October, 19 2016, 02:45pm EDT
In Wisconsin Senate Debate, Feingold Stands for Immigrants & Working Families, Johnson Embraces Trump
In response to Tuesday's debate between Wisconsin Senate candidates Ron Johnson and Russ Feingold, Voces de la Frontera Action issued the following statement from Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz:
MILWAUKEE, Wisc.
In response to Tuesday's debate between Wisconsin Senate candidates Ron Johnson and Russ Feingold, Voces de la Frontera Action issued the following statement from Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz:
"On Tuesday night, Ron Johnson embraced some of the most extreme aspects of Donald Trump's agenda and rhetoric. He was also dishonest about his own positions and their impact. Johnson echoed Trump's baseless and dangerous claims about a rigged election and urged supporters to be poll watchers to prevent non-existent voter fraud, a clear invitation to intimidate voters, particularly African-Americans, Latinxs and Muslims. Like Trump, Johnson embraced Trump's anti-worker policies, such as opposing a living wage. Johnson failed to acknowledge his own Senate voting record of opposing a minimum wage increase, and during the debate, appeared to flip flop, stating that his new position is to raise the $7.25 minimum wage only as high as inflation. This limited increase would still keep working people in poverty. Johnson and Trump alike are corporate CEOs who can't relate to the struggles of working people. Both have personally profited from the stagnation of workers' wages and from pro-business trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Johnson voted to fast-track.
"On immigrant rights, Johnson's proposed massive guest worker programs run by individual states would further drive down wages and labor conditions for all workers, who would compete with a very oppressed, controlled workforce. The Southern Poverty Law Center has said these guest worker programs are "close to slavery." Johnson failed to acknowledge that migration from Mexico to the US is net-zero. Instead of wasting more resources to increase militarization of the border, we need greater accountability and human rights protections. We need to address how our own foreign policy - especially pro-corporate free trade agreements and US support for repressive governments - contributes to forced migration from other countries.
"In sharp contrast, Russ Feingold put forward a vision of government responsive to working people, including immigrant families, and set out clear policy objectives to advance these goals. Feingold made a strong case for comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented families in the United States today, which polls show over 60% of the country supports, as well as 60% of Wisconsinites. Feingold affirmed the dignity of all working people when he said immigrant workers should not have to fear the police or fear they'll be separated from their families when they're driving to work. Feingold also recognized the vital contributions immigrants make to the Wisconsin and US economy, pointing out that the dairy industry and manufacturing depends on immigrant workers, and that Wisconsin industry supports a path to citizenship. Russ Feingold was confident and informed, and he clearly articulated his pro-worker positions and exposed Johnson's pro-corporate record. Latinxs will vote in record numbers on November 8, 2016 and the choice could not be clearer."
19 de octubre de 2016
PARA DISTRIBUCION INMEDIATA
Contacto: Sam Singleton-Freeman, 414-469-9206, sfreeman@vdlf.org
En debate para ser Senador de Wisconsin, Feingold apoya a los inmigrantes y trabajadores, Johnson abraza a Trump
Milwaukee, WI - En respuesta al debate del martes entre los candidatos para Senador federal de Wisconsin Ron Johnson y Russ Feingold, Voces de la Frontera Accion publico la siguiente declaracion de la directora ejecutiva Christine Neumann-Ortiz:
"En el debate Ron Johnson estuvo de acuerdo con los aspectos mas extremos de la agenda y la retorica de Donald Trump. Tambien fue deshonesto sobre sus propias ideas y su impacto. Johnson enfatizo las quejas no justificadas y peligrosas de Trump que la eleccion sera falsificada en su contra e insto a los seguidores a ser observadores electorales para prevenir el fraude electoral (que no existe), una clara invitacion a intimidar a los votantes, especialmente los afroamericanos, latinxs y musulmanes. Durante el debate, Johnson cambio su posicion completamente sobre el salario minimo. Aun asi, su nueva posicion - al parecer, para elevar el salario minimo actual de $ 7.25 por hora solamente por la tasa de inflacion - que todavia mantendria a los trabajadores en la pobreza. Al igual que Trump, Johnson apoya a polizas que solo benefician a los ricos. Johnson y Trump por igual son ejecutivos corporativos que no pueden relacionarse con las luchas cotidianas de los trabajadores. Ambos se han beneficiado personalmente del estancamiento de los salarios de los trabajadores y de los acuerdos comerciales favorables a las corporaciones como la Acuerdo Transpacifico de Cooperacion Economica, de que Johnson voto a favor.
"En los derechos de los inmigrantes, los programas aumentados estatales de trabajadores extranjeros de Johnson bajarian las condiciones de trabajo para todo el mundo, obligando a los trabajadores de los Estados Unidos que competen con una fuerza laboral oprimida y controlada. El Southern Poverty Law Center ha dicho que programas de trabajadores huespedes son "similares a la esclavitud" porque dan a empleadores el derecho de deportar a los trabajadores y no tienen protecciones suficientes para los derechos laborales. Johnson no admitio que la migracion neta es cero, y que en lugar de gastar mas recursos en la militarizacion de la frontera, necesitamos mejor contabilidad y proteccion de los derechos humanos. Tenemos que cambiar nuestra propia politica exterior - especialmente acuerdos de comercio libre favorables a las corporaciones y el apoyo estadounidense a los gobiernos represivos - que contribuye a la migracion forzada de otros paises.
"Russ Feingold propuso un gobierno mas sensible a las necesidades de los trabajadores, incluidas las familias inmigrantes, y establecio objetivos claros para avanzar esta vision. Feingold hizo un caso fuerte sobre la necesidad de una reforma migratoria con camino a la ciudadania para los 11 millones de familias indocumentados en los Estados Unidos hoy en dia, que las encuestas muestran que mas del 60% del pais apoya, asi como el 60% de los residentes de Wisconsin. Felicitamos Feingold por defender a todas las personas trabajadoras cuando dijo que nadie debe tener miedo de la policia o tener miedo que podrian ser separados de sus familias cuando estan conduciendo al trabajo. Feingold tambien reconocio las contribuciones importantes que los inmigrantes aportan a la economia de los Estados Unidos y Wisconsin, y senalo que la industria lactea y de fabricacion depende de los trabajadores inmigrantes, y que la industria de Wisconsin apoya un camino a la ciudadania. Russ Feingold mostro confianza y sabiduria, y claramente articulo sus posiciones a favor de los trabajadores al contrario de Johnson, que demostro su record a favor de las corporaciones. Los latinxs van a votar en numeros historicos en esta eleccion el 8 de noviembre y las opciones no podrian ser mas claras."
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Voces de la Frontera is Wisconsin's leading immigrant rights group - a grassroots organization that believes power comes from below and that people can overcome injustice to build a better world.
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