THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE – THE COMEDIANS’ PERSPECTIVE - Barack Obama and Mitt Romney faced off this week in the first presidential debate in Denver, Colorado. Who better than comedians to analyze the candidates’ political theater, trip-ups and surprises ? Two well-known comedians, actor Paul Rodríguez and political commentator Bill Santiago, shared their impressions of the presidential debate on Radio Bilingüe’s national news show Línea Abierta, with our news director, Samuel Orozco.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR VETOES ‘ANTI-ARIZONA’ LAW – California governor Jerry Brown signed and vetoed laws of high interest for immigrants. Brown signed a law that gives driver’s licenses to the youth who get work permits through deferred action, and another that facilitates reunification of children with their parents who are detained or deported. But other vetoes by Brown cast a black cloud over the others, including one that would have given benefits to domestic workers, and another that would have given more protection to farm workers. Perhaps the most controversial veto was the rejection of the Trust Act, pioneering legislation that would have limited police in California from collaborating in deporting immigrants not charged with serious crimes. Our correspondent in Los Angeles, Rubén Tapia, has more details.
MEXICO’S CONGRESS REFORMS LABOR LAW – Mexico’s lower house of Congress approved the first reforms to the labor law in the last 40 years. The new and controversial law would allow workers to be hired by the hour and not for 8-hour days, as well as allowing for trial contracts. The law would also regularize outsourcing, which has been used in many cases by employers to avoid paying workers their due benefits. The reform now goes to the Senate for approval, though several unions and social organizations are protesting the bill. Citlali Sáenz reports from Mexico City.