Leader Reid Responds to GOP Obstruction of Chavez Commemoration
Washington, DC— Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid issued the following statement today commemorating the birthday of legendary civil rights leader and founder of the United Farmworkers, César Chávez, which is celebrated today. Reid also condemned Senate Republicans for blocking a resolution to honor Chávez’s legacy for the second year in a row.
“César Chávez came from humble beginnings and lived to become an American icon for his tireless efforts to help bring our country closer to its ideals of freedom and equality of opportunity. Mr. Chávez saw the exploitation of farm workers who harvest our land and put food on our tables, and led a courageous fight to right many of the wrongs they suffered. In his struggle for social and economic justice, César Chávez became a symbol of dignity and perseverance for all workers, whether on the fields, in the factories, or behind the counter.
“Unfortunately, Senate Republicans continue to dishonor the true legacy of César Chávez. For the second year in a row, they have decided to block a resolution to celebrate his vision and achievements. This is outrageous and disrespects the legacy of this inspirational leader. By blocking the Employee Free Choice Act, continue pushing for punitive anti immigrant legislation, blocking comprehensive immigration reform, and standing in the way of a responsible end to the war in Iraq, Republicans are dishonoring the legacy of Chávez by opposing the very principles he spent his entire life defending.
“Yet for all his remarkable achievements, the fight for equality and justice is still a work in progress. That is why Democrats continue working to further César Chávez’s vision. We are fighting for economic policies that make health care, education and energy more affordable, while creating good-paying jobs here at home. We are also working to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to keep their homes amid a foreclosure crisis that affects us all. As we work to level the playing field for all working families to achieve the American Dream, Democrats remain committed to enacting tough, fair and practical immigration reform.
“In order to advance these ideals, it is important for the American people to be involved every step of the way and participate in our electoral process. That is why we can never forget César Chávez’s inspiring words: ‘If you are outraged at conditions, then you cannot possibly be happy until you do everything in your power to change them.’”
A Few Facts:
SENATE REPUBLICANS WORKING AGAINST LATINOS IN 2008
Senate Republicans are out of touch with the priorities of Latino families and the Latino community. In the first three months of 2008, they continue to show they are more concerned about scoring political points with the far anti-immigrant right than with the values and concerns of Latinos, the largest minority population in the U.S. By introducing punitive immigration bills, blocking measures that recognize the contributions of Latinos to the U.S. and voting against key measures that help Latino children, they are blatant in their disregard and disrespect toward Latinos. Most recently, a group of Republicans once again blocked a resolution honoring César E. Chávez, one of the most important American civil rights leaders in our nation’s history. While Republicans continue to play political tricks, Democrats are fighting for the priorities of Latino families, and all Americans.
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, REPUBLICANS OBJECTED TO A RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE THE LEGACY OF LATINO CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER CÉSAR E. CHÁVEZ.
In addition, last year Republicans blocked the Employee Free Choice Act, which would provide a level playing field for workers to freely choose to bargain and organize for better wages. This bill would further honor Chávez’s legacy by advancing the rights of those he fought his entire life to defend: American workers.
REPUBLICANS INTRODUCED A PACKAGE OF 15 PUNITIVE IMMIGRATION BILLS THAT DO NOT REFORM OUR LAWS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF 12 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COUNTRY.
Republican senators continued their push for a package of immigration bills, many of them punitive in nature, which would not restore the rule of law to our broken immigration system. Some of these bills would:
Republicans chose to introduce similarly punitive immigration amendments during the budget debate. Among these were amendments that would have: · Punished cities that encourage cooperation between immigrant communities and local law enforcement; Eliminate funding from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to prevent the EEOC from bringing cases against employers who discriminate against workers based on language.
LATINO MUSEUM BILL HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS.
Republicans continue to place a hold on a package of bills that includes S. 500, a bill that would create a commission to study and report on the possibility of establishing a National Museum of the American Latino in our nation’s capital.
Republicans: Republicans (Grand Obstructionist Party) have engaged in unprecedented obstructionism. Senate Republicans have forced more than 62 cloture votes in the Senate, thereby requiring Democrats to pass legislation, not by a simple majority, but by a super-majority of 60 votes. This breaks the previous record for the most filibusters in a 2-year term.
Iraq: Republicans have repeatedly blocked a change of course in Iraq. The Iraq War has cost more than 4,000 American lives; seven times that number have been wounded. Over a half a trillion dollars of taxpayer money has been spent.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: The Senate voted on comprehensive immigration reform three times last year. Just 12 Republicans joined an overwhelming majority of Democrats to fix our broken immigration system in a tough, fair, and practical way.
DREAM Act: The Senate voted last fall to provide bright, young, undocumented students who were brought to the U.S. by their parents and grew up in our communities the opportunity to pursue legal status if they either go to college or join the military. Unfortunately, although that bill won majority support, its Republican opponents filibustered and prevented it from moving forward in the Senate.
Children’s health coverage. Latino children lack health insurance at higher rates than other children in the nation and nearly 40 percent of children who lack health insurance are Hispanic. While Congress passed a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the popular and effective Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), investing an additional $35 billion over five years to strengthen the program’s financing; President Bush has vetoed the bill twice and Republicans have supported him blocking children’s health care. Further, despite efforts to lift the current ban on Legal Permanent Resident Children access to Medicaid and CHIP, Senate Republicans refused.
Employee Free Choice Act: This bill, which was blocked by Republicans, would provide a level playing field for workers to freely choose to bargain and organize for better wages. The Employee Free Choice Act is critical to the well-being of working Latinos and their families, who benefit from union membership through higher wages, increased safety on the job, and a stronger voice in the workplace.
“César Chávez came from humble beginnings and lived to become an American icon for his tireless efforts to help bring our country closer to its ideals of freedom and equality of opportunity. Mr. Chávez saw the exploitation of farm workers who harvest our land and put food on our tables, and led a courageous fight to right many of the wrongs they suffered. In his struggle for social and economic justice, César Chávez became a symbol of dignity and perseverance for all workers, whether on the fields, in the factories, or behind the counter.
“Unfortunately, Senate Republicans continue to dishonor the true legacy of César Chávez. For the second year in a row, they have decided to block a resolution to celebrate his vision and achievements. This is outrageous and disrespects the legacy of this inspirational leader. By blocking the Employee Free Choice Act, continue pushing for punitive anti immigrant legislation, blocking comprehensive immigration reform, and standing in the way of a responsible end to the war in Iraq, Republicans are dishonoring the legacy of Chávez by opposing the very principles he spent his entire life defending.
“Yet for all his remarkable achievements, the fight for equality and justice is still a work in progress. That is why Democrats continue working to further César Chávez’s vision. We are fighting for economic policies that make health care, education and energy more affordable, while creating good-paying jobs here at home. We are also working to help the millions of Americans who are struggling to keep their homes amid a foreclosure crisis that affects us all. As we work to level the playing field for all working families to achieve the American Dream, Democrats remain committed to enacting tough, fair and practical immigration reform.
“In order to advance these ideals, it is important for the American people to be involved every step of the way and participate in our electoral process. That is why we can never forget César Chávez’s inspiring words: ‘If you are outraged at conditions, then you cannot possibly be happy until you do everything in your power to change them.’”
A Few Facts:
SENATE REPUBLICANS WORKING AGAINST LATINOS IN 2008
Senate Republicans are out of touch with the priorities of Latino families and the Latino community. In the first three months of 2008, they continue to show they are more concerned about scoring political points with the far anti-immigrant right than with the values and concerns of Latinos, the largest minority population in the U.S. By introducing punitive immigration bills, blocking measures that recognize the contributions of Latinos to the U.S. and voting against key measures that help Latino children, they are blatant in their disregard and disrespect toward Latinos. Most recently, a group of Republicans once again blocked a resolution honoring César E. Chávez, one of the most important American civil rights leaders in our nation’s history. While Republicans continue to play political tricks, Democrats are fighting for the priorities of Latino families, and all Americans.
FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, REPUBLICANS OBJECTED TO A RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE THE LEGACY OF LATINO CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER CÉSAR E. CHÁVEZ.
- On March 11, 2008 Majority Leader Harry Reid requested unanimous consent that the Senate pass S. Res. 138, a resolution honoring the accomplishments and legacy of César Estrada Chávez.
- Republicans objected to passing the resolution.
- Last year, Republicans objected to a similar resolution honoring César E. Chávez.
In addition, last year Republicans blocked the Employee Free Choice Act, which would provide a level playing field for workers to freely choose to bargain and organize for better wages. This bill would further honor Chávez’s legacy by advancing the rights of those he fought his entire life to defend: American workers.
REPUBLICANS INTRODUCED A PACKAGE OF 15 PUNITIVE IMMIGRATION BILLS THAT DO NOT REFORM OUR LAWS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF 12 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN OUR COUNTRY.
Republican senators continued their push for a package of immigration bills, many of them punitive in nature, which would not restore the rule of law to our broken immigration system. Some of these bills would:
- Pressure state and local governments to use already stretched resources such as National Guardsmen or police officers to enforce federal immigration laws;
- Require taxpayers to fund an impractical 700-mile pedestrian fence without regard to environmental considerations, concerns of border communities, or even whether the fence is an effective means of securing the border;
- Punish state and local governments that have policies designed to encourage the cooperation of immigrant communities with state and local police;
- Pursue divisive and unnecessary English-only policies.
Republicans chose to introduce similarly punitive immigration amendments during the budget debate. Among these were amendments that would have: · Punished cities that encourage cooperation between immigrant communities and local law enforcement; Eliminate funding from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to prevent the EEOC from bringing cases against employers who discriminate against workers based on language.
LATINO MUSEUM BILL HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY REPUBLICANS.
Republicans continue to place a hold on a package of bills that includes S. 500, a bill that would create a commission to study and report on the possibility of establishing a National Museum of the American Latino in our nation’s capital.
LAST YEAR, REPUBLICANS ALSO REPEATEDLY BLOCKED PROGRESS FOR LATINOS.
Republicans: Republicans (Grand Obstructionist Party) have engaged in unprecedented obstructionism. Senate Republicans have forced more than 62 cloture votes in the Senate, thereby requiring Democrats to pass legislation, not by a simple majority, but by a super-majority of 60 votes. This breaks the previous record for the most filibusters in a 2-year term.
Iraq: Republicans have repeatedly blocked a change of course in Iraq. The Iraq War has cost more than 4,000 American lives; seven times that number have been wounded. Over a half a trillion dollars of taxpayer money has been spent.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: The Senate voted on comprehensive immigration reform three times last year. Just 12 Republicans joined an overwhelming majority of Democrats to fix our broken immigration system in a tough, fair, and practical way.
DREAM Act: The Senate voted last fall to provide bright, young, undocumented students who were brought to the U.S. by their parents and grew up in our communities the opportunity to pursue legal status if they either go to college or join the military. Unfortunately, although that bill won majority support, its Republican opponents filibustered and prevented it from moving forward in the Senate.
Children’s health coverage. Latino children lack health insurance at higher rates than other children in the nation and nearly 40 percent of children who lack health insurance are Hispanic. While Congress passed a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the popular and effective Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), investing an additional $35 billion over five years to strengthen the program’s financing; President Bush has vetoed the bill twice and Republicans have supported him blocking children’s health care. Further, despite efforts to lift the current ban on Legal Permanent Resident Children access to Medicaid and CHIP, Senate Republicans refused.
Employee Free Choice Act: This bill, which was blocked by Republicans, would provide a level playing field for workers to freely choose to bargain and organize for better wages. The Employee Free Choice Act is critical to the well-being of working Latinos and their families, who benefit from union membership through higher wages, increased safety on the job, and a stronger voice in the workplace.
posted by Dos Centavos at 6:28 PM
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