La Prensa de Minnesota Political Endorsements II

La Prensa de Minnesota Political Endorsements II

US Senate: Al Franken

For those of us who support comprehensive immigration reform, the most important election in Minnesota this year is probably the election for US Senate. There once was a time when Senator Norm Coleman aggressively courted Latino voters. He won his second term as mayor of St Paul with substantial support from Latinos from the West Side of St Paul. After his election to the US Senate, he formed a Hispanic Advisory committee. He regularly consulted members of the Latino community on important issues and asked our opinion on immigration issues. He told members of the Latino community several times that he would support comprehensive immigration reform.

Senator Coleman then shocked many of us in the Latino community. When faced in the Senate with the most important vote on comprehensive immigration reform last year, Norm Coleman failed to deliver. The President of the United States supported the bill. Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama supported the bill. John McCain co-sponsored the bill. The leadership of both parties in the Senate supported the bill. But when the Senate needed 60 votes to make sure that they could end debate and then move to a vote on the proposed reform, Norm Coleman voted against, effectively killing immigration reform until after the 2008 election.

We invited Senator Coleman last Thursday to join his opponents Al Franken and Dean Barkley in interviews in La Invasora 1400 AM. He was the only one of the three candidates who didn’t respond. Coleman was also the only candidate of the three that ignored questionnaires for La Prensa endorsements.

The editorial committee of La Prensa decided this year that it would not support candidates that didn’t support comprehensive immigration reform. That’s the main reason Norm Coleman won’t get our endorsement this year, an endorsement he could have won two years ago. We also feel Coleman, contrary to his claims of independence, has voted too often with the failed policies of the Bush administration.

The US Senate race this year has only two candidates that we could support. Both Senator Dean Barkley and Al Franken are attractive candidates. Dean Barkley convinced Jesse Ventura to run for governor as an independent in 1998, and was largely responsible for Ventura’s surprise victory that year. When Paul Wellstone tragically died in a plane crash a few weeks before the 2002 election, Governor Jesse Ventura Briefly appointed Dean Barkley to the US Senate while Senator elect Norm Coleman was sworn in.

When we asked Dean Barkley about his position on comprehensive immigration reform, he answered by suggesting that we return to the 1942 to 1964 Bracero program that allowed Mexican workers to get temporary workers programs. He seemed unaware that the Bracero program has been controversial and there have been accusations by some that it exploited Mexican workers.

When asked what he would do with the more than 10 million undocumented immigrants that are currently in the US, he initially said that they should go back home and apply to enter the US Legally. When asked if it would be realistic, and if undocumented immigrants should be allowed to get a temporary work permit, and be allowed to stay in the country while they applied for residency and eventually be allowed a path to citizenship he agreed, as long as they got on the back of the line with those who applied through traditional channels, showed proficiency in English, paid fines and back taxes and been in the country for at least five years. Senator Barkley has good instincts and would make a good senator, but he needs to familiarize himself better with immigration policy.

Barkley told us “If you want to vote for a Senator that will simply say what you want to hear, vote for Norm Coleman or Al Franken. If you want a Senator that will tell you the truth, vote for me. Barkley did not like the 700 Billion financial bailout congress recently approved, and would have voted the against the first three page proposal that was made, but he would’ve voted for the final version to avoid a financial collapse. He said the most important issue facing congress is the mounting federal deficit and debt and that are mortgaging our kids future.

Al Franken is better known for his career as a comedian in Saturday Night Live and for his role as an actor in Hollywood movies. He has also been a political radio talk show host, and has written extensively on politics and policy. Al Franken seemed much more comfortable with the immigration issue in his interview.

Franken supports comprehensive immigration reform and said that it’s impossible to simply deport 12 million people. He said “we need an immigration policy that is humane and that keeps families together. If they¹ve been working, paying taxes and living responsibly and harmoniously in our communities, they should pay a small fine and be put on a path to citizenship. We need to enforce immigration laws at the workplace, in our current system; employers are responsible for circumventing legal guidelines. Workers need documentation that can¹t be forged. “

Al Franken would reduce taxes for middle class families. He opposed the $700 Billion financial rescue. He proposes a stimulus package to re-build roads, bridges, and transit, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs as infrastructure is re-built.

We would’ve liked to endorse Dean Barkley. We admire his true independence. But Al Franken is much better informed on the issues and we trust him more on immigration. Al Franken is better prepared to be a Senator. If a President Obama proposes comprehensive immigration reform in 2009, we trust Al Franken, over Barkley and Coleman, will do the right thing. We endorse Al Franken.

Third congressional District: Ashwin Madia

Western Suburbs Coon Rapids, Maplewood, Brooklyn Park, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Edina, Eden Prairie, Bloomington

One of the most interesting congressional elections in Minnesota is the race in the third congressional district. The incumbent moderate Republican Jim Ramstad is retiring from congress this year. It was difficult making a decision on the race for the third congressional district. Neither Democrat Ashwin Madia, Republican Erick Paulsen nor Independent David Dillon answered our questionnaire.

We had to make our decision based on reading their web sites. It is almost impossible to find out what their positions are on immigration. Even with the little information we have, we endorse Ashwin Madia for congress on the Third congressional district. He is an impressive young man who right after graduating from law school volunteered in to join the military and went to fight in Iraq, a very unusual demonstration of sacrifice for his country. He is also the son of immigrants form India.

We feel that an Obama presidency with an increased democratic majority and a large Latino vote turnout in the 2008 election, will greatly improve our chances for passed comprehensive immigration reform in 2009.

Minneapolis Schools: Referendum Yes, Change in How School Board Members get elected No, Yes to Carla Bates, Lydia Lee and Jill Davies for School Board

We have been very tough critics of the Minneapolis School District in the past. It has one of the largest learning gaps of the country between white students and students of color. Many of our kids don’t feel safe in school. MPS has severely under funded bilingual education in the past. MPS badly mismanaged its finances for many years to the point they that the district did not even know how much money it had last year. Teacher morale has been extremely low in MPS over the last few years, and many don’t trust the principals they work for.

The Minneapolis district has lost thousands of kids and laid off many teachers over the past years largely because many African American parents felt that their kids were not being served adequately by the district. Seniority is a more important factor in determining job security and pay, rather than how teachers perform. Discipline is low in many schools with high percentages of poor and minority kids and graduation rates and test scores are much higher for white students than for students of color.

Why would we then support a referendum that increases property taxes in Minneapolis by $203.27 per year for the average home to increase local funding for schools? Because the MPS board of Directors is finally showing some leadership on how to solve many of the problems MPS faces. We supported Pam Costain, Chris Stewart, Tom Madden and T Williams two years ago. We are very proud of that endorsement and glad that they have taken the steps they have taken over the past two years.

The board first did extensive research on what best practices are in schools around the country that successfully educate students of color. It then approved a strategic plan that incorporated what they learned. They have also hired capable leaders to implement these plans. There seems to be a new sense of urgency and accountability in MPS.

There is no doubt in our mind that in order to implement its ambitious but necessary strategic plan, MPS needs more money. The district faces a budget deficit of $30 million. They may have poorly managed its money before, but it has a new capable CFO that we trust has helped improve financial management. MPS has committed to creating an independent outside group to audit and report on the use of referendum dollars. MPS must assure that they continue to demand accountability from district leaders, principals and teachers for results. Until all our kids get equal opportunity to quality education, we are not fulfilling our responsibility to the original goals of our nation.

We say Yes to increasing local property taxes so we can adequately fund our Minneapolis schools. It will cost the average Minneapolis home owner $17 a month or $.56 a day. Less than the price of a Tamal. Making sure our kids get a quality education is worth that investment.

School Board

Our favorite candidate is Cara Bates. She brings in the perspective of an MPS mother who has volunteers thousands of hours to improving public education in Minneapolis for all kids. She scored the highest in our questionnaire and gave the most thoughtful answers. She agrees with the current strategic plan and that we should continue the path of learning from best practices from around the country on how to adequately teach low income students of color.

Bates has a good understanding and is a supporter of bilingual education. She is a strong union supporter, but realizes that our kids will be best educated if the right teachers are teaching our kids. In a district where more and more kids enroll with no English skills she understands that bilingual teachers should not be lost due to rigid seniority rules.

We also endorse Lydia Lee for reelection. We did not endorse Lydia when she first ran four years ago. We have changed our mind. We need continuity to make sure the strategic plan is implemented. Lydia voted for the strategic plan, and has lead the school board well in the past few months. She supports bilingual education. She understands that seniority rules have hindered the school district’s ability in the past to retain many of our ELL teachers when budget cuts force us to lay off significant numbers of staff by seniority number.

We endorse Jill Davis. She is another community activist that will add the perspective of an MPS mother to the board of directors. She supports the MPS strategic plan. She supports and understands bilingual education. We have some problems with her positions on teacher seniority being so key in determining pay and employment security. At the same time we see some hope that the Minneapolis teachers union may be open to reform, and to increased accountability. Jill has credibility with the union and could be key to successful negotiations.

We also like Sharon Henry Blythe. She has been a supporter of the MPS strategic plan and a supporter of reform. If elected she would bring continuity to the board. At the same time this is the second election we have found it impossible to connect with Blythe, and were never able to get her a questionnaire. She seems to be one of the least accessible school board members. We like Sharon, but feel our three endorsed candidates will be more dedicated, and work harder, towards reducing the learning gap in MPS.

Kari Reed also brings good points and qualities to the election. She was the only candidate that was able to communicate with us through email in Spanish. We disagree with her on her opposition to the MPS strategic plan, and in her position to bilingual education. At the same time she has good ideas no how to reduce the learning gap. She also agrees that the current teacher seniority rules are too rigid, and that merit should be rewarded and trump seniority in employment and pay decisions.

We disagree with Doug Mann on several issues. He scored the lowest in our questionnaire. He opposes the MPS strategic plan. We disagree on how to reduce the learning gap. We disagree on seniority. We do agree on bilingual education.

Changing the way school board members are elected.

We oppose this proposal. The current board needs to focus on making sure the MPS strategic plan gets implemented. We will need continuity. We fear a change in how board members are elected would distract the board, and we fear that not all board members would focus on all kids getting a quality education, instead of just the kids of the district they represent.




One more reminder of all of La Prensa de Minnesota endorsements for 2008.

President: Barack Obama

US Senate Al Franken

US Congress 1st congressional District: Tim Walz
3rd congressional district Ashwin Madia
5th congressional district: Keith Ellison
6th congressional district: El Tinklenberg

Minneapolis School District: Carla Bates, Lydia Lee, Jill Davis

Minneapolis School Referendum to increase local funding tax: Yes
Expand school board and elect some members by district: No

La Prensa de Minnesota Endorsements President and Congress

A Very Important Election for Latinos in Minnesota

The last two years have been devastating for Latinos in Minnesota. Almost three years ago a group of politicians decided to use immigrants as a wedge issue to try to save the Republican Party from the growing unpopularity of the war in Iraq. Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty, together with mostly Republican and some Democrat legislators joined in the anti-immigrant bandwagon. Pawlenty even held a press conference announcing anti-immigrant measures, with pictures of Latino gang members in the background. That was the beginning of one of the darkest periods in Minnesota Latino history.

The “we’re not against immigrants we’re against illegals” crowd never made a single proposal to make it easier for immigrants to enter and stay in the US legally. Republicans in congress proposed in 2006, making it a felony to be in the country with out proper documentation, a change from what was an administrative violation. Latinos in Minnesota reacted by joining with supporters in one of the largest marches in Minnesota history. St Paul saw 40,000 marchers, invited by Latino radio stations, churches and community organizations protesting these anti-immigrant measures. They joined close to two million people that marched nationally against these measures.

These marches had mixed results. On one end the anti-immigrant legislation failed to pass. On the other there were also two failed attempts at comprehensive immigration reform that would have increased the number of immigrants allowed to work legally in the US, and also would have allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to pay penalties and apply to stay in the country legally.

During the same period the Bush administration dramatically increased Homeland Security funding for immigration enforcement. This lead to raids all over the country, and in Minnesota that clogged the immigration judicial system, and overcrowded county jails with peaceful, hard working immigrants, instead of rapists, murderers and drug dealers.

To make things worse the sub prime mortgage mess hit the Latino community hard. Fear of immigration raids and thousands of Latinos with increased mortgage payments they could no longer afford, dramatically cut economic activity in Latino communities and businesses. And as if this wasn’t enough, in 2008, increased gas and food prices and fewer jobs made a bad situation intolerable.

We urged Latinos to march in 2006. In 2008 we urge Latinos to vote. The percentage of Latinos who voted in the 2008 Democratic Presidential primaries rose from 8% of total voters in 2004, to 13% in 2008. This in a primary that saw an increase in all groups of voters. Bush got over 40% of the Latino vote and won the 2004 election. Polls now show that over 60% of Latino voters support Obama and fewer than 30% support McCain.

We don’t ask for much. We don’t want handouts. We don’t want special favors. We want to be given a FAIR chance to enter and stay in the United States legally. We want an equal opportunity at quality education. We want the chance to be able to afford quality health care. We want our families to be allowed to stay together. Give us a chance, get out of our way, and we will continue to make contributions towards making the United States the best country in the world to live in. After all we’re the ones that risk our lives to get here.

There are over 80,000 eligible Latino voters in Minnesota. In the past election only slightly 20,000 voted. We will see a dramatic increase in Latino voters in the state in 2008. La Prensa de Minnesota will present this week, and the next, its endorsements for the political offices that we consider the most important to Latinos in Minnesota. This week we make our endorsements for President of the United States, and for three congressional seats. Next week we will endorse for US Senate, one more congressional seat, and for the Minneapolis School Board. We will also make a recommendation on how to vote for the Minneapolis School district referendum on increasing local funding for schools. If there was ever a time for Latinos in Minnesota to vote it is NOW!

US President: Obama for President

During the Republican and Democratic primaries La Prensa de Minnestoa endorsed John McCain and Hilary Clinton. We endorsed them because we felt they offered the best chances in their parties to pass comprehensive immigration reform. For the general election we endorse Barack Obama. It was not easy not to deny endorsement to someone like John McCain who was one of the leaders in congress trying to pass comprehensive immigration reform. He risked his political career to support our community. But in 2008 the best candidate for the Latino community and for the future of the United States is Barack Obama.

The past eight years the federal government sat idle while mortgage bankers preyed on our community with toxic loans that our people would never be able to afford. It sad idle while corrupt Wall Street executives gambled with the prosperity of Main Street. It badly mismanaged a war that unnecessarily killed thousands of our young. It over spent and mortgaged our grand kids future. Health Insurance coverage now seems impossible for most small businesses and even many large ones. Our Latino and African American kids still graduate at much lower rates from High School than white kids. College seems now harder to reach for many of our kids.

Barack Obama is the best candidate to address all these issues. John McCain supported the Bush administration over 90 % if the time during the past eight years. We simply can’t trust him now to do the right thing.

But the issue that separates the Latino community from everyone else is immigration. Over 10 million of our Latino brothers and sisters are undocumented. We feel a Democratic President that has continuously demonstrated his support for comprehensive immigration reform, with an increased Democratic majority, will give us the best chance for badly needed immigration reform. This reform should include an increase in the number of people allowed to enter the US legally. It should also allow undocumented immigrants that are currently in the US, to pay penalties and back taxes and apply to work in the US legally. They should be allowed to wait after those who applied thought traditional means, and eventually be allowed a path to citizenship.


Barack Obama offers Latinos the best clear path to reach the American Dream. A path that has been badly clouded over the past eight years.

Congress

For those of us that want to see comprehensive immigration reform, congressional races will be more important probably than the race for the Presidency. We already had a President and the leadership of both chambers of congress support comprehensive immigration reform. It still failed. Which means we will only endorse candidates for congress that will support reform.


Fifth Congressional district Keith Ellison

Major cities in the district include Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Richfield, Crystal, Robbinsdale, Golden Valley, and Fridley.

First we want to recognize the best friend the Latino community has in congress from Minnesota. We endorsed Keith Ellison in his primary and general election bid two years ago. We endorsed him because he had always been with the Minnesota Latino community, before he ran for congress. In the past two years he has been a constant champion for Latino issues in congress. He won’t be afraid to aggressively advocate for us when we need it the most next year: when comprehensive immigration comes for a vote. We are glad we endorsed him two years ago and to do so again this year, even if he doesn’t need it. He faces mostly token opposition from Republican Barb Davis White and Independent Bill Mcgaughey and is expected to win comfortably his seat, but we still like to recognize our friends.

First Congressional District Tim Waltz

Entire southern border including Worthington, Albert Lea, Austin, Mankato, Owatona, Rochester, Winona

In the First congressional district in Southern Minnesota our choice for congress is Democrat congressman Tim Waltz. Waltz got elected two years ago in a surprise upset over six-term incumbent Gil Gutknecht by a margin of 53% to 47%. Tim Waltz had a career in the military and as a teacher before being elected to congress. Waltz answered a four question questionnaire we sent him. Hs opponent Republican Brian Davis, a medical doctor at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, didn’t bother to respond.

Tim Waltz has said in the past he supports comprehensive immigration reform. Brian Davis’ campaign web site says on immigration: “Those who do not have legal residency status and wish to live and work in the United States should be required to return to their home countries and apply for legal residency. Amnesty is not the answer.” It also says:” To help combat the problem, local law enforcement officials should be empowered to serve as immigration officials as allowed through the 287g clause of the 1996 Immigration and Nationality Act.

Tim Waltz answered on our question on how he would grow jobs and the economy: “For the last eight years, the Bush economy has put CEOs and Big Oil companies first. Enough is enough. I have a plan to rebuild our economy and strengthen the middle-class. I’m fighting to increase oversight of Wall Street, rein in CEO pay and cut taxes for middle-class families. And I want to create new, green-collar jobs that will grow our economy.

I’ve also authored a middle class tax cut that will help middle-class families that are being squeezed by high gas and food prices, skyrocketing health care costs, and college tuition that is increasingly out of reach. My plan would save 61 million taxpayers an average of $750 on their taxes, expand access to the Child Tax Credit, and help offset the rising cost of property taxes.”

Sixth Congressional District El Tinklenberg

Andover, Blaine, Anoka, Woodbury

Michelle Backmann is the current congresswoman in the sixth congressional district. She is probably one of the most anti-immigrant members of congress. She is someone we could rely on voting against comprehensive immigration reform. She recently embarrassed herself on national TV saying that Senator Barck Obama holds Anti-American views.

El Tinkleberg, supports comprehensive immigration reform. He served as governor Jesse Ventura’s commissioner of transportation, has not only the support of the Democratic Party, but also of the Independence Party. He is the best choice for congress in the sixth congressional district.