Latinos Must Stop Trump by Re-Electing Senator Bob Menendez

Dear Latino Voters,

I’ll be blunt – it is up to Latinos to stop Donald Trump. Our opportunity comes on November 6 when we must elect leaders who will stand up to a man who has unceasingly vilified our community. Here in New Jersey, we are privileged to have an enviable group of Democratic candidates. In fact, the top of the ballot is one of our own – Senator Bob Menendez. While he has been a proven fighter on behalf of better health care, gun safety measures, and immigration, his opponent, Bob Hugin, is fighting against us.

Look at Bob Hugin’s record. He is a top supporter of Donald Trump. In fact, during the 2016 presidential campaign, he donated over $200,000 to Trump. Hugin did this even after Trump called Mexicans “rapists” and even after he bragged about sexually assaulting women.

But we shouldn’t be surprised by Hugin’s actions. He has been devoted to extreme Republican causes his entire career. He has donated thousands to the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing organization that rejects any common-sense gun safety measures and has taken a racist stand against comprehensive immigration reform. Moreover, the organization has repeatedly attacked unions and public schools. How could Bob Hugin support a candidate and organization that are so out of touch with New Jersey values and think he is still qualified to represent our incredibly diverse state?

His poor political record is only surpassed by his horrible business career. While the head of a Big Pharma company, Hugin took dead aim at cancer patients. Specifically, Hugin doubled the price of the cancer medication Revlimid to over $18,000 a month. In 2017 alone, he raised the cost of Revlimid three times. Hugin and his company were also forced to settle with the federal government for $280 million for swindling cancer patients. Meanwhile, he was given a salary of $140 million and then bought three houses and a yacht.

Additionally, he stood outside the White House after meeting with Trump and praised Trump’s health plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act. That would again hurt New Jersey’s most vulnerable residents. 3.5 million New Jerseyans with pre-existing conditions could lose their health care. Why does Hugin keep preying on our neighbors that need the most help from our government leaders?

As bleak as Hugin’s record is, Senator Menendez’s career of representing us is undoubtedly bright. He is with us on issues we care about, and he has delivered time and again. First and foremost, he was a leading voice in passing the Affordable Care Act. He stood with President Obama and made sure New Jerseyans received increased access to affordable health care. He has also stood up to Trump and the Republican Party. He voted each and every time against the efforts by Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Senator Menendez is also pushing to hold people like Bob Hugin accountable. He is cosponsoring important legislation that will no longer allow pharmaceutical companies from blocking affordable, generic drugs from entering the market. That is the kind of leadership we need.

And Sen. Menendez never forgets his roots. His parents fled Cuba as refugees and settled in New Jersey. He was a product of public school and rose to become the first statewide Latino leader in the state. He has always looked out for people who are also trying to live the American Dream. Exhibit A is his work on comprehensive immigration reform. In 2013, he worked with Senator John McCain and six other senators from both parties in order to create a path to citizenship and other improvements to our immigration laws. While it passed the Senate, far-right Republicans in the House stopped the bill from reaching President Obama’s desk. Had Bob Hugin-funded Republicans signed on to the common-sense bill, we would not have Trump vilifying our Latino community and so many of our brothers and sisters would be living better lives.

So, the choice should be clear, and it is why my organization, the Latino Action Network, did not hesitate to endorse Senator Menendez. We need a true progressive who isn’t afraid of Trump and who will vote to represent our interests. See you at the polls on November 6.

Pa’lante!

Christian Estevez, President

Latino Action Network

Latino Action Network PAC Announces Congressional Endorsements; Senator Menendez Praised as Champion of Immigrant Rights

NEWARK: The Latino Action Network Continuing Political Committee (LAN-PAC) today released their 2018 Congressional endorsements after weeks of careful review and study. The endorsements were based in part on personal interviews and an analysis of the career and in some cases voting records of the candidates.

“We believe that we need to send a clear message to Donald Trump and elect Democrats to Congress,” said LAN President Christian Estevez. “Donald Trump has spent the last few years scapegoating Latinos and the immigrant community in general. Many of those running on the Republican side have done nothing to distance themselves from the President’s objectionable remarks and hatred.”

Estevez continued: “Trump’s hateful rhetoric, incarceration of immigrant children and demagogic appeals to build a border wall speak volumes about the GOP agenda. Anyone who stand with Trump does represent us.”

US Senate: Bob Menendez

During his career in Congress, Menendez has proven himself to be a champion of comprehensive immigration reform and a voice of reason in the US Senate. Several years ago, the Senator worked with LAN to insure affordable housing would be part of the Superstorm Sandy recovery plan. In stark contrast, his opponent is an unethical businessman, who as a pharmaceutical executive, was responsible for a steep cost increase in badly needed medicine. Now he wants to use his wealth to buy a U.S. Senate seat, all the while lying about his close ties to Trump.

District 1: Donald Norcross:

Congressman Norcross has shown himself to be a progressive champion of labor rights while in Congress. We are especially happy to see him advocate for a $15 an hour minimum wage.

District 2: No recommendation:

District 3: No recommendation:

District 4: No recommendation:

District 5: No recommendation:

We are very disappointed with Congressman Josh Gottheimer. Despite being elected as a Democrat, he has sided with the Republican majority far too often in his short time in Congress on key issues such as immigration and health care. His Republican opponent adheres to the same anti-immigrant principles as Donald Trump.  Therefore, we cannot recommend that anyone vote for either of these candidates.

District 6: Frank Pallone

Congressman Pallone has been a champion of expanding health care which has benefited countless Hispanic and working poor families in New Jersey and across the United States during his tenure in Congress and deserves to be sent back to continue his advocacy.

District 7: Tom Malinowski:

As an immigrant himself, Tom Malinowski understands the struggles that our community often goes through. Malinowski has shown himself to be a progressive and believes in causes such as the $15 an hour minimum wage.

District 8: Albio Sires:

Albio Sires is another champion of comprehensive immigration reform. We strongly endorse his re-election.

District 9: Bill Pascrell:

Congressman Pascrell is a consistent supporter of progressive issues and has used his senior position in Congress to benefit Latino and working poor communities.

District 10: Don Payne, Jr.:

Congressman Payne has called out the lack of progress rebuilding Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria and Trump’s poor response to it. For that, and his progressive stance on the issues, he deserves to be re-elected.

District 11: Mikie Sherrill

We believe Mikie Sherrill would be a welcome change over incumbent Rodney Frelinghuysen and her opponent Jay Webber. Sherill served with distinction in the U.S. Navy and has been superb as a lawyer in tackling criminal justice issues. She will bring new energy and a bipartisan approach to Congress.

District 12: Bonnie Watson Coleman

Bonnie Watson Coleman has been a staunch supporter of issues that are important to Latinos and the working poor living in New Jersey. She has been at the forefront in the fight to ensure Dreamers are guaranteed a pathway to citizenship. Furthermore, Congresswoman Watson Coleman has expressed her strong displeasure with the Trump administration’s policies regarding separating families at the Mexican border.

Latino Action Network Condemns Perth Amboy Council President’s Social Media Posts

            The Latino Action Network [LAN] today called on Perth Amboy City Council President William Petrick to resign because of racially inflammatory and insensitive social media posts directed at women, Latinos, Muslims, and African-Americans. Petrick’s posts ridicule the contributions of these communities and portray them as terrorists and criminals in some cases.

            “Petrick’s social media posts are uniquely insensitive to the community he is sworn to serve, the majority of whom are Latinos and immigrants,” said Christian Estevez, President of LAN. “The residents of Perth Amboy deserve better than a misogynistic, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim hatemonger on the City Council.”

            The social media posts on Facebook date back to 2016 and are mostly photos and captions created by other sources. In one post from October 26, 2016, he described women as “sex objects.” In another post, he agreed with President Trump that some countries are “shitholes.” In that post from January 14, the words were superimposed over a map of the Caribbean. About 80 percent of Perth Amboy’s population is Latino most of those with origins in the Caribbean. In repeated posts, Muslims were depicted as terrorists. Examples of Petrick’s posts are attached to this press release.

            “Petrick is taking a page from the Trump playbook, a playbook that seeks to divide people and divide our country,” Estevez continued. “The Council President’s posts are not only demonstrably false and historically inaccurate, but they also perpetuate long debunked stereotypes about women and Latinos.

            The Latino Action Network was founded in 2009 to fight for political empowerment and defend civil rights.

OP-ED: WHY WE NEED $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE IN NEW JERSEY NOW, NOT LATER

This op-ed by Daniel Ulloa, Vice President of Communication for LAN, originally appeared in NJ Spotlight.com.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/08/06/op-ed-why-we-need-15-an-hour-minimum-wage-in-new-jersey-now-not-later/

As living costs continue to rise in this expensive state, people are working longer hours for less money just to get by.

We need a $15 an hour minimum wage. Too many people are struggling to make ends meet in New Jersey.

Between the costs of housing, child care, transportation, and healthcare more and more people are working longer hours for less money just to get by, much less thrive. And despite the state’s low unemployment, the fact that wages have remained stagnant makes poverty a pressing issue here.

New Jersey is one of the most expensive states in the country to live in. It was recently ranked among the top 10 most unequal state in the nation. Those who are wealthy can enjoy its benefits far more than struggling workers. And while some of those who are currently struggling can go on to achieve prosperity, they unfortunately are more often the exception to the rule. There is no reason thousands should be made to toil for slave wages simply because it’s possible to find a better job.

Raising the minimum wage is always a popular action. In 2013, when Gov. Chris Christie was re-elected, a ballot measure to increase the minimum wage slightly was approved as well, thus showing such a move has bipartisan support.

Some conservatives object because they feel it would be an onerous burden on companies to pay individuals so much money. But if their customers are also making more money, they’re likely to shop more.

$15 minimum would benefit 1.2M workers in NJ

Furthermore, higher wages mean employees won’t be as likely to leave blue-collar jobs — which in turn means businesses won’t have to spend as much time training new staff. In addition, a more satisfied staff is likely to lead to an increase in productivity.

For those who feel that blue-collar workers shouldn’t make the same money as white-collar workers, remember a rising tide lifts all boats.

According to New Jersey Policy Perspective, raising the minimum wage to $15 would raise wages for 1.2 million workers in the state and inject $4.5 billion into the state’s economy.

There has been some talk of watering down the minimum-wage bill to pay youth workers less than $15 an hour. Most are seen as teenagers from middle-classes families who take the jobs merely for spending money. But youth workers need that money. Contrary to the beliefs of some, they have no desire to be a burden but rather would like to contribute and ease their family expenses. This is especially true in the homes of Hispanic families where their paychecks often go in part to sustaining the family. Youth workers must not be treated as second-class citizens.

Discrimination against older workers

Such an exemption from a $15 minimum would also likely lead to massive discrimination against older workers by employers seeking to bypass the law.

There has also been talk of excluding farmworkers. Farmworkers who perform the most arduous duties also must receive a higher wage. Why should they be left out? Many work long hours for little pay in jobs that few would willingly do. Leaving out a class of workers made up overwhelmingly by people of color is an act of blatant racism.

How are we to call ourselves the Garden State if we do not fairly compensate those who make it so?

There has been a great delay now in anticipation of the bill while living expenses continue to increase due to natural inflation. Delaying an increase for too long would erode the effect of raising the minimum wage.

In 2016, a bill to put $15 on the ballot as a referendum passed both legislative chambers easily but was vetoed by Christie and, unfortunately, the political will wasn’t there to override his veto.

Gov. Phil Murphy ran on raising the minimum wage to $15 and made it one of the central planks of his campaign. However, we have been waiting half a year for the bill to be passed. Working men and women cannot afford to wait. They have been waiting long enough while they are exploited, and deals are made to benefit those who don’t need extra protection.

The Legislature must send a bill raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour to the governor now.