Congressman David Cicilline LPR Interview

Podcast of the interview

Issues affecting Latino community

1- FIRST OF ALL ON BEHALF OF ALL IMMIGRANTS AND PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THEM, THANKS FOR THE EVENT THAT BROUGHT LUIS GUTIERREZ TO OUR STATE ONCE AGAIN.

2- LUIS SEEMED TO INTIMATE THAT WE WILL NEED TO COMPROMISE ON IMMIGRATION REFORM AND THAT WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING WE WANT. THIS WEEK, THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS HAS PRESENTED A SET OF PRINCIPLES THAT SHOULD GUIDE THEIR NEGOTIATIONS. HAVE YOU SEEN THESE PRINCIPLES AND WHERE DO YOU THINK THERE IS A POSSIBILITY FOR COMPROMISE?

3- DACA IS SET TO EXPIRE THIS FALL AND MANY IN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY ARE WORRIED THAT THIS IS SO CLOSE TO THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS THAT DEMOCRATS MIGHT LOSE THEIR SPINE AND COMPROMISE TOO MUCH. WHAT IS THE MOOD?

4- STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS HAD PRETTY MISERABLE RATINGS AND MANY HAVE CHARACTERIZED THE PRESIDENTS DELIVERY AS UNINSPIRING AND TIRED. THE TERM PUNCH DRUNK HAS BEEN USED BY MY AUDIENCE TO DESCRIBE THE BATTLES HE HAS HAD WITH CONGRESS. HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE SPEECH?

5- ACCESS TO CONTRACEPTION UNDER OBAMACARE IS BEING THREATENED BY SUPREME COURT DECISIONS THAT COULD CURTAIL COVERAGE FOR THOSE WORKING IN ORGANIZATUONS WHOSE OWNERS HAVE DIFFERING RELIGIOUS VIEWS. ANYTHING HAPPENING IN CONGRESS TO ENSURE THAT CONTRACPETION WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ALL REGARDLESS OF WHO OWNS THE BUSINESS?

6- SPEAKING OF OBAMACARE. HAVE THE ENEMIS OF ACA GIVEN UP? ARE WE STILL DEBATING WHETHER IT SHOULD BE ABOLISHED?

7- WE HAVE CUT UNEMPLOYMENT AND FOOD STAMPS IN CONGRESS, WE SEQUESTERED HEAD START AND YET WE CONTINUE TO GIVE BREAKS TO OIL COMPANIES AND EVEN MILLIONNAIRE FARMERS. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEGUN A CONVERSATION WITH THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON INEQUALITY BUT TALK IS CHEAP AND DOES NOT PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND DOES NOT HELP THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN WHICH ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND LATINO CHILDREN,. MARION WRIGHT EDELMAN THIS WEEK AT THE KIDS COUNT EVENT SAD THAT CHILDREN OF COLOR AR ALREADY THE MAJORITY OF CHILDREN UNDER 2 AND ARE ALSO THE GREATEST DEMOGRAPHIC GROUP IN POVERTY. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR CONGRESS TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE PIGHT OF THESE CHILDREN IS THE PLIGHT OF OU FUTURE?