, George, each has been president.

Bush, who passed on 2008 and 2012 candidacies, dismissed the argument that a 2016 run might struggle because of some unpopular public opinion about the previous Bush administrations.

“I don’t think there’s any Bush baggage at all,” he said. “I love my brother, I’m proud of his accomplishments. I love my dad, and I’m proud to be a Bush. And if I run for president it’s not because of something in my DNA that compels me to do it. It would be that it’s the right thing to do for my family and that the conditions are right and I have something to offer.”

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