December
2005
Employment gap between Latinos
and Anglos grows
A recent study by the Pew Hispanic Institute
indicated that the gap between whites and
Latinos in the labor market continued to
widen in recent years.
The report, entitled Occupational
Attainment and Mobility of Hispanics
in a Changing Economy, studied the
job distribution of Hispanics. The authors
also looked at the factors that affect
Latinos job status and mobility.
Particularly troubling is the conclusion
that this labor division results in Hispanics
taking jobs with a lower socioeconomic
status. Not surprisingly, issues such as
formal education, job experience and language
ability played roles in increasing the
socioeconomic status of Hispanics.
Research also showed that Hispanics are
more prone to job changes that both increase
and decrease their socioeconomic status.
The high probability of taking a job reduced
in status implies that Hispanics are more
susceptible to adverse labor market conditions.
The likelihood of switching upward indicates
that Hispanics with a college education
have more possibilities of job advancement.
To view the report, go to: pewhispanic.org/files/reports/59.1.pdf
Immigration legislation debated
in Congress
The United States House of Representatives
passed immigration legislation that severely
restricts immigration in the United States.
Under the guise of the Border Protection
and Anti-Terrorism, members of Congress
voted 220-206 to pass House Resolution
4437.
Included in the legislation were provisions
to build a 700 mile fence between the U.S.
and Mexico border and to charge undocumented
immigrants with a misdemeanor crime, not
just a civil offense. The estimated cost
to construct and maintain this wall is
$30 billion – that is just under
25% of Texas’ biennial budget. The
bill will also utilize local police along
the border to enforce federal immigration
laws.
A provision that would have denied citizenship
to children born in the United States to
parents who are not U.S. citizens or permanent
resident aliens, did not make it into the
final version of the bill. This provision
(originally House Resolution 698) was offered
as an amendment to H.R. 4437.
Especially troubling and disappointing
was the fact that the bill was composed
entirely of punitive measures aimed at
immigrants. The bill failed to include
any measures such as amnesty for current
undocumented immigrants.
To view H.R. 4437 go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/
Congressional Budget Reconciliation
Hits Low-Income Families Hardest
In an unprecedented move, Congress opted
to use the budget reconciliation process
to make drastic changes and cuts to the
nation’s welfare programs, increasing
the hardships faced by low-income families
and individuals.
Cuts include the following:
- An increase in Medicaid co-payments
and premiums. Medicaid gross expenditures
will reduce by $11 billion over the next
five years and $42 billion over the next
ten years.
- Reduced funding for child care: estimates
reflect that 255,000 fewer children will
receive childcare aid by the year 2010.
- Drastic reductions in child support
enforcement funding.
- Delays in SSI payments to poor individuals
with disabilities.
- Cuts foster care funding for certain
relatives raising children whose parents
are unfit.
The new bill will also include a provision
requiring citizenship documentation for
eligible U.S. citizens. This provision
was included despite the fact that a study
by the Health and Human Services Department’s
Office of the Inspector General did not
find any evidence that illegal immigrants
fake citizenship in order to receive Medicaid
benefits.
The conference agreement on budget reconciliation
passed the Senate with a 51-50 vote (Vice
President Cheney passed the tie-breaking
vote). It is expected to receive a final
vote in the U.S. House of Representatives
after the holiday recess in early January.
To view S. 1932 go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/
For an in-depth analysis on this issue go
to: http://www.cbpp.org/12-8-05bud.htm and http://www.cbpp.org/12-20-05bud.htm.
MALC
Welcomes Representative Ana E. Hernandez
as a New Member
The members of the Mexican American Legislative
Caucus – Texas House of Representatives
(MALC) are happy to welcome Representative
Ana E. Hernandez as a new member.
Ana was sworn-in on December 20, 2005
as the new state representative for Texas
House District 143. Replacing the late
Representative Joe E. Moreno, Ana is a
native of Mexico and grew up in Pasadena.
She is a graduate of The University of
Houston and The University of Texas School
of Law. She served as Chief of Staff for
both Representative Jessica Farrar and
Representative Joe Moreno.
Welcome Ana!
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