College Admission Essay Tips

By Gabriella Landeros

Your personal statement is really what makes you stand out from everyone else, and in my opinion it was my favorite part of the application process because I had the chance to be creative and show my true self and potential. It should contain a good amount of who you are and what you have done in life that has gotten you to this important milestone. When writing your personal statement ask yourself what qualities you have learned so far and how you can apply that to your future.

According to Topher Jordan, Research Assistant at the University of California, Riverside, “Never sound cliché. Yes, you want to advertise who you are to the people reviewing your application, but chances are they have read your story more than once. Make it as detailed as you can but don’t glam it up, just make it about what you gained from these experiences. Think really hard about what you learned from them.”

“Write about overcoming adversity. Not in the classroom per se, but adversity in your personal lives. Explain what the adversity was and how you overcame it. The deeper the better,”stated Andrew Jesena, a graduate from UCLA.

It is totally fine if you are not sure what you want to major in as well. I thought I wanted to be a Doctor and save lives for a living. Although a great career choice, I changed my mind once I took my first film theory class. I found my love for creative research and reporting on topics I find interesting. I graduated with a major in Media and Cultural Studies with a concentration in Film and Visual Media, and a minor in Spanish (which I declared after my year abroad in Spain).

When writing, think of something that you didn’t already say in your application. I wish I can remember what I wrote back in 2007 when I was applying to college, but I know it included what I learned so far from life experiences, which were my perseverance and positive attitude for school and staying involved. Be honest with yourself while writing, and remember that what you learned and gained from the smallest experiences or hobbies matter.

“I would recommend a high school senior to add a little creativity in their personal statement. They have to keep in mind that every year admission officers read hundreds of thousands of essays and I feel like yours would really stick out if it was something they have never read before,” stated Trixie Aquino, Residential Activities Coordinator at Good Shepherd Volunteers.

Finally, before you submit your application, make sure you have it proofread more than once by a family member, teacher, or friend. Your first draft will never be perfect and there will always be room for improvement both in content and grammar. Getting your personal statement proofread by different people you trust and know you well, also helps tremendously when it comes to finding out more about yourself. You never want to sell yourself short, so by receiving tips and pointers your image is improved while presenting yourself to a university.

Remember, colleges are more concerned with what you have learned, and how you can apply that to your future aspirations. Have fun with it and write from the heart.

For general tips on your college personal statement, check out this video by UCLA Undergraduate Admissions: http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/perstmt.htm

Read the original article on Latinitas Magazine.

Opportunity for growth and economic development in Los Angeles

By Gabriella Landeros

In order to make Los Angeles flourish and stronger as a city, there has to be more opportunities for creating businesses, jobs, and attracting capital so both communities and investors can work together. The economic turmoil Los Angeles is facing is tough, but with companies such as the Valley Economic Development Center (VEDC), the largest nonprofit small business lender in California, things are improving little by little.

Underserved communities, especially, need the most investment and private capital. Lenders such as the VEDC are doing a great job, and we need more to join the effort in working with communities most hit by economic troubles, such as South LA, Pico-Union, and Pacoima. We need a foundation that will generate long-term growth and job creation. By bringing communities and investors together, investments in cities that have been untouched by many will receive the opportunity they deserve.

Read the original article on http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

An Interview with Emanuel Pleitez, Candidate for LA Mayor

Emanuel Pleitez, a native of the inner city neighborhood of Los Angeles, El Sereno, and raised by a single mother, experienced life in one of the most underrepresented areas of the city. His story resonates with other Angelenos, especially those who come from similar communities. Emanuel’s inspiration and initiative of providing for the community and re-energizing Los Angeles come from the many hardships he knew growing up.

He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and was the first member of his family to graduate from college — Stanford University. In the upcoming election, he is one of the few Latinos running for mayor.

With a city that is undergoing a lot of financial turmoil, Emanuel has several ways in which he will improve the finances of Los Angeles, one being pension reform. Pleitez stated:

“We need to address specifically the pension fund liability issue, and it cannot be on the backs of workers. They have fought for certain contracts, and I want to make sure that, as Mayor, we are looking down the line and figuring out what are the things we need to do to ensure that the city can be solvent. We literally are on the brink of bankruptcy, and every year because the pension fund liabilities continue to grow as a proportion of the budget, we end up having to cut other services like parks and recreation, public works, and any other service that is of social safety net for our residents.”

One of the biggest proposals on Emanuel’s agenda is education. As a firm believer that education is an important tool in life, he plans on focusing on children and teens that have dropped out of school and implementing programs to strengthen Los Angeles’ school system for every age group. He plans on bringing several resources to the system, such as early childhood programs, afterschool programs, and parenting classes.

“We need to make sure that community colleges are better aligned with the economy, so that community college classes and trainings are more aligned with the jobs that exist today,” Pleitez said. “We need to make sure that any worker, in any stage of their career has an opportunity to take classes so they can have a better job later.”

Emily Satifka, a fellow on Pleitez for LA, remarked, “Emanuel has managed to unite such a diverse group of opinionated and hard-working individuals all passionate about so many different things. I became involved in this campaign because Emanuel and I had one conversation about mentorship programs and addressing the dropout rate in this city. Emanuel is a produce of this city, a success because of the people who believed in him. He brings a unique perspective to education of not replacing structures already in place but by giving extra support to those students who need it most.”

For many in Los Angeles, transportation and mobility issues are the biggest concern. In regards to expediting Measure R, a measure that was approved on the November 2008 ballot to commit on the improvement of Los Angeles’ public transportation system, Pleitez said:

“We need to find as many financing methods for infrastructure projects, we also need to open up the markets for private sector solutions to enter the mobility solutions market One of the funding methods to improve the city’s transportation issues would include, creating public-private partnerships with companies that are willing to invest in infrastructure services.

Some of Emanuel’s non-profit experiences include Latinos on the Fast Track (LOFT) Institute and the Latino Legacy Weekend, which works with Latino leaders of today. Emanuel’s past work also includes working for Los Angeles’ current mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, by being his aide and personal assistant. After working at Goldman Sachs and being a member of the Obama-Biden US Treasury Review team, he ran for California’s 32^nd Congressional District Election in 2009 with a grassroots driven campaign.

After running for Congress, Emanuel worked on the president’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB) and later McKinsey & Company. He also served as the Board of Directors Chair for the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and the Salvadoran American Leadership and Education Fund (SALEF). He is also the founder and executive producer of INSPIRA, an organization that tells inspirational stories of Latinos.

Although Emanuel has never held a political position, he has experience with private and public sector jobs, a quality that is found useful by many. “I’m someone that’s unafraid of tackling the most difficult issues head on,” stated Pleitez.

“I sincerely believe that it is time that we (<35) start electing our ‘peers’ to achieve the change that we want to see in our cities,” said John Hill, a fellow on Pleitez’s campaign. “We are adults now and there is no reason to continue to elect our ‘political parents’, especially if they are going to rest on their laurels and continue to advocate for the same old solutions that have failed to work. What we need in Los Angeles and this country is innovation, creativity, and energy. Emanuel has what LA needs, which is why I am drawn to him. He represents something great: a positive change in the direction of politics.”

In keeping with the effort and spirit of engaging and energizing communities at a personal level, Emanuel’s mayoral campaign is also a grassroots driven campaign. Emanuel and his staff engage with voters to make sure their voices are heard. Team Pleitez covers every area of Los Angeles that are usually ignored or in the shadows, some which include Pico Union, South Central, and cities in the Valley such as Pacoima. Fellows and volunteers on Team Pleitez communicate on a daily basis with voters to hear what they would like to see improved in their community.

“This is my first campaign, but I can honestly say that it has been time consuming, rigorous and most importantly, rewarding. It is rare to meet a person as driven and compassionate as Emanuel. He is focused entirely on the progress of the City of Los Angeles and the development (personal and professional) of his staff,” added Hill.

Read the original article on the Independent Voter Network.

Presidential battle for the female vote - Los Angeles fights to end bullying - Court in N.Y. strikes down key factor of Defense of Marriage Act

By Gabriella Landeros

Presidential battle for the female vote

On Wednesday, President Obama and Mitt Romney battled to win the female vote, which essentially could be the determining factor for this race. With Mitt Romney proposing to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood and Obama continuing to support funding, there is no doubt that this can split the female vote. For Obama, women have played a key factor for his race to reelection. According to Christi Parsons and Seema Mehta from the L.A. Times, “Obama has been strongest among younger and single women, while Romney has been most popular among older and married women.” To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles fights to end bullying

The Los Angeles Unified School District and the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center are in a partnership to end bullying. For the past two years, the district and center have been working together to find a solution for this unfortunate act, common among youth. Together, they have created Suicide Prevention Intervention Now (SPIN), which is a program to prevent the chance of suicide, a possible outcome when one is bullied. They are accomplishing this goal through training sessions for parents and students, administrators, and teachers. To read more, visit Los Angeles Times

Court in N.Y strikes down key factor of Defense of Marriage Act

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) doesn’t give same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples, causing much controversy amongst the LGBT community. According to David G. Savage from the L.A. Times, a federal appeals court in New York became the first to rule that gays and lesbians deserve “special protection from discrimination under the Constitution.” This Manhattan court joins other courts throughout California and New England in a stand that same-sex couples deserve the same treatment, just as everyone else. To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

News roundup for http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

Gang violence in Central America impacting migrant youth - Immigration not the biggest concern for Latinos - Barack Obama brings it back in the second presidential debate

By Gabriella Landeros

Gang violence in Central America impacting migrant youth

Because of the gang violence in Central America, there has been a larger amount of unaccompanied minors crossing the Mexican border in search for a better life. According to Cindy Chang from the Los Angeles Times, “Most of the growth came from three countries: El Salvador, with 68% more unaccompanied minors; Guatemala, with 72% more; and Honduras, with the number more than doubling, from 1,201 to 2,477.” To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

Immigration not the biggest concern for Latinos

Although illegal immigration is a hot topic for many Latinos, amidst this election cycle, there are more pressing issues that are of concern, such as education, jobs, the economy, and healthcare. This is not to say that immigration reform does not take a toll on Latinos, but there are other pressing issues hitting hard on the nation as well. “Though most Latinos do not have a direct stake in immigration reform, the issue is still a tone-setter for many, and actions or words that are perceived as unduly harsh toward immigrants without papers often resonate with Latinos,” stated Hector Becerra from the Los Angeles Times. To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

Barack Obama brings it back in the second presidential debate

Polls have shown that Obama won the debate last night, and according to David Horsey from the Los Angeles Times, he delivered “the best debate performance of his political career.” Obama answered each issue with confidence, and was not afraid to attack Romney with a sting. To read more, visit: Los Angeles Times

News roundup for  http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

City ID card for immigrants - Community college students forced to commute to different campuses - Prop. 30 inspiring voter registration among students

By Gabriella Landeros

City ID card for immigrants

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is proposing a plan for a city ID card to help accommodate undocumented immigrants who reside in Los Angeles. The card would not only be a photo identification card, but it will also double as an ATM card. Similar methods of accommodation have also been initiated by other city officials, such as Councilman Richard Alarcon who introduced a library card that can also serve as a debit card. Los Angeles also joins other cities, such as San Francisco and Oakland, who have already implemented immigration cards for anyone with proof of residency. To read more, visit Los Angeles Times

Community college students forced to commute to different campuses

Because of severe budget cuts, the amount of courses offered at community colleges has been limited. Students are forced to travel long commutes by bus, car, and train because classes are not offered at one single location. Due to budget cuts, some college campuses have taken off winter and summer sessions. Community colleges are feeling a harsh effect because they not only have to worry about budget cuts, but also have to worry about their students getting into the classes needed to transfer. To read more, visit Los Angeles Times

Prop. 30 inspiring voter registration among students

Governor Jerry Brown’s tax hike measure (Prop. 30), which primarily raises state sales taxes and income for ones earning a significant amount of money, is being used as an inspiration for student voter registration. According to Larry Gordon from the Los Angeles Times, “It’s being touted as the only way to avoid tuition increase this year at California’s public universities, and if it passes, Cal State students could get a tuition rebate.” To read more, please visit Los Angeles Times

News roundup for http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

Nuevo programa de deportación

By Gabriella Landeros

Según el artículo, Illegal immigrant deportation flights to Mexico city scaled back por Richard Marosi en el diario Los Angeles Times, los Estados Unidos creo un nuevo programa que deportará inmigrantes indocumentados por avión a la Ciudad de México durante los siguientes dos meses.

Según Alejandro Poire, Secretario del Interior de México, hacerlo en esta manera mejorará la seguridad fronteriza porque ayudará a inmigrantes a regresar a sus comunidades por autobuses desde la capital. También ayuda para evitar que grupos delictivos en que se aprovechan de los deportados al sur de la frontera.

“Una vez en territorio nacional, se les dará comida y transporte terrestre a sus comunidades de origen o de residencia y en México,” dijo el Ministerio y el Instituto Nacional de Migración.

Hay una gran cantidad de inmigrantes, pero si los Estados Unidos quiere hacer algo para realmente afectar y reducir la cantidad de inmigrantes indocumentados, lo tiene que hacer en una manera segura y sin estrés para ambos participantes. No sabemos las implicaciones de esta solución, y a este punto solo podemos esperar y confiar en que el programa será un gran beneficio para los indocumentados quienes se encuentran en el proceso de deportación.

Para leer más, visite Los Angeles Times.

Read the original article on http://pleitezforlaS.tumblr.com/.

News Roundup, Oct. 3rd

By Gabriella Landeros

Obama and Romney presidential debate

Tonight, President Obama and Mitt Romney hit their first presidential battle for a 90-minute debate. Most of the nation will be watching as this election is getting down to the wire. It will occur at the University of Denver, with a 6 p.m. PDT starting time. Read more in the Los Angeles Times.

Link to live streaming: YouTube Politics

Illegal immigrant deportation flights

A U.S. program announced in February to fly illegal immigrants to Mexico City will occur over a two-month period. It will involve 20 flights, and according to Richard Marosi from the L.A. Times, this method means “a significant scaling-back of what was billed as a humanitarian effort to avoid deporting people to violent border regions.” Read the full story in the Los Angeles Times.

Tomato prices and imports at risk for U.S. and Mexico

Some American farmers are cutting tomato imports from our neighbors down South, Mexico. This will mean higher prices for U.S. consumers and less business for Mexico. According to some farmers in the U.S. it’s a difficult situation because Mexico has created a higher production rate of tomatoes, causing competition for California’s tomato growing season. Read the full story in the Los Angeles Times.

News roundup for http://pleitezforla.tumblr.com/.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

By Gabriella Landeros

September 15^th to October 15^th is a special time when the nation pays tribute to the achievements, culture, and heritage of Hispanic Americans. Hispanic leaders have been prevalent in our nation for generations, but special remembrance of their contributions began in 1968, when President Lyndon Johnson specified a week to honor Hispanic Americans. President Ronald Reagan extended this tribute to a full month in 1988.

“Our Nation’s story would not be possible without generations of Hispanics who have shaped and strengthened the fabric of our Union,” said President Obama in his National Hispanic Heritage Month proclamation. “They have enriched every aspect of our national identity with traditions that stretch across centuries and reflect the many ancestries that comprise the Hispanic community. This month, we celebrate this rich heritage and reflect on the invaluable contributions Hispanics have made to America.”

César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, for example, are two of the most remembered Mexican Americans. They created the United Farm Workers (UFW) labor union, to fight for better treatment and wages for America’s farmworkers. Through boycotts, hunger strikes, and other nonviolent means, they gave a voice to an underrepresented part of our community.

César Chávez and Dolores Huerta join many other great Hispanic American leaders in making this month what it is. National Hispanic Heritage Month is not only a month to remember great men and women in history, but also to think of the unsung Hispanic heroes in our communities. As the biggest minority in the United States, we need Latino leaders who can stroke our young people’s ambitions, push them to chase their dreams, and teach the determination needed to succeed. So during this month, let’s pay tribute to not only the leaders of history, but also our leaders of today and tomorrow.

Read the original article on pleitezforla.com.

Joe Coto Faces Fellow Democrat in State Senate Race

Unlike the usual Democrat versus Republican race, the race for Senate District 15 in California is between two Democrats, Joe Coto and Jim Beall. This is a result of California’s new open primaries where the top two candidates, regardless of party, face each other in the general election. District residents will vote for a candidate based on experience and planned solutions for the district instead of party affiliation.

During an interview, Joe Coto said he knows how things work in California based on his experience as a superintendent of two large school systems in California and managing three large-scale organizations.

“I know how to run a large scale organization and I know how to balance budgets and how to maintain reserves, and I did that during my eighteen years as a superintendent of schools. And that goes for some of the ideas that I proposed at the state level,” Coto said. He feels his management experiences make him better suited to represent his constituents compared to his opponent.

With his leadership background, Coto stated that he is qualified to initiate solutions for California’s worst economic challenges. Some of the issues he mentioned specifically include,  “multi-year budgeting, getting to the point where the budget reflects revenue, and reducing the burdensome regulatory obstacles that are put in front of small, medium, and large size businesses to generate more revenue.”

Joe Coto believes he can represent voters of different party affiliations because of his job experience and ability to work with all communities. He plans to communicate the support and accomplishments he has within the business community in an effort to reach out to Republican voters.

With two Democrats running, Coto says voters in District 15 should base their decision on “experience of the candidates in terms of problem solving and finding solutions to the issues facing California,” as well as the candidate’s “ability to work across the aisle and the ability to relate well to people of all different philosophical and ideological groups.” He emphasized the need to “build coalition as a means of finding solutions to our problems.”

There is no doubt that both candidates are in for the long haul, as their planned proposals have to appeal to all voters.

According to Coto, District 15′s voting population is 44 percent Democratic, 24 percent Republican, and the remaining are independent voters. For this Democrat versus Democrat race, it is non-Democrats that will be the determining factor in the campaign for California’s 15th Senate District.

Read the original article on the Independent Voter Network.

Bill Clinton Habla Del Sueño Americano

By Gabriella Landeros

Este miércoles pasado el ex-presidente Bill Clinton fue el orador principal en la convención demócrata nacional. Su discurso hizo claro que la nación americana esta mejor en actualidad que comparada a antes que la administración del presidente Barack Obama llego al mando. Clinto menciono que al inicio de la administración, el presidente Obama recorto impuestos, creo más trabajos, y más importante, puso la posibilidad del Sueño Americano en las mentes de millones de personas en el país. Obama tomó una economía al borde de crisis y la transforma para lo mejor.

Un tema del discurso era de dar esperanza a la clase media. De esta manera su mensaje relato con los muchos Latinos en busca del Sueño Americano. El sueño que uno tiene la oportunidad de innovar, crecer, y prosperar es algo que la administración del Presidente Obama busca proveer para los Latinos.

El DREAM Act, por ejemplo, es uno de los logros más memorables para la comunidad Latina. Otro logro reciente fue la reforma de la Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia. Estos son solo algunos de los logros de cuales la comunidad Latina ha beneficiado.  

El ex-presidente Clinton pidió que el público confiara y creerá en la visión que el presidente tiene para la nación. Menciono que tiene la confianza absoluta que si Presidente Obama es re-elegido, la economía y las oportunidades de empleo van a continuar a mejorar.

Una mejor nación significara un mejor Los Ángeles. Nuestra ciudad merece la misma oportunidad para un futuro lleno de oportunidades y beneficios para todos. El Sueño Americano es el Sueño Angelino. Si me dan la oportunidad, juntos podemos convertir este sueño a una realidad y hacer el cambio que se necesita y merecemos.

Read the original article on pleitezforla.com.

Pelosi Reiterates Call For GOP To Cancel Recess

By Gabriella Landeros

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) reiterated her call on Speaker of the House John Boehner (R- Ohio) Thursday to cancel next week’s congressional recess in order to focus on legislation pertaining to student loan rates and highway funding.

“Don’t run out the clock on the economy,” Pelosi said during a press conference.

Citing the need to restore middle class stability and prosperity, Pelosi said that Congress should work around the clock to ensure the bills move forward.

Pelosi drew closer attention to the transportation bill, primarily that it holds support from both Republicans and Democrats, can save more than two million jobs and will ultimately help one of the hardest hit industries of the recession– construction.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. Pushes New Minimum Wage Legislation

By Gabriella Landeros and Luke Vargas

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-III) made the case for an immediate increase in the federal minimum wage to $10.00 an hour during a press conference on the Hill Wednesday.

If passed, the “Catching Up To 1968 Act of 2012″ would be the first law focused on increasing the minimum wage since the Fair Minimum Wage Act was enacted in 2007,  raising the wage to $7.25. The thrust of Jackson’s bill – and the origin of its name – is to return to a time when inflation and purchasing power were adequately accounted for in minimum wage calculations, and Americans were making enough to make ends meet and support family households. Although the federal minimum wage hovered at $1.60 in 1968, that year’s rate remains the highest on record in inflation-adjusted terms, and would be the equivalent of $10.04 in 2010 dollars.

According to Jackson, “The bill will affect more than 30 million workers and give the economy an immediate boost by significantly increasing the economy’s number one problem…aggregate demand.”

Joining Rep. Jackson were Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Robert Wiseman of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, and activist Ralph Nader. Nader noted that at a time when there are few unifying political issues, raising the minimum wage is something that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on.

“I don’t think a conservative Republican worker at Walmart making $7.75 an hour will say that their ideology prevents them from supporting a $10.00 minimum wage,” said Nader.

The most recent attempt to introduce minimum wage legislation was included in the “Rebuild America Act” sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Bruce Braley (D-IA) in March. The bill was referred to committee on May 10, 2012, but due to provisions for infrastructural investment and the implementation of the “Buffet Rule” on high-income taxpayers the bill is likely to face stiff Republican opposition in Congress.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Actress America Ferrera Promoting The Power Of The Latino Vote

By Gabriella Landeros

During a press conference on Capitol Hill, Actress America Ferrera and Co-Founder and President of Voto Latino Maria Teresa Kumar  introduced the “America4America” campaign, an online and offline effort to promote the importance of the American Latino vote across the U.S. through media and civic engagement.

“I’ve been on the ground in Alabama and in Arizona, where laws are pushing our communities into the shadows. Campaigns are marginalizing us, leading many Americans feeling demoralized and defeated, and ‘America4America’ is a campaign to empower every single American voter, with a truth about their own goal in our democracy,” Ferrera said. “That’s a role that is a right, that is invaluable, and it is a right that I’m fighting to protect and to promote, and to make absolutely clear that it belongs to each and every one of us.”

When asked what specific issues she has seen in her hometown that is affecting the Latino community, Ferrera stated, “What’s really striking, is what’s happening in the public school system. I think that the Latino community has a lot to lose when the school systems in California not being properly funded and very important programs in early education and adults continuing education is not made a priority, our community has a lot to lose from that.”

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Hoyer: New Abortion Act Putting Lawmakers In Tough Spot

By Gabriella Landeros

As the House of Representatives considers the “Prenatal Nondiscrimination Act” to ban sex-selection abortions and require doctors to report a woman to authorities if they suspect her of doing so, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) spoke for many Democrats by warning that it puts lawmakers in a sticky situation.

With most proponents of the bill being against abortion no matter what, Hoyer stated, “I think this has come up because someone has decided politically that it was a difficult place to put people in, because again, any interpretation in voting against this bill is therefore for abortions for the purpose of selecting gender would be wrong, period.”

Although Hoyer is against abortion based on gender, he feels that when it comes to abortion alone, “a woman and her doctor gotta have the choice of what alternatives she wants to choose.”

It puts medical personnel in a difficult position as well, Hoyer warned, with a five year penalty if they don’t report a sex-selection abortion. Hoyer explained that doctors have to base their assumptions on the woman’s reasoning for an abortion, but if found out later they were lying, doctors are the ones getting penalized.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

White House Unveils Multimillion Dollar Effort To Help Hard-Hit Manufacturers

By Gabriella Landeros

The Obama administration Tuesday unveiled a $26 million, multi-agency effort to spur job growth in the manufacturing sector.

14 various federal agencies and funding partners, such as the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, U.S. Small Business Administration, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, “will assist the development and implementation of regionally driven economic development strategies that will remove obstacles and/or promote advanced manufacturing growth, thereby helping to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers in the global marketplace,” Acting Assistant Commerce Secretary for Economic Development, Matt Erskine said during a conference call with reporters.

The initiative is “designed to strengthen high potential regional clusters across the country that accelerate innovation, strengthen capacity in advanced manufacturing, and foster innovation fueled job creation through public-private partnerships,” added Erskine.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Drug Prohibition Holds Hidden Dangers, Warns Harvard Economist

By Gabriella Landeros

Jeffrey Miron, Harvard University’s Department of Economics Undergraduate Studies Director, told the National Economists Club Thursday that drug prohibition is likely causing more harm than good.

“Opponents of drug prohibition would argue that it actually increases crime and corruption, rather than reducing crime, that it reduces the health and productivity of drug users, rather than making people who use drugs better off, and it has a bunch of other side effects unintended for consequences,” Miron said.

“In an underground market, people can’t resolve their disputes with courts, lawyers, ballot initiatives, and so on. They are likely to resort to violence instead, that’s the obvious substitute for non-violent dispute resolution mechanisms,” added Miron.

Having to find other sources for income, such as theft or prostitution, increases overall, Miron noted, pointing out that prohibition also reduces quality control.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Coburn Calls For Tax Repatriation Holiday

By Gabriella Landeros

Sen. Tom Coburn M.D. (R-Okla), writer of “The Debt Bomb: A Bold Plan to Stop Washington from Bankrupting America,” spoke on his views that would steer politics in the right direction.

With the theme “principled leadership” as the core of his book, Coburn stated, “If you want to change Washington, you have to change who’s here. You have to have people here who actually have real world experience outside of politics.”

Coburn added, “It’s leadership individually, by making this sacrifice…leading by example, and we just do not have that today in our parties, and in our president, and in our country in the political level.”

Coburn believes in maintaining the independence of Americans by creating solutions to “fix our broken entitlement system…It needs to be spoken to the American people, Medicare has to change to save it, same with Medicaid, and same with Social Security.”

The second solution for Coburn involves tax reform. He said American companies should be encouraged to investing “200 trillion sitting on the sideline.” Doing so, he said, would prevent businesses here from spending their profits overseas.

“The way we tax it now is that the money is going to be invested over there, wherever that is, and not brought home because of our punitive tax system and the fact that we don’t have a territorial tax system,” he said.

Coburn also argued that the U.S. is not using its natural resources efficiently, causing slow economic growth and lack of jobs.

“We’re sending 300 billion dollars a year out of this country, for oil and gas that we can produce here, and yet we have a policy not to do that. So if you think about 300 billion not going out of the country, and 300 billion staying here and being invested here, you would see a large response.”

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Marketing Strategy Or Offense To Some?

This quarter I have been doing a journalism internship with the Talk Radio News Service in Washington, D.C. for my last quarter as an undergraduate. With graduating early, I thought an internship in D.C. would give me the extra training I need to sharpen my journalism skills. These past few months I have been writing about politics, foreign affairs, and various issues like student debt. I have also been using my technical skills by creating video and audio packages for the company.

During a Target trip with a couple of friends, I bumped into the "Hispanic Products" aisle. While being perplexed, and sparking my curiosity at the same time, I investigate these Hispanic foods. And what do they consist of? What I expected- tortillas, salsa, refried beans in a can. I was not too sure what was the purpose of having "Hispanic Products" taking over one aisle. People I know have commented on this before, but it's a different feeling when you see it with your own eyes and realize it's not a joke. Why couldn't the salsa be with the other condiments? Why couldn't the canned refried beans be with the garbanzo beans? or Why couldn't the tortillas be with the bread and bagels? I didn't see an aisle with "Asian Products," but apparently my friend said there was an aisle of "Ethnic Hair Products."

The reason I didn't see an aisle with "Asian Products," but did see an aisle with "Hispanic Products," is because it is a marketing strategy to grab the Latino consumers. The area I was in was Columbia Heights, an area in Washington D.C. with 58% African Americans and 34% Hispanic. How clever of companies, like Target! Although this may be racist to some, marketing is marketing, and it will for sure surpass any social constraint to get its product across. A friend from San Diego, CA said their Target has the same thing, makes sense if San Diego is just minutes from the Mexico-United States border.

Is this becoming a new trend for companies? One may think it's a marketing strategy since people love Latin food and want everything in one place, while some may actually take offense to it. Whatever it is, it will not stop companies from conforming to the majority of their shoppers. With Hispanics counting 16.3% of the U.S. population and increasing every year, creating a new age of a "Hispanic boom," manufacturers will continue to target Hispanic consumers in the most evident areas.

Van Hollen: Dems Wanted “Balanced” Approach To Thwarting Sequestration

By Gabriella Landeros

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) told reporters Monday that Democrats had a plan to dodge sequestration with a “balanced” approach but ultimately saw the Republican effort to avoid Defense cuts steal the stage.

“It combined cuts with cuts to tax breaks for special interest, and very wealthy Americans very specifically,” Van Hollen said during on a conference call. “Our plan would have ended the add subsidies that take the form of direct payments, these are payments that go to agribusinesses in good times and bad…The Democratic plan also would have ended many of the taxpayer subsidies for the big oil companies, the big five.”

Van Hollen noted that the Republican plan, which is considered Dead on Arrival in the Senate, “cut deeply into food and nutrition programs for kids and struggling families.”

The Republican plan aimed at staving off $98 billion in automatic defense cuts instead promised $242 billion over the next decade in cuts among entitlement programs and financial reforms.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Boehner: Focus On Jobs, Not Same-Sex Marriage

By Gabriella Landeros

House Republican Defends Planned Parenthood Funding

By Gabriella Landeros

Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL.) broke with his party Wednesday by introducing legislation to ensure that Title X funding continues to include funding for family planning, including the organization Planned Parenthood.

The Protecting Women’s Health Care Act “ensures non-discrimination within federal Title X family planning program” Dold told reporters, explaining that it would prevent states from taking action within their legislatures to block funds from going toward Planned Parenthood.

“Access to care shouldn’t be jeopardized, simply due to discrimination against hospitals and health care entities based upon separate services that they choose to offer,” Dold said, noting that for some patients, Title X funding which supports Planned Parenthood, is the only thing women can rely on to access services such as HIV testing and contraception.

“For over 40 years, Title X has provided access to contraception and health education to women. This funding also provides preventive health care, HIV testing, annual exams, cancer screenings, and so much more,” Dold added.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Sebelius Unveils New Grants To Improve Access To Health Care

By Gabriella Landeros

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius unveiled 26 new grants that she said will fund innovative projects to improve health care across the country.

Last November, healthcare providers, businesses, community groups and entrepreneurs were tasked with providing new ideas on how to spend health care dollars more effectively to benefit the communities they serve.

Turning an idea into an action, Sebelius announced that $122 million in grants would be awarded to some of those who rose to the occasion and developed some new innovative ideas to effectively improve health care in their communities. Some recipients have taken it upon themselves to create new ways to improve access to Medicare and Medicaid recipients in low access communities.

Dr. Timothy Buchman, the founding director of the Emery Center for Critical Care and recipient of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Health Care Innovation Award, said the new funding would increase patients’ access to health care they need at a hospital closer to their homes. Buchman said that long distance travel for adequate care is a burden for many Medicare and Medicaid patients in his home state of Georgia.

Patti DePompei, interim president of the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital at University Hospitals Case Medical Center from Cleveland, Ohio, also spoke on the impact new funding would have on rural communities in Ohio.

“We will develop a physician extension team that brings the clinical expertise of Rainbow and community physicians to patients, in order to reach the targets of better care and better health at lower cost.”

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Panel Takes Deeper Look Into Arizona’s Anti-Immigration Law

By Gabriella Landeros

While the Supreme Court holds the fate of Arizona’s anti-immigration law, S.B. 1070, a panel of representatives joined at the the Congressional Immigration Solutions Conference to state their arguments regarding the immigration issue, which has stirred a heated debate for many.

Rev. Phil Reller from Los Angeles, Calif. said that, based on personal accounts, the Arizona immigration law and other similar laws have negatively impacted communities and the economy, specifically in cases where young children are separated from their parents.

“The current system is basically, it’s bad law,” said Norman Adams, President and Co-Founder of Texans for Sensible Immigration Policy, echoing Reller’s sentiment and expressing his belief that immigrant workers are an integral part of local economies.

Bill Montgomery, a local county attorney from Phoenix, Ariz. said that the only solution to the nation’s immigration problem is to implement a comprehensive immigration bill that reforms the nation’s current policies.

“Secure our sovereign borders, account for all those in our nation who have lawful authority, engage in necessary bureaucratic reform, and engage all levels of government for ongoing internal enforcement,” he said. “Our border must be operationally secured for several important reasons… There is an international security component to that. In the last five years we have had people detained at our borders, just detained from every single country that’s on our terror watch list [and] we also now have the problem with transnational criminal organizations.”

Montgomery suggested a “three year hiatus” solution that would tone down enforcement against individuals and employers, during which time undocumented immigrants would be able to come forward, declare where they’re working and what their skill set is.”

“If they committed a felony they are subject to deportation,” Montgomery said. “Employers also, they must pay the back taxes for those individuals. At the end of the three year time frame, if they pass the background check then they would be permitted to apply for permanent legal residency. But if they want to become a citizen they are going to have to go back to their country of origin to come back in the legal way.”

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

White House Counterterror Adviser Defends Drone Use

By Gabriella Landeros

John Brennan, the White House’s Chief Counterterrorism adviser, defended the U.S. reliance on drones Monday, stating that the use of the unmanned vehicles is not just legal, but also moral.

“Targeted strikes conform to the principle of humanity which requires us to use weapons that will not inflict unnecessary suffering,” Brennan said during remarks before the Woodrow Wilson Center, a Washington, D.C. based think-tank. “It is hard to imagine a tool that can better minimize the risk to civilians than remotely piloted aircraft.”

Brennan added that the scope of the threat also justified the pattern of targeted strikes.

“Despite the great progress we’ve made against al-Qa’ida, it would be a mistake to believe this threat has passed. Al-Qa’ida and its associated forces still have the intent to attack the United States,” Brennan said.

Brennan went on to address the most contested examples of drone use, the strike against American-born extremist Anwar al-Awlaki.

“We have seen lone individuals, including American citizens- often inspired by al-Qa’ida’s murderous ideology- kill innocent Americans and seek to do us harm.”

The use of drones, which has multiplied under the Obama administration, has proven to be controversial. In Pakistan particularly, where their presence is prevalent, the officials have become increasingly frustrated, citing inadvertent civilian deaths.

The issue has also riled some human rights activists on American soil, exemplified during Brennan’s speech by a “Code Pink” activist who disrupted the remarks.

While Brennan argued that their use was primarily just, he acknowledged that it was not necessarily a clear-cut issue.

“If anyone in government who works in this area tells you they haven’t struggled with this, then they haven’t spent much time thinking about it,” Brennan said. “I know I have, and I will continue to struggle with it as long as I remain involved in counterterrorism.”

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

House Dems Accuse GOP Of Hypocrisy On Student Loans

By Gabriella Landeros

A collection of House Democrats Wednesday scoffed at Republicans for opposing legislation to prevent interest rates on student loans from spiking based on a $6 billion price tag but simultaneously voicing support for the Ryan budget.

During a press conference, House Democratic caucus chair Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) noted that the Ryan plan represents a “$46 billion windfall for the wealthiest.”

Rep. Xavier Becerra, (D-Calif.), the caucus vice-chairman, echoed the complaint.

“$46 billion added to the deficit should it become law and they did it without a blink,” Becerra said. “Yet here we see 7 million students about to see the costs of going to college increase where it could lead them to have to decide not to continue with their education.”

If Congress fails to act, recipients of Stafford loans will see their interest rates spike from 3.4% to 6.8%.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Mexican President Attributes Immigration Drop To Economic Improvements

By Gabriella Landeros

Mexican President Felipe Calderón told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Tuesday that an apparent decrease in immigration from Mexico to the U.S. can be attributed to improved economic conditions.

“We are reducing migration to the United States almost to zero in net terms,” Calderón said. “Because we are creating job opportunities in Mexico, educational opportunities for young people, health services and health care for [the] entire nation.”

Calderón added that American efforts to combat illegal immigration also played a role.

Calderón’s statement comes one day after the Pew Research Center released a study displaying a freeze in immigration levels from Mexico. Pew attributed the shift to “the weakened U.S. job market, heightened border enforcement, a rise in deportations, the growing dangers associated with illegal border crossings” as well as the economic factors touted by Calderón.

In the rest of his remarks, the Mexican president painted a rosy picture of his country’s economy.

“We grew last year … 4% in our GDP and we were able to create almost 600,000 new jobs in the formal sector in net terms,” Calderón said.

The President named specific areas that have spurred conditions, including an expansive effort to rebuild or build “almost 20,000 kilometers of highways, country roads, and roads in Mexico” and efforts to ease the bureaucracy facing those wishing to open small businesses.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Activists Rally Against Arizona Law In Lead-Up To Court Case

By Gabriella Landeros

As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the federal government’s challenge to Arizona’s controversial immigration law, proponents of SB 1070 are taking to Capitol Hill to emphasize the negative impact the law and copy-cat pieces of legislation have had on their communities.

“We need an immigration system that allows agricultural communities like mine to thrive,” Mayor Paul Bridges from Uvalda said during a press conference with fellow advocates.”Those who are living here without papers are very much a part of our communities and they have contributed to the economic growth that we’ve had over the years.”

Arizona’s SB 1070 Act allows officers to question and request identification from individuals they suspect of being illegal immigrants. Several states have taken on similar laws, a development that Andre Segura, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) represents a “race to the bottom.”

Segura, the lead litigator in the suits against anti-immigrant laws in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Utah, emphasized that the bills are not just hurting communities, but are also proving to be unpopular.

“Where states were once recklessly attempting to outdo each other to see who can be the most anti-immigrant … attempts to pass more copycat legislation have failed in every state this year, even in states where legislators vowed to pass sweeping new anti-immigrant measures.”

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Senators Speak Out Against Joseph Kony In New Video

By Gabriella Landeros

Senators in support of the capture of Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in central Africa marked a coming day of action in raising awareness of the brutal warlord by releasing a video featuring lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) take part in the video as does former U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wis.).

Pursuing Joseph Kony: A Message from the United States Senate

According to reports from Senator Coon, Chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, “Kony and the LRA have terrorized central Africa targeting civilians in a brutal campaign of abduction, murder, and forced displacement of innocent people.” Reported acts have included sexual violence, and turning boys into soldiers.

So far, there have been two resolutions aimed at Kony. In 2010, the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act, Senator Feingold’s bill passed.

The second resolution was introduced last month by the Senate, S. Res. 402.

“In it we condemned Jospeh Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army for their horrific crimes against humanity,” Sen. Chris Coons said. “[It is] a bill to make it the policy of the united States to work with governments in the region to stop the LRA and help Central Africa to recover.”

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Senate Dems Unveil Legislation To Protect Education Investments

By Gabriella Landeros

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) unveiled new legislation Wednesday aimed at ensuring tax dollars intended to help college students goes to fund education and service instead of marketing, advertising, and recruitment.

The Protecting Financial Aid for Students and Taxpayers Act targets Pell Grants, federal student loans, the Post- 9/11 G.I. Bill and other federal education funds.”In these tough economic times, we need to protect taxpayers’ investment of billions of dollars in student financial aid by ensuring that it is used to help students succeed in college, not on out-of-control advertising, marketing and recruitment budgets,” said Hagan. “Find the money elsewhere, not from taxpayers.”

“In these tough economic times, we need to protect taxpayers’ investment of billions of dollars in student financial aid by ensuring that it is used to help students succeed in college, not on out-of-control advertising, marketing and recruitment budgets,” said Senator Hagan.

Harkin cited his committee’s investigation into for-profit colleges as grounds for the legislation.

“[It] revealed a staggering amount of money is being spent on advertising and recruiting from for-profit colleges that fail their students. Taxpayers should not be picking up the tab for colleges with dismal graduation rates that spend up to 30 percent of their revenue on marketing machines.”

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Biden Corrals Younger Voters At D.C. Rally

By Gabriella Landeros

Vice President Joe Biden energized a large group of young voters on Tuesday night during an appearance at the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.

Biden spent the majority of his 15 minutes on stage drawing lines between President Obama and his likely opponent in the general election this Fall, Mitt Romney. He did that mainly by focusing on the issues young voters are more apt to care about.

A vote for Obama, Biden said, would yield a country where the “environment is protected and we’ve moved to clean and renewable energy, education is a national priority, responsibility to continue to fight to end the combat going on in Afghanistan, an immigration policy worthy of national values, and an economy that has built to last and grow the middle class.”

“Does anybody in this audience think that had the other team won, the war in Iraq would be over right now?” Biden asked. The crowd unanimously roared, “No!” Biden also reminded those in attendance that Obama has installed two female Supreme Court Justices, passed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act for women, and repealed the military’s ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ policy regarding gays and lesbians.

“What else will we be revisiting if there’s a Romney presidency and a Republican Congress?” Biden asked. “What do you think will happen to your grandparents’ Medicare and Medicaid? How about children and pre-existing conditions, what do you think will happen to them?”

President Obama rode a record wave of youth support to victory in 2008, and both he and Biden understand that if they are to repeat this year, younger voters will again have to play a large role.

“It’s a very bad bet to bet against you because your know better, you know what’s at stake,” Biden told the crowd. “You showed up before…I’m confident your generation’s going to show up again.”

The fundraiser was organized by Gen 44, the under-40 outreach arm of the official Obama campaign. According to a pool report of the event, “tickets for the event started at $25 each and all proceeds were for the Obama Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee of Obama for America, the Democratic National Committee and several state Democratic parties.”

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.

Democrats Push Anti-Profiling Measure

By Gabriella Landeros

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) teamed with civil rights leaders and victims of racial profiling on Tuesday to bring awareness to a bill making its way through Congress.

Cardin’s End Racial Profiling Act, a bill he introduced last October, would prohibit law enforcement officials from discriminating against potential suspects based on their race. He testified about his bill during a hearing today before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights.

“Racial profiling is un-American,” Cardin told reporters following the hearing. “It is against our values, it wastes valuable resources, and it should have no place in modern law enforcement. It’s a time that we move forward in guaranteeing to every American in the country equal justice under the law.”

The issue of racial profiling has taken on new life in the weeks following the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, who was gunned down by a neighborhood watchman following an alleged physical dispute between the two. At the time, police officers decided not to detain the shooter, George Zimmerman, due to the state’s Stand Your Ground laws, which protect shooters in cases of self-defense. Zimmerman, who is Hispanic-American, said that Martin, an African-American, attacked him. Meanwhile, those to the victim say that Martin was completely innocent.

Zimmerman reportedly went missing for days, but then turned himself into authorities last week after being charged with 2nd-degree murder.

It is unclear whether Cardin’s bill would be able to prevent a similar situation from occuring in the future. Though the measure explicitly forbids the use of profiling by state and local law enforcement units that apply for federal funding, it does not super-cede state laws, such as Stand Your Ground.

Cardin, however, said that Zimmerman may have not been charged initially due to Martin’s race.

“Trayvon may have been a victim of racial profiling, and I want make sure we have a federal and state investigation that prosecutes offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”

Rev. Jamal Harrison Bryant, a pastor of a mega-church in Baltimore who is serving as an adviser to Martin’s family, spoke at today’s event, and said that he likes what he sees in the bill.

“This piece of legislation being offered by my senator…is the last missing piece for the civil rights bill from 1965 that says there ought to be equality regardless of one’s gender or one’s race. Racial profiling is in fact an extension of racism in America that has been unaddressed and this brings closure to the divide in this county.”

“African Americans continue to face racial profiling on the streets and sidewalks of American cities,” added Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who chaired today’s hearing.“Racial profiling undermines the rule of law and strikes at the core of our nation’s commitment to equal protection for all.”

Geoff Holtzman contributed to this article.

Read the original article on the Talk Radio News Service site.