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The
National Hispanic Leadership Agenda provides a scorecard where
they track how our legislatures vote on Latino issues [The score
card of Jan. 2006 can be found at www.laprensa1.com].
This
organization made up of several organizations that are considered
to be leaders on issues that affect the Latino Community. Some of
the organizations are:
Labor
Council for Latin American Advancement,
Mexican
American Legal Defense and Educational Fund,
National
Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials,
National
Puerto Rican Coalition,
U.S.
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce,
National
Council of La Raza.
For example,
last year’s scorecard showed that U.S. Congressman Sherrod
Brown (OH-District 13), who is now running for the U.S.
Senate, scored a 100% when voting on issues that have an impact on
the Latino Community, while U.S. Senator Mike DeWine’s
score for 2005 was 50%.
Other Ohio
Congressional Representatives with a score of 100% were: Marcy
Kaptur, Dennis J. Kucinich, and Stephanie T. Jones—all
Democrats! In contrast, Ohio Republican representatives had scores
of: Paul Gillmor (33%), John A. Boehner (24%), Steve C. LaTourette
(35%), and Deborah Pryce (33%).
In Michigan,
we have 100% scores for Bart Stupak, Dale E. Kildee, Sander M.
Levin, Carolyn Kilpatrick, John Conyers Jr., and John D.
Dingell—all Democrats!
In Indiana,
Democrat Julia Carson had a score of 100% and Democrat
Baron P. Hill had a score of 94%.
Getting back
to Congressman Sherrod Brown—he has always made it a point
to make sure that his staff had representation from the minority
communities. Not long ago, one of his Latino staff members—Diana
Meleti—was the 2005 recipient of the Distinguished
Hispanic Ohioan Award, which is given to a Latino leader who
continually dedicates their time to improve the quality of life
for Latinos throughout
Ohio.
In 2004, Brown
was given the Nuestro Familia Award which was presented by
the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs. This award
is given to a non Latino individual or organization that has made
a positive impact on the lives of the Latino Community in
Ohio.
Although his
Sept. 14, 2006th
vote on building double-layered walls of 700 miles in length as
“part of border protection” [HB 6061] was viewed as a bad vote by
most of the National Hispanic Organizations and Latinos, we hope
that when this election is over, that those who were using the
Latino Community as a way of dividing this country will stop
creating an atmosphere of distress and prejudice towards a
community who has laid down their lives to protect and preserve
the rights and freedom of this great country.
Another
important
Ohio
race is the governor’s. The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda
Organization scored Ted Strickland 100% when voting on
issues that affect the Latino Community. He too made a mistake in
supporting another house bill [HB 4437], but later apologized for
voting for that bill.
After meeting
with Latino leaders and explaining that he was concerned about
national security issues, he then realized that important
contributions had been made by these Latino families, who are
working without documentation, and how we need to come up with a
better system to help those who are making such positive
contributions.
The fact that
he was willing to meet with Latino leaders shows that he will be
sensitive to the needs of the Latino Community; therefore, I
encourage all my brothers and sisters to support Ted Strickland.
I have been
privileged to watch many of the candidates who are running for
office and I am proud to say that I am most impressed with Ted
Strickland, Sherrod Brown, and Betty Sutton (for U.S. Congress).
While reporters are not in a position to do endorsements, we are
some of the eyes and ears of the community and after hearing where
these candidates stand on the real moral issues that affect the
Latino Community—like health care, health insurance, jobs, social
justice, and the pursuit of the U.S.-American Dream—it is clear
that we as the Latino Community can’t afford to sit at home and
let others determine who will represent our voice.
¡Su
voto es su voz!
National Hispanic Leadership
Agenda's Congressional Scorecard
PDF Format |
