In the News

LA Times: Senator Ricardo Lara, Point Man In The Push For Immigrant Rights

July 27, 2013

By: Patrick McGreevy

The subject was illegal immigration, and Ricardo Lara, head of the Legislature's Latino Caucus, was livid.

Lara, then a Democratic Assemblyman from Bell Gardens, wanted to grant driver's licenses to some undocumented Californians. A Republican lawmaker was objecting.

Some of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists used driver's licenses to get through security checkpoints and board planes they later flew into the World Trade Center, said Assemblyman Tim Donnelly (R-Twin Peaks).

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Vida En El Valle: Latino Caucus Lists Its Priorities

June 08, 2013

By: Cynthia Moreno

SACRAMENTO — Health care, education, immigration reform and economic development are the top priorities for the Latino Legislative Caucus.

For the first time in recent years, the caucus laid out a list of priority bills they plan to support at both the state and federal level.

The 24-member caucus plans to use a new list of guiding principles that focus on encouraging more Latinos to engage in the political process through public forums, internships, fellowships and community events.

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California Healthline: Reversing Medi-Cal Cuts Priority for Latino Caucus

June 06, 2013

By: David Gorn

Members of the legislative Latino Caucus on Tuesday laid out their agenda that includes some form of reversal of the 10% reduction in payments to Medi-Cal providers.

The Legislature passed the 10% cut in 2011, but it was delayed until a federal appeals court ruling upheld the reduction two weeks ago. State officials said the bulk of the cutbacks will begin in September.

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Vida en el Valle: California Hispanic Chambers Look to Back Business

May 28, 2013

By: Cynthia Moreno

SACRAMENTO - If there is one group of immigrants who come to the United States with the desire to start a business, they are Latinos. At the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce's 19th Annual Legislative Summit last week, supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of Latinos took center stage.

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KCRA VIDEO: Latino Politicians Propose Big Changes for California

May 11, 2013

Watch video here

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Vida en el Valle: 7 Latinos receive Spirit Awards

May 08, 2013

By: Cynthia Moreno

SACRAMENTO - Sylvia Méndez was eight years old when she was turned away and denied admission to her local school for being Mexican.

She was also banned from going to the community pool, from eating at local restaurants or using the bathrooms. She couldn't live in the same neighborhood where the "white" families lived.

But, she wasn't the only one.

Virtually all children and families of Mexican descent were living in a time of discrimination and segregation.

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La Opinion: Legislatura de California reconoce a latinos

May 07, 2013
By: Araceli Martinez Ortega
 
SACRAMENTO — La ex secretaria del Trabajo, Hilda Solís y el niño de trece años, Thomas Suarez que creó aplicaciones para el teléfono Iphone fueron los más ovacionados por los legisladores durante la entrega anual de los Premios al Espíritu Latino en medio de la semana del Cinco de Mayo proclamada por la legislatura estatal.
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LA Times: Ruben S. Ayala dies at 89; known as a maverick state senator

January 07, 2012

By: Elaine Woo

Former state Sen. Ruben S. Ayala, a scrappy Democrat from Chino who fought for a controversial water project and helped create the California Conservation Corps during a legislative career that ran for 24 years until term limits forced him out, died of natural causes Wednesday in Ontario. He was 89.

His death was confirmed by his son Maurice.

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