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Democrats Release Hispanic Agenda

September 21, 2006

By Michael Todd

As part of the seventh annual Democratic Hispanic Leadership Summit, congressional Democrats released a six-point agenda today "to ensure that Latinos are not only included but are at the table on every issue critical to our nation."

Compromiso Democrata con el Pueblo Latino: A New Direction for Latino Families, covers the issues of economic empowerment, education, health care, retirement, immigration and national security. A release from Sen. Harry Reid's (D-Nevada) office says the agenda "highlights Democrats' continued commitment to the critical issues facing Latino families," but on the whole it does not suggest new programs or specific policies for achieving progress in these areas.

In promoting economic empowerment, for example, the agenda acknowledges the growth of the Hispanic business sector at triple that of the nation as a whole, but at the same time it notes that Hispanics are the only major ethnic group in the U.S. whose wages have declined since President Bush took office.

"Democrats recognize the entrepreneurial energy of the Latino community and support minority small-business initiatives that foster economic success," the document offers. "Democrats will also continue to fight for an increase in the minimum wage, which disproportionately affects the economic well-being of many Latinos. Democrats are committed to Latino economic empowerment through our support of linguistically – and culturally – appropriate programs that provide educational, financial and technical training for Latinos. Democrats support equitable employment policies that give Latinos an equal opportunity to compete for good jobs in the public and private sectors."

At the same time, each of the points in the agenda criticizes Republican actions, such as tax cuts that Democrats say favor the wealthy, or inactions, such as blocking increases in the federal minimum wage, in every one of its target areas.

Republicans contacted did not provide an immediate response to the agenda, which was being released as they were contacted.

The agenda offers its strongest prescriptions in the area of education, supporting programs and legislation from kindergarten to college, with an emphasis on helping English-language learners. "Democrats want the DREAM Act to become a reality, make college tuition deductible from taxes permanently, cut student loan interest rates and expand Pell Grants," the authors write. The DREAM Act would allow some undocumented high school students who wish to attend college or serve in the military a chance to do so by amending their immigration status.

The agenda also says Democrats would invest in dropout prevention, college preparation and outreach programs while strengthening so-called Hispanic-serving institutions and community-based organizations.

On immigration, the Democrats accuse the Republicans of failing to deliver a legitimate reform package while shutting down efforts to advance a Senate bill with some bipartisan support and the most Democrats behind it. The agenda calls for a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants already in the country and a temporary worker program.

On hand to release the agenda were Sen. Reid, the Senate minority leader; House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); New York senator and presumptive presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton; California's Rep. Grace Napolitano, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; and New Jersey's Sen. Robert Menendez, who is in a tough re-election fight to retain the seat he was appointed to earlier this year.