Ryan Ray
State Sen. Darren Soto, flanked by members of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus at the Capitol, told reporters Monday that if legislators and policymakers ignore the demands of Florida’s nearly 5 million Hispanic and Latino votes, they do so at their own peril.
Hailing the group’s support and opposition to a raft of bills alongside caucus President Vivian Rodriguez, Soto said that since Hispanics make up the largest bloc of “swing voters in swing regions of a swing state” here in Florida, their voices will be heard one way or another.
One Senate panel heeded the Osceola Democrat’s words later in the afternoon, approving Soto’s Senate Bill 798, a Senate memorial urging Congress to allow the island’s municipalities and public utilities to declare Chapter 9 bankruptcy, stop an ongoing 11 percent reduction in Medicare Advantage benefits to Puerto Ricans and generally promote “increased manufacturing, trade, and employment.” The bill passed Senate Commerce & Tourism, with only Republican maverick Sen. Jack Latvala voting no.
Beforehand, Soto and Rodriguez inveighed against Congressional austerity policies for Puerto Rico, as well as “malspirited” immigration debates that have seeped into state debates in Tallahassee.
One of those proposals opposed by the caucus – House Bill 9 filed by Republican Rep. Carlos Trujillo, who is of Cuban descent – could unfairly splinter families and overreaches beyond the scope of state law.
“You know, this is a federal issue,” said Soto, who is running for Congress. “We have a clear role in our Constitution that our federal government has over immigration responsibilities, not the state government.”
Soto said Senate Bill 150, a bill that increases the severity of criminal penalties of certain crimes if they are committed by an undocumented immigrant, was “a little more complicated matter.”
“We stand against nonviolent offenders being deported for just being accused” of a crime, said Soto. “But if the bill sponsor will be willing to work with us to narrow it to violent offenders, there could be some common ground there.”
“But bringing in petty thefts and other small incidents into the immigration debate when folks have not even been convicted is just wrong,” added Soto.
Rodriguez said her group opposes the Legislature’s latest bite at the alimony reform apple, SB 250 by Sen. Tom Lee.
“The Family Law bill will have a devastating impact on Latina women. It ensures harsh outcomes to women and children should they suffer through a divorce. The bill will reduce alimony and child support awards to divorcing Hispanic mothers and this raises grave economic consequences,” said Rodriguez.
See a full list of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus’ legislative priorities below:
SM 798: Promotion of Economic Recovery in Puerto Rico (Support)
SB 1494: Language Education Assistance Program (Support)
SB 6/HB 109: State Minimum Wage (Support)
SB 120/HB 45 & SB 1542/HB 1151: Prohibited Discrimination (Support)
SB 454/HB 7: Employment Discrimination (Support)
SB 68/HB 4001: License to Carry Concealed Weapons or Firearms (Oppose)
SB 118/HB 9: Persons Subject to Final Deportation Orders (Oppose)
SB 250: Family Law (Oppose)
