Today, Aníbal Acevedo Vilá, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, a semi-autonomous territory of the United States, was indicted for 27 federal crimes related to irregularities found in the financing of his campaigns for public offices on and off the island.
Along with him, 12 other people associated with his party, the Popular Democratic Party, all living in Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., or Philadelphia.
The U.S. Attorney Rosa Emilia Rodríguez, of the District of Puerto Rico, said that, because of the nature of the crimes he is charged with, the Governor himself will not be arrested immediately and will be given a chance to "give himself up to the police." Some of the other people charged, however, have already been arrested and await a trial.
The 13 defendants are charged with conspiracy, false statements, wire fraud, federal program fraud, and tax crimes related to the financing for the governor's 1999-2002 campaigns for Resident Commissioner, the sole representative of the island in the U.S. Congress, and for his subsequent 2004 gubernatorial run.
This indictment comes after a two-year investigation by a Grand Jury of donations made to the Governor's past campaigns.
The defendants face 3 to 10 years in federal prison, as well as several $100,000 to $250,000 fines.
Gov. Acevedo Vilá is the chairman of the Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico, which supports the island's current Commonwealth status with the United States, instead of full statehood or independence.
In ties with the book Boricua Power, it seems that the governors of Puerto Rico worry more about having power to govern a country then to worry about their people. The governor of Puerto Rico in the 1960's Luis Munoz-Marin also cared mostly about having power then helping the people establish a better economy in the country, and the Governor now is doing the same thing, he wants to keep his position as governor and support other things then help the country out.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Who will Puerto Rico Support????
For the Press, On to Puerto Rico -- Where Obama May Have Surprising Support
NEW YORK On to…Puerto Rico? Hillary Clinton’s March 4 primary victories in Ohio and Texas ensured that the Democratic campaign is far from over. As voters continue to yo-yo between the New York senator and Barack Obama, with neither winning decisively enough to claim the nomination, more and more states with late primary dates get the opportunity to have a big say.This is a new role for Puerto Rico, which has been widely described as being the “last to vote.” Actually, this is no longer true. The territory has now decided to move its vote forward to June 1 from June 7, and two other states will now go to the polls later, Montana and South Dakota, on June 3. Also, in a move of some significance, the Puerto Rico vote will now be in a primary, not caucuses (where Obama has done well in the past). This is no small thing, as it has a healthy pile of delegates, 63 (including eight super-delegates). Puerto Rico has usually been just an addendum to a nominee’s burgeoning delegate count. But this spring, voters there could influence who the nominee will be. And those who suggest that it may be an easy win for Clinton may not be aware that its governor strongly backs Obama.Will Puerto Rico prove crucial? “It remains to be seen,” says Kevin Mead, editor at The San Juan Star, an English-language newspaper. “It depends on what ends up happening with Florida and Michigan. If they get re-done they could steal a little bit of Puerto Rico’s thunder.” In the meantime, the paper is tracking the daily developments of the race.
This is the chance that Puerto Rico has been waiting for, more power and recognition. According to the book Boricua Power, Puerto Rico started battleling for rights ever since the 1960's and now they have the chance to select the democratic runner for this years election towards presedency. In the book it states that many Puerto Ricans suffered a lot to get where they are at and have lost a lot of things because of the United States, but recently the governor of Puerto Rico started to support Obama, as the democratic candidate, so now is up to the question of who will lead the democratic party.
NEW YORK On to…Puerto Rico? Hillary Clinton’s March 4 primary victories in Ohio and Texas ensured that the Democratic campaign is far from over. As voters continue to yo-yo between the New York senator and Barack Obama, with neither winning decisively enough to claim the nomination, more and more states with late primary dates get the opportunity to have a big say.This is a new role for Puerto Rico, which has been widely described as being the “last to vote.” Actually, this is no longer true. The territory has now decided to move its vote forward to June 1 from June 7, and two other states will now go to the polls later, Montana and South Dakota, on June 3. Also, in a move of some significance, the Puerto Rico vote will now be in a primary, not caucuses (where Obama has done well in the past). This is no small thing, as it has a healthy pile of delegates, 63 (including eight super-delegates). Puerto Rico has usually been just an addendum to a nominee’s burgeoning delegate count. But this spring, voters there could influence who the nominee will be. And those who suggest that it may be an easy win for Clinton may not be aware that its governor strongly backs Obama.Will Puerto Rico prove crucial? “It remains to be seen,” says Kevin Mead, editor at The San Juan Star, an English-language newspaper. “It depends on what ends up happening with Florida and Michigan. If they get re-done they could steal a little bit of Puerto Rico’s thunder.” In the meantime, the paper is tracking the daily developments of the race.
This is the chance that Puerto Rico has been waiting for, more power and recognition. According to the book Boricua Power, Puerto Rico started battleling for rights ever since the 1960's and now they have the chance to select the democratic runner for this years election towards presedency. In the book it states that many Puerto Ricans suffered a lot to get where they are at and have lost a lot of things because of the United States, but recently the governor of Puerto Rico started to support Obama, as the democratic candidate, so now is up to the question of who will lead the democratic party.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
3 Canidates for a new Immigration Reform
Mr. McCain faces a balancing act between appeals to Hispanics who want changes and conservatives in his party who will fight any form of amnesty for those in the country illegally.
Mr. McCain came under heavy fire from conservatives when he pushed measures to give illegal immigrants a way to stay in the U.S. lawfully. He now says he wants border security first before a larger overhaul, but he does support a temporary worker program.
"The lesson is that Americans want the borders secured first," he said Thursday in Houston.
Mrs. Clinton has said that within the first 100 days of her presidency, she would push to jumpstart the process that collapsed last year on Capitol Hill.
In a statement to The Dallas Morning News, she said she continues to support "comprehensive immigration reform that respects the rule of law, our immigrant heritage and our American values." She said she wants to secure the borders and favors change that provides a "sensible and effective method of sanctioning employers who exploit undocumented workers, helps our local communities deal with the costs of immigration and provides a path to citizenship to those who are here, working hard, respecting the law."
Mr. Obama, in the Texas debate, said immigration needs to be fixed because of the growing backlog of people. "We have to require that undocumented workers, who are provided a pathway to citizenship, not only learn English, pay back taxes and pay a significant fine, but also that they're going to the back of the line," he said.
He recently told reporters he could succeed where Mr. Bush has failed because the Senate would gain more people "who are sympathetic to solving the problem as opposed to using it as a political football." And, he said, he would "use the president's bully pulpit more effectively to explain what our choices are."
The outcome over the debate may be decided more so by the congressional elections. Democrats own razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate, but many analysts say the landscape favors Democrats to expand their margins this fall
Mr. McCain came under heavy fire from conservatives when he pushed measures to give illegal immigrants a way to stay in the U.S. lawfully. He now says he wants border security first before a larger overhaul, but he does support a temporary worker program.
"The lesson is that Americans want the borders secured first," he said Thursday in Houston.
Mrs. Clinton has said that within the first 100 days of her presidency, she would push to jumpstart the process that collapsed last year on Capitol Hill.
In a statement to The Dallas Morning News, she said she continues to support "comprehensive immigration reform that respects the rule of law, our immigrant heritage and our American values." She said she wants to secure the borders and favors change that provides a "sensible and effective method of sanctioning employers who exploit undocumented workers, helps our local communities deal with the costs of immigration and provides a path to citizenship to those who are here, working hard, respecting the law."
Mr. Obama, in the Texas debate, said immigration needs to be fixed because of the growing backlog of people. "We have to require that undocumented workers, who are provided a pathway to citizenship, not only learn English, pay back taxes and pay a significant fine, but also that they're going to the back of the line," he said.
He recently told reporters he could succeed where Mr. Bush has failed because the Senate would gain more people "who are sympathetic to solving the problem as opposed to using it as a political football." And, he said, he would "use the president's bully pulpit more effectively to explain what our choices are."
The outcome over the debate may be decided more so by the congressional elections. Democrats own razor-thin majorities in the House and Senate, but many analysts say the landscape favors Democrats to expand their margins this fall
Could this Be True?
Barack Obama hit the front page of the Mexican papers again this morning, this time in an exclusive interview (snagged after his speech at the Austin Convention Center) with the Mexico City daily Reforma, in which he made comments sure to please Mexicans. In some of his strongest language so far on the immigration issue, Obama told Reforma that raids and deportations aren’t the answer.
“The raids haven’t worked,” Obama said. “It’s clear the contribution these Mexican workers make for our economy and one of my priorities on this issue is to keep the families of immigrants united and not separate them with deportations.”
Mexico by and large couldn’t be happier with the three remaining presidential candidates, widely perceived here to be the most immigrant-friendly of the original slate of candidates.
"This sounds to good to be true, but if Obama does became president could we expect him to actually do this, according to the book many organization in the 1950's and 60's wanted this to happen. In the book Walls and Mirrors, the Community Service Organization (CSO), states that "immigrants had existed for far to long on the margins of Amerian society "uncemented" "The time has come for such persons to be officially incorporated into American society."
If Obama happens to win this election and put his statement to practice will immigrants in the U.S. actually be considered part of the so known American Society, or will all this turn out to be a disaster among people who want the immigrants out.
“The raids haven’t worked,” Obama said. “It’s clear the contribution these Mexican workers make for our economy and one of my priorities on this issue is to keep the families of immigrants united and not separate them with deportations.”
Mexico by and large couldn’t be happier with the three remaining presidential candidates, widely perceived here to be the most immigrant-friendly of the original slate of candidates.
"This sounds to good to be true, but if Obama does became president could we expect him to actually do this, according to the book many organization in the 1950's and 60's wanted this to happen. In the book Walls and Mirrors, the Community Service Organization (CSO), states that "immigrants had existed for far to long on the margins of Amerian society "uncemented" "The time has come for such persons to be officially incorporated into American society."
If Obama happens to win this election and put his statement to practice will immigrants in the U.S. actually be considered part of the so known American Society, or will all this turn out to be a disaster among people who want the immigrants out.
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