Hola Arkansas - bilingual Hispanic newspaper - periodico bilingue para Hispanos - Latino news - noticias:Government & Politics

ARKANSAS Re-districting: Hispanic Voices, New District

SPRINGDALE, AR - Re-districting is the �hot topic� these days as discussions are taking place on where to draw the new boundary lines and how best to follow the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which guides the process of preserving communities of interest and encourages meaningful voter participation. Next week, the Board of Apportionment will present its proposals to re-draw 100 House of Representative and 35 Senate districts in order to take into account population increases and shifts based on the

Nation�s Latino Elected Officials to meet as community prepares

LOS ANGELES, CA - With 2010 Census data demonstrating that the Latino community now numbers more than 50 million strong, the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) will assemble more than 1,000 Latino officials to focus on the implications of these changes for the country and ensure that Latinos are able to fairly and fully participate in the political process at all levels of government. The NALEO 28th Annual Conference will take place in San Antonio, Texas

Latino Vote 2010 decisive in key battle ground states

WASHINGTON, DC - Strong Latino voter turnout in key battle ground states has demonstrated once again that the growing Hispanic population is having an increasingly profound impact on United States elections. Hispanic Republicans in particular combined strong support from conservatives and Latino voters to win 2 new governorships, 4 new house seats, and a new senate seat more than doubling the number of Republican Hispanics in Congress and giving our nation 3 Republican Hispanic Governors for

Republicans win big in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, AR - Arkansas turned into a Two-Party State over night. After November 2, Arkansas now has a majority-Republican congressional delegation. These are impressive news when you consider that in Arkansas, the Republican Party has been a minority for generations. The political landscape of this Democratic state has changed. While Democrats still control majorities of the state offices and the state Legislature, the Republican candidates slashed the margins significantly. Most of

Hispanic candidates achieve political milestones in state and local races

WASHINGTON, DC � The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund released the following statement regarding Latino candidates in state and local races this midterm election year: �Latino candidates continue to make political progress in state and local races across the country.� State Senate: The number of Latino State Senators increased from 64 to 66 -- 60 Democrats and 6 Republicans. Several of these candidates successfully ran in

Latino and new citizen voters turn out in record numbers

WASHINGTON, DC -- Latino voters throughout the country turned out in record numbers to cast their ballots and make their voices heard. Initial exit polls suggest that at least ten million Latinos voted, representing an increase of 32% from the 2004 presidential election. �Our message is loud and clear: the Latino vote matters,� said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic and civil rights and advocacy organization in the

Obama names Bill Richardson Commerce Secretary

CHICAGO, IL -- President-elect Barack Obama named New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on December 3rd to serve as Commerce Secretary, a position that Obama says will be a key one in his administration.

If confirmed, Richardson will be the last democratic adversary converted to an Obama allied.

Others are, Sen. Hillary Clinton, who will be the next Secretary of State and Joe Biden, who will be his Vice-president.

A former energy secretary, ambassador to the United Nations

Hispanics will help nominate and elect the next president

LAS VEGAS, NV -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement as the Democratic Presidential candidates prepared to debate in Nevada, site of the first DNC-sanctioned debate in the West and of one of the first presidential nominating contests for the 2008 elections.

"Selecting Nevada as an early caucus state and placing the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado show that we respect voters enough to ask for their votes in every part of

House Passes Solis� Bill to Honor Cesar Chavez

WASHINGTON, DC -- The House of Representatives approved H.R. 359, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) to honor Cesar E. Chavez. This legislation authorizes the U.S. Department of Interior to study lands important in the life of Cesar Chavez for possible inclusion into the National Park System. Currently there is no single unit of the National Park System dedicated to Latinos.

�Chavez�s work to protect health, the environment and workers� rights paved the way

Conversation of the Americas

ARLINGTON, VA -- President George W. Bush makes remarks Monday, July 9, 2007, during A Conversation on the Americas in Arlington, VA. The purpose of the gathering was to highlight extensive society-to-society relationships between the U.S. and its neighbors and to further promote the theme of how the United States helps its neighbors promote education, health care and economic opportunity at all levels.

President Bush disappointed by Congress's failure to act on immigration reform

WASHINGTON, DC -- After the president thank the members of the Senate and members of his administration who worked so hard on the border security and immigration reform bill he said, �I'm sorry the Senate was unable to reach agreement on the bill this morning.�

President Bush added. �Legal immigration is one of the top concerns of the American people and Congress's failure to act on it is a disappointment. The American people understand the status quo is unacceptable when it comes to

Hispanic Caucus meets with Speaker Pelosi to push for comprehensive immigration reform

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) and the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi released the following statement immediately preceding their meeting to discuss comprehensive immigration reform and the CHC-endorsed STRIVE Act (H.R. 1645).

�We have an obligation to the American people to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The need is urgent and the time is now. House Democrats are committed to passing a bill that honors our principles and upholds the American

Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Board Elects Congressman Joe Baca Chair

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation�s premier Latino youth leadership development and educational organization, announced the election of Congressman Joe Baca (CA-43) as Chairman of its Board of Directors.

CHCI�s Board also welcomed three Members of Congress, Hon. Luis Fortuño (PR), Hon. Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23), and Hon. Albio Sires (NJ-13).

Chairman Baca�s election to the post signals his dedication to CHCI�s mission. First elected

Chavez wins Venezuela re-election

VENEZUELA -- President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has won a third term in office, securing a clear lead over rival Manuel Rosales.

With most of the ballots counted, President Chavez had taken more than 60% of the vote, officials said.

The president, who has secured the support of the poor by using oil to fund welfare, told crowds his left-wing "Bolivarian revolution" had triumphed.

Admitting defeat, his social democrat rival said he would go on "fighting for democracy" in

MALDEF combats vigilante group attempt to intimidate Latino vote in Arizona

TUCSON, AZ - Latino voters casting their ballots in Arizona today were approached by vigilantes, at least one of whom was armed, at the 49th Precinct Polling Place in Tucson.

Representatives from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) were at the precinct to provide answers to voters about changes in identity requirements under the recently implemented Proposition 200, and witnessed three men stop only Latino voters as they entered and exited the polls.

Democrat Mike Beebe wins Arkansas Governor's Race

LITTLE ROCK, AR � Arkansas Democrat Mike Beebe won the Arkansas governor's race. With 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Beebe had 61 percent of the vote to Republican Asa Hutchinson's 35 percent.

Beebe reminded Arkansans that no one governs alone.

He took a moment to remember the late Win Paul Rockefeller, the Republican who withdrew from the governor's race when he learned he had a life-threatening blood disease. Beebe said, �Rockefeller was a good man who cared

Democracia USA registers more than 105,000 new Hispanic voters in 4 states

WASHINGTON, DC -- Democracia U.S.A. (DUSA), a national non-partisan Hispanic civic engagement program, announced today that it has registered over 105,342 new Hispanic voters from Arizona, Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania�creating a 27 percent increase in the number of registered Hispanic voters in Pennsylvania alone. DUSA, a project of People For the American Way Foundation, has active operations throughout Hispanic neighborhoods in each of these states.

�Democracia USA�s mission is

Hispanics voters will determine outcome of crucial races for top positions in Election 2006

LOS ANGELES, CA -- With the partisan balance of power at stake in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, Hispanics are poised to determine the outcome of key races on November 7, according to an analysis conducted by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund.

The NALEO Educational Fund also projects that 5.6 million Latinos will make their voices heard in the election, the highest Latino turnout for any Congressional election

United States and Colombia negotiating free trade agreement

WASHINGTON, DC -- President George W. Bush welcomed Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to the Oval Office Wednesday, June 14, 2006. �This is my first chance to be able to congratulate the President for a very strong victory. He was obviously a good campaigner that had a message that the Colombian people appreciated. So first of all, congratulations for a grand victory,� said Bush.

President Bush added, �we negotiated a free trade agreement. We've still got some details to work out, but

Mexican youth learn "Tu Rock es Votar"

MEXICO D.F., MEXICO -- Rock music has always been important in the lives of the young. This year, rock music in Mexico is no the exception. Before the imminent presidential elections on July 2, various rock bands in Mexico created the organization Tu Rock es Votar (TREV), whose mission is to promote voting among Mexican youth.

TREV was born in August of 2005 when a group of young people between the ages of 27 and 29 created the non-profit organization. TREV does not have an agenda

Fox says immigration should be shared responsibility

YAKIMA, UTAH -- Mexican President Vicente Fox has visited a fruit orchard in the northwestern U.S. state of Washington on May 25 and told farm workers there that the United States and Mexico must manage immigration together.

President Fox said Wednesday in the city of Yakima that both sides need to reach an agreement that can give security, legality and order to the flow of migrant people. He said immigration reform is a shared responsibility.

The Mexican president made his

Pelosi: 'We need bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform'

WASHINGTON, DC -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on May 25 in regard to the passage of the Senate's immigration bill (62-36):

"Now that the Senate has reached an agreement on immigration, President Bush needs to urge the House Republican Leadership to denounce the mean-spirited House Republican Sensenbrenner bill. The President has not yet disavowed or said one unkind word about the Sensenbrenner bill; in fact, he is on record as praising the

CANCUN SUMMIT 2006: News Conference President Bush Meets with President Fox in Cancun, Mexico

SPEAKERS:
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
VICENTE FOX, PRESIDENT OF MEXICO

PRESIDENT FOX: (As translated.) We are ready, good afternoon. I would like to welcome President Bush to Quintana Roo, to Cancún, and to Mexico. It is a great honor to have him here, particularly in this place in Cancún, which is all set and receiving many visitors. But the best visitors are President Bush and Prime Minister Harper, with our working agenda that will be

McGrew seeks GOP nomination for House of Representatives

ROGERS, AR -- R. Shawn McGrew a well known Hispanic from Rogers, Arkansas announced on Monday, February 13 his candidacy for the Republican nomination in District 95 for the Arkansas House of Representatives.

McGrew, 33, said, �I feel that voters are looking for an intelligent leader with integrity and a vision for this district and Northwest Arkansas.�

McGrew works for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc based in Bentonville, AR as Travel Technology Manager in the Global Travel Services

Pryor receives award from U.S. Chamber of Commerce

WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator Mark Pryor received on the U.S. Chamber Spirit of Enterprise Award from Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, for his strong support of a pro-economic growth legislative agenda.

Pryor said, �he was honored to receive the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the Chamber and appreciative of the working relationship he has built with the Chamber of Commerce and its Arkansas membership.� His work to promote transportation funding,

President announced two Hispanics to Cabinet

WASHIGNTON, DC � Eight of 15 members of President Bush�s first term Cabinet have resigned. The president announced six nominations so far. The Senate still has to confirm his choices, two Hispanics among the nominees.

President George W. Bush announced the nomination of White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to succeed John Ashcroft as the next U.S. Attorney General during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004.

A few days later, President George

Remarks by President Bush in Acceptance Speech

THE PRESIDENT: �The voters turned out in record numbers and delivered an historic victory.

I want to thank the thousands of our supporters across our country. I want to thank you for your hugs on the rope lines; I want to thank you for your prayers on the rope lines; I want to thank you for your kind words on the rope lines. I want to thank you for everything you did to make the calls and to put up the signs, to talk to your neighbors and to get out the vote. And because you did

Celebrating in the community

LITTLE ROCK, AR -- In October 31, more that 500 Latinos celebrated Halloween at the Albert Pike Hotel. The party was a celebration of �Latinos Unidos para Votar� organized by the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Arkansas and Friends of Senator Blanche Lincoln.

Presidential Candidates to Appear on �Sabado Gigante�

MIAMI, FL-- As the heated presidential campaign comes to a close, Univision�s �Sábado Gigante� (Gigantic Saturday), America�s #1 entertainment variety program on Spanish-language TV, will air interviews with both President George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry. As the longest-running and most popular program of its kind in this country and throughout Latin America, �Sábado Gigante� has become a vital platform for political figures. Host Mario Kreutzberger, better known as �Don Francisco,�