Republican SB 148 Redistricting Bill Splits Milwaukee's Hispanic Community Into Two Assembly Districts

State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa

Governor Scott Walker called to veto partisan Senate Bill 148.

By H. Nelson Goodson
July 26, 2011

Milwaukee- On Monday, State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milw.) during the Nfoque Latino Spanish Radio show at WJTI 1460 AM said, the Redistricting Senate Bill 148 (SB 148) passed by the Republican controlled legislature splits the Hispanic community into two Districts. Zamarripa said, the heart of the Latino community and the Cesar E. Chavez Drive Business District will be split in half, if Governor Scott Walker signs the bill into law. Zamarripa has called on Walker to veto the bill publically, but neither Zamarripa or the Democratic leadership in the legislature have made any effort to meet with Walker to convince him to do so.
Republicans in the state legislature decided to split the Latino community along S. Chavez Drive. The East side of Chavez Dr. will become the 9th Assembly District and the West side of the street will become the 8th Assembly District. Zamarripa, an Hispanic lives within the 8th District.
In 2012, the new redistricting maps are expected to take effect. The state redistricting bill creates a Hispanic voting-age majority population with 54% from the current 22.9% in the 9th Assembly District and the 8th Assembly District was cut to 60% of Hispanic voting-age majority. The Republicans cut Zamarripa's majority and created the two Districts. Zamarripa said, they could have added a 68% to 70% Hispanic majority to the 8th District, but didn't.
The Republican state redistricting process only held one hearing, withheld the maps from the public and Democrats until a week before they were approved. They disenfranchised the Latino community from actually participatiing in the process by not providing more time to challenge the plan and rushing to approve their redistricting plan. The Republican process was viewed as a power grab before the recall elections on August 9. Six Senate Republicans are being recall.
SB 148, if signed into law by Governor Walker will automatically void the Milwaukee Common Council approval of two majority Hispanic voting-age Districts, including the two proposed Hispanic majority Districts by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Special Redistricting Committee.
The state Republicans did not take into account the redistricting efforts by the city and county government officials. The state redistricting process usually takes into account the way local governments draw their district lines, according to the U.S. Census totals every ten years in voting-age populations and the growth of minority populations. The local governments also abide by the Federal Voting Act of 1965, affording minority populations majority Districts.
Zamarripa said, that a federal lawsuit to challenge the state Republican SB 148 will most likely be filed by members of the Latino community, if Walker signs the bill. By creating two Hispanic Districts, it decreases the Latino voting-age population instead of securing a higher majority percentage District as required under the Voting Act.
In June, Democrats had filed a federal lawsuit claiming Republican legislators illegally cut Districts. They amended the lawsuit claiming the state redistricting maps were unconstitutional and violated the Voting Rights Act.
The newly approved Republican SB 148 maps also shows at least six Assembly seats, instead of seven seats for the African-American community and multiple Native American tribes were split into two Districts, which the tribes were within one District each.
Governor Walker on Monday signed a bill allowing the state legislature to draw redistricting maps before the local and county governments draw them.

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Wisconsin State Representative Zamarripa Called On Governor Walker To Veto Partisan Redistricting SB 148 Bill

Partisan state redistricting bill prevents the Hispanic community from getting more than one majority voting-age District.

By H. Nelson Goodson
July 21, 2011
(Updated)

Madison - On Wednesday, State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milw.) called on Governor Scott Walker (R) to veto partisan redistricting Senate Bill 148 (SB 148), which the Republican controlled legislature passed. The bill creates majority Republican Districts and disenfranchised the Hispanic community in the state by preventing more than one majority Latino voting-age Districts.
If Governor Walker signs SB 148 into law, Democrats and members of the Hispanic community are planning to file additional federal lawsuits claiming the Republicans violated the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965. In June, Democrats had filed a federal lawsuit claiming Republican legislators illegally cut Districts. They amended the lawsuit claiming the state redistricting maps were unconstitutional and violated the Voting Rights Act.
The newly approved Republican SB 148 maps shows at least six Assembly seats, instead of seven seats for the African-American community and multiple Native American tribes were split into two Districts, which the tribes were within one District each.
Every ten years, legislators and public officials have to redraw District lines to meet the voting-age of the population growth recorded by the U.S. Census. Minorities would have to be given the opportunity to have majority Districts. The newly approved redistricting maps take effect on 2012.
The City of Milwaukee recently approved two majority Hispanic voting-age Districts, which were the 8th and 12th Aldermanic Districts. With the SB 148 passage, the Milwaukee Common Council would have to scrap the two Hispanic Districts and might only get to approve one, if Governor Walker signs the bill into law.
Last week, Governor Walker was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he is now willing to work with Democrats in the legislature. Walker is expecting a recall once he completes one year in office for ending bargaining collective rights for most state employees and cutting $800 million of aid from the state public schools system.
In a press release, Representative Zamarripa blasted the process that the GOP employed to rush the bill through the Legislature. "Seven days ago only one hearing was held on this massive plan that impacts every single citizen of our great state," said Zamarripa, "The GOP leadership allowed virtually no public input and passed this plan through both houses of the Legislature only one week after the public hearing."
Zamarripa expressed outrage that the Latino community in Milwaukee was cut out of the process. "In order to satisfy their own thirst for a partisan monopoly, the majority party has thrown Wisconsin’s growing Latino community under the bus," said Zamarripa.
"On Saturday, it was reported in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Governor Walker wanted to work with Democrats," said Zamarripa. "A veto of the blatantly partisan SB 148 is an excellent starting point, if the Governor is serious about working with Democrats."
In other state legislature news, the Wisconsin Republican State Assembly adopted an amendment to prevent people from getting unemployment benefits in the 1st week they are unemployed. On Thursday, the Assembly bill was passed with the amendment and then it was stalled in the Senate.
On Tuesday, the Senate voted 30-3 to rejected holding one week from those unemployed and passed their version of the unemployment bill.
Both the Senate and Assembly passed slightly different versions of the bill, which automatically stops the bill from moving forward. The bills have to be compatiable before the extended benefits bill for the unemployed is passed. The Senate will take up the issue once again next week.

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GOP's Fake Democrats Booted Out In Wisconsin's Primary Elections

All six fake Democrats lose in Tuesday's Primary elections.

By H. Nelson Goodson
July 12, 2011

River Hills - On Tuesday, Democratic candidate Sandy Pasch defeated a GOP fake Democrat by 63% of the vote. Pasch advances to the August 9th General Election and is challenging incumbent State Senator Alberta Darling from River Hills in the 8th Senate District.
All six GOP's fake Democrats lose in Wisconsin's primary recall elections. ​Republican​s had ran as Democrats, ​but have been booted out by large voter turn out.
The following three Senate Democrats, Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin and Robert Wirch are facing recall elections, including six Senate Republicans, Alberta Darling, Randy Hopper, Robert Cowles, Luther Olsen, Sheila Harsdorf and Dan Kapanke.
The GOP encouraged for fake Democrat candidates to run in an effort to allow Republicans more time to campaign. The Republicans have been recall for voting to eliminate collective bargaining rights for most state employees and passing Act 10. The Democrats are being recall for leaving the state for a month to stall a vote on Act 10, which eliminated union state employees right to engage in collective bargaining.
Governor Scott Walker (R) will also be facing a recall himself after he completes one year in office for signing Act 10 into law.

Primary Results:

Senate District 2, Democratic REPORTING 100%

Nancy Nusbaum (D)      14,200     65%
Otto Junkermann (D)        7,576     35%

Senate District 8, Democratic REPORTING 100%

Sandy Pasch (D)      20,915     64%
Gladys Huber (D)      11,660     36%

Senate District 10, Democratic REPORTING 100%

Shelly Moore (D)      17,496     54%
Isaac Weix (D)          14,990     46%

Senate District 14, Democratic REPORTING 100%

Fred Clark (D)    14,989     67%
Rol Church (D)      7,281     33%

Senate District 18, Democratic REPORTING 100%

Jessica King (D)       19,562     69%
John Buckstaff (D)    8,957      31%

Senate District 32, Democratic REPORTING 100%

Jennifer Shilling (D)     25,338    70%
James Smith (D)          10,664     30%


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21st Annual HCCW Banquet Pays Tribute To Latino Milwaukee Police Officers

(L-R) Manuel "Manny" Perez, Secretary of the Department of Workforce Development, Governor Scott Walker and H. Nelson Goodson. Goodson a foremost respected immigration rights and reform journalist told Governor Walker, that he could become a successful governor in Wisconsin, if he would stay away from supporting a similar Arizona SB 1070 anti-immigrant law. Will Governor Walker listen?  Photo by Gilberto Gonzalez

Governor Scott Walker (R) participates in award presentations at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Wisconsin.

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 23, 2010

Milwaukee - On Saturday, Governor Scott Walker attended the 21st. Annual Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (HCCW) banquet at Potawatomi Casino Expo Center and told the banquet attendees that Wisconsin was opened of business in both Spanish and English. Walker said, he is working to bring more than 250,000 jobs into the state and had appointed Manuel "Manny" Perez as the new Secretary of the Department and Workforce Development to work with him in increasing jobs. He recognized the efforts by Maria Monreal-Cameron, the HCCW President and CEO for supporting job and small business growth in the predominately South side.
Walker did not mention or none of the other speakers brought up the current agreement between Wisconsin 72 County Sheriff Departments and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Secure Communities program which shares arrest data and fingerprinting of undocumented immigrants that are processed for minor violations and other crimes. Nor did anyone focus on the proposed similar Arizona SB 1070 anti-immigrant law making its way to the legislature and Governor Walker's promised to sign it into law. The anti-immigrant law being proposed by Representative Donald Pridemore (R) and the Secure Communites program will have a major effect with Hispanic business growth and the community at large because it creates division, hatred and could lead into racial profiling targeting Hispanics.
Governor Walker managed to stay through the duration of the banquet. Walker for the first time handed out HCCW awards to the 2010 Hispanic Buisnesses, Acevedo PC Services LLC, owner Enrique Acevedo and HUSCO International Inc., Agustin "Gus" Ramirez, Chairman and CEO. The 2010 Corporation Award went to Walgreen Company, the 2010 Bravo Award went to Robert A. Wild SJ, President Marquette University and the 2010 CW18/My24 Mi Comunidad was awarded to Virginia Zerpa-Uniona, Milwaukee Latino Health Coalition.
The HCCW Philip Arreola Scholarship Program has given out about $500,000 in scholarships to students, said Jill Geisler, from the Poynter Institute during the event.
Other speakers included, Milwaukee Mayor John Barrett who talked about jobs and praised the Latino Milwaukee Police Officers for keeping the city safe and reducing crime. Congresswoman Gwendolyn Moore spoke about creating manufacturing jobs and bringing the community and businesses together inorder to achieve job creation. Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm spoke about crime fighting and reducing crime in the county.
State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa from the 8th Assembly District spoke about small business growth and jobs creation as the rest of the guest speakers. Zamarripa became the first Latina woman elected to the district.

(L-R) Milwaukee Police Officer Alex Arce, Unidentified, Officer Juan Lopez and Lieutenant Alfonso Morales. Photo by HNG

HCCW paid a special tribute to the women and men in blue, including Hispanic Milwaukee Police Officers for their valor and heroism who were injured in the line of duty. The following Latino officers were recognized for injuries acquired while in the line of duty or have served above and beyond the call of duty. Each officer received a recognition award by the HCCW. They were Officers, Rodolfo Alvarado, Jose Lopez, Alex Arce, Vidal Colon, Jeremy Gonzalez, David Martinez, and Detective Gilbert Carrasco and Sergeant Gregory Flores. The following police officers were recognized for their valor and recent military combat duty, Officers Jose R. Rivera, Juan Lopez, Paul Cervera, Anthony Rivera, Hector Claudio and Danilo Cardenas.
Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn was absent from the banquet due to a prior commitment, but designated Deputy Inspector Ramon Galaviz to represent the department.
Former Milwaukee Police Chief Philip Arreola praised and honored the officers for their commitment in serving and protecting the community. He also talked about the need to provide educational opportunities to Latino students otherwise not available to them. Arreola became the first Hispanic Milwaukee Police Chief when he was appointed in 1989 and later resigned in 1996 to work for the U.S. Department of Justice.
Today in the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), the highest Hispanic ranking officer is Assistant Chief James Harpole, next in line is Deputy Inspector Ramon Galaviz, and Captain Kurt R. Liebold is the only Latino ranking captain in the department. At least four Lieutenants were named as ranking officers, they are Ruben Burgos, Alfonso Morales, Alexander Ramirez and David Salazar.
There are only 14 Latino Sergeants, including three women, Lisa M. Gagliano, Vickie Gagliano and Elizabeth I. Ibarra, 17 Detectives, and three Latino Identification Technicians, which two are Latinas, Yvette P. Benitez and Sylvia M. Castro.
There are about 146 Hispanic officers in the department, including 24 Latinas, and at least 37 ranking and officers, including two Latinas serving in the military.
The high ranking Latino officer positions are disproportionate compared to more than 2,000 sworn police officers, including high ranking in the entire department, also more than 700 non-sworn personnel, according to the MPD statistics.
Brief history, in the early 1970's only one Latino Police Officer was in the Milwaukee Police Department. The officer was Procopio Sandoval who retired as a Detective in 1993. The height requirement of 5' 7" (est. 1885) and 5' 9" for hiring a police officer under police Chief Harold A. Breier kept many Hispanics from being appointed as police officers by the Fire and Police Commission. 
Members of the Latino community led by Jesus Salas, Marla O. Anderson and others in the early 1970's protested the height requirement in front of Chief Breier's office claiming it was discriminatory. The Fire and Police Commission height requirement kept most Hispanics from joining the police and fire department, which Salas and Anderson claimed it discriminated Latinos because of their height. The Hispanic community was being defranchised and unable to have members from the community appointed to the department in order to serve their community, according to the protesters.
After several protests, the Commission lowered the height requirement, thus paving the way for Hispanics to join both the Milwaukee Fire and Police Departments.
Statistics: The City of Milwaukee has a population of 605,013, with more than 100,000 Hispanics residing within the city limits. They are 299,035 Latinos living statewide in Wisconsin, according to U.S. Census 2009 report. An increase of 100,000 Hispanics within the last decade.
A city economic study reported that the South side households in the predominately Latino community located inside Postal Zip Code 53204 in Milwaukee spend more than $91 million annually in retail goods according to the 2006 Department of City Development statistics. In one day, they spent approximately $249,315.06. The biggest tax-generating base for the city comes solely from the South side.
In Milwaukee, over 850 Hispanic owned businesses generate more than $225 million in annual sales. It is abundantly clear that the immigration of Hispanics and undocumented immigrants to Southeastern Wisconsin is tied to a large degree to the available resources that Hispanics have in the area.
In Wisconsin, over 3,000 Hispanic owned businesses generate more than $800 million in annual sales, creation of jobs and available employment resulting in population growth as well as business growth. The Hispanic population increased by more than 4%, greater than the national Hispanic growth rate, and more than 271,000 Hispanics lived in Wisconsin in 2007. The population of Hispanics has grown by 40% since 2000, according to the U.S. Census report.

Deputy Inspector Ramon Galaviz

Detective Gilbert Carrasco, Unidentified and Officer Jose Lazo

Officer Vidal Colon

(L-R) Gilberto Gonzalez, Manager of WJTI 1460 AM Radio, Maria Watts, Jose Rauno and JoCasta Zamarripa, 8th Assembly District State Representative in Wisconsin. Photos by HNG

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700 People Protested At Wisconsin Governor Walker's Inauguration Over Lost Jobs And Proposed Anti-immigration Bill

Photo courtesy of Nicholas Goroff

Voces de la Frontera gearing up for possible lawsuit against any anti-immigration bill that will be approved by the Republican controlled state legislature and Governor Walker.

By H. Nelson Goodson
January 3, 2011

Madison - On Monday, more than 700 people from numerous groups, unions and organizations, including Voces de la Frontera protested outside the Wisconsin State Capitol while Governor Scott Walker (R) was being sworn in during his ceremonial Inauguration. The vigil and protest was organized for good jobs, and livable neighborhoods by Voces de la Frontera, League of Young Voters, Milwaukee Area Labor Council, Community Action Now and MICAH, according to organizers.
"The majority of participants from milwaukee were unemployed, Milwaukee residents who came to take action to hold Governor Walker accountable for the jobs he killed prior to even being inaugurated.
The day began with a vigil during the governor's prayer breakfast. Then we rallied in mass on the steps of the capitol before marching and surrounding it," said Nicholas Goroff who attended the Wisconsin high speed train job loss protest.
The groups were advocating for jobs in Wisconsin and to let Governor Walker know that they were disappointed with his decision to reject $810 million from the federal government to create a high speed train in the state. The feds took back the project funds and allocated it to other states. As a result, Walker's decision caused a projected 5,000 lost jobs, and a boost to tourism along the Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and Twin Cities route, according to protesters.
Walker during his inauguration said, "Wisconsin is open for business" and vowed to bring "jobs, jobs and more jobs" back (over 250,000 jobs) to Wisconsin. But with the recent loss of more than 5,000 jobs, Walker is facing an uphill struggle with the current $3.6 billion deficit.
Primitivo Torres, President of the Voces de la Frontera Board said, "Voces joined the massive vigil and protest in Madison to let Governor Scott Walker know that we will not stand with our arms crossed while jobs are being lost and an anti-immigration bill is being proposed for the State of Wisconsin." Primitivo confirmed that National Immigration Law Center (NILC) has already committed with us on filing a lawsuit against the state of Wisconsin, if an Arizona type law were to be introduced and passed in our state.
The Wisconsin American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also vowed to file a lawsuit against the State of Wisconsin and Governor Walker, if a similar Arizona SB 1070 law is passed in the state.
Several state representatives are planning to introduce a similar Arizona immigration enforcement law (Wisconsin Immigration Enforcement Law) in the session beginning this year. The bill is being introduced by Wisconsin State Representative Donald Pridemore (R-Hartford) who vowed to introduce a similar Arizona SB 1070 law in the January session.
Pridemore's Wisconsin's version of SB 1070 will allow local law enforcement officers to detain suspects for 48 hours when they come into contact with them in minor or serious infractions of the law, if officers suspect they are in Wisconsin and in the country illegally.

In other immigration related news, on Wednesday, GOP legislators from 14 states will introduce in Washington D.C. during a National Press Club conference a birthright U.S. Citizen bill to force the U.S. Supreme Court to decide on a challenge of the 14th Amendment legalization of children to undocumented parents.

Hispanics To Protest Governor Walker's Inauguration At Wisconsin State Capitol http://bit.ly/egjsM

Feds And States Allowing Illegal Dumpings In Foreign Countries Of Disabled Undocumented Patients By U.S. Hospitals http://bit.ly/gmIXCu

Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois illegally deports undocumented quadriplegic patient to cut costs http://bit.ly/fOCegh

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Hispanics To Protest Governor Walker's Inauguration At Wisconsin State Capitol

Governor Scott Walker

Numerous Latinos and organizations from throughout the state will protest outside the Capitol while Governor Walker gets sworn in at ceremonial inauguration.

January 3, 2011

Madison (HNNUSA) - On Monday, Latinos, supporters and a coalition of organizations, including Voces de la Fronteras from Milwaukee will gather outside the Wisconsin State Capitol to protest Governor Scott Walker's Inauguration at noon.
Walker was sworn in last Thursday, because government state offices were closed over the weekend. Walker who became one of few governors in the U.S. elected without a college degree, actually became governor one minute past midnight today. He will have a ceremonial inauguration on Monday at noon.
Hispanics from throughout the state will be at the Capitol to let Walker know that they oppose his promise to sign into law a similar Arizona SB 1070 law, if the legislature approves such a law.
The protesters also condemn Walker's decision to oppose the $810 million dollar high speed train project, which later the federal government decided to take back the funds and allocated to other states. At least 5,000 would be jobs were lost, according to protesters.
Several state representatives are planning to introduce a similar Arizona immigration enforcement law (Wisconsin Immigration Enforcement Law) in the session beginning this year. The bill is being introduced by Wisconsin State Representative Donald Pridemore (R-Hartford) who vowed to introduce a similar Arizona SB 1070 law in the January session.
Pridemore's Wisconsin's version of SB 1070 will allow local law enforcement officers to detain suspects for 48 hours when they come into contact with them in minor or serious infractions of the law, if officers suspect they are in Wisconsin and in the country illegally.
In a prior statement, “The legislation I will be introducing (1) requires law enforcement to act when they suspect a law has been broken and the perpetrator may be here illegally. (2 Prevent local governments in Wisconsin from providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants and, (3) make it harder for illegal immigrants to get benefits that they are not entitled to,” Pridemore said, “However we will take strong measures to ensure that the bill does not promote racial profiling.”
On the contrary, H. Nelson Goodson said, "Pridemore's bill will eventually lead to racial profiling, discrimination and Civil Rights violations of U.S. Hispanics once it's passed in Wisconsin." Nationally, Goodson is one of the foremost respected immigration rights and reform journalist.

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Billboard Thanks Wisconsin Governor Elect Walker (R) For Giving Jobs To Illinois

A projected 4,000 jobs will be kept from Wisconsin by Governor elect Scott Walker (R).

By H. Nelson Goodson
November 15, 2010

Milwaukee - On Monday, a billboard went up along West I-94 thanking Wisconsin Governor elect for giving jobs to the State of Illinois. The billboard can be spotted when drivers head Westbound from Milwaukee heading towards Madison and reads, "Dear Scott Walker, thanks for the money & jobs! Love, Illinois."
The billboard was paid by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
Just before noon, several hundred protesters that included politicians, union locals, community groups and unemployed workers protested Walker's decision to kill the $810 million dollar high speed train and rail project outside Talgo's plant. Walker's move to stop the project will keep 4,000 new jobs from Milwaukee and the state, emphasized State Senator Spencer Coggs (D) during a press conference.
Talgo received $3 million from the City of Milwaukee to re-construct a plant to built the train cars for the project.
Since Walker is expected to kill the project, Talgo executives say they will end up moving to Illinois after 2012 where the project is welcomed. Illinois and several other states would like the feds to give them the $810 million for their high speed rail, if Walker won't proceed with the project.
Walker had tried to get the $810 million to be rediverted for road and bridge construction, but the feds confirmed the funds are only allowed for the high speed rail. Wisconsin was awarded the funding for the Wisconsin high-speed intercity passenger rail is part of the proposed Midwest Regional Rail Corridor, a 3,000-mile Midwest passenger rail network radiating from Chicago and serving nine states, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The Wisconsin Transportation Builders Associatio (WTBA) Road Builders backs Walker's decision to stop the high speed rail project. WTBA donated $109,000 to Walker's campaign between Jan. 2009 and August 2010, a 45 percent contribution total of $188,000 in special interest group donations given to candidates, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign report on Monday indicated.
Walker recently, sent Governor Jim Doyle (D) to stop approving major iniatives, projects and state union negiotiations until January. Doyle did suspend work on the high speed rail and permanently stopping the project will cost the state $100 million, according to the Doyle.

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WI State Representative Pridemore (R) Set To Introduce Similar Arizona SB 1070 Law Requiring 48 Hours Detention To Prove Legal Status

Donald Pridemore, re-elected State Representative

Governor elect Scott Walker in support of similar SB 1070 measure, which could lead to racially motivated stops in Wisconsin

By H. Nelson Goodson
November 10, 2010

Hartford, Wisconsin - On Wednesday in a Wisconsin Eye Newsmakers interview State Representative Donald Pridemore (R-Hartford) confirmed when the Wisconsin state assembly meets in the January session as a Republican majority control legislature, Pridemore will introduce a similar Arizona SB 1070 law. The bill will allow state and local enforcement agencies on "reasonable suspicion" to require legal status from people they suspect are in the country and state illegally. The suspects will automatically be detained for 48 hours, until they can prove their legal status. If they can't, police will then call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Pridemore's Arizona type immigration state enforcement bill will eliminate the City of Madison's "Sanctuary" ordinace and allow county governments to charge detainees in jails for their care.
Pridemore will have the support of Newly elected Governor Scott Walker (R) who vowed to sign a similar Arizona law. The Pridemore bill will most likely pass in the Republican control legislature. Also, re-elected Wisconsin Congressman F. James (Jim) Sensenbrenner Jr. (R) is expected to support Pridemore and could follow with his version in the House. 
The Hispanic Republican group in the Wisconsin's GOP has failed to make a stand when asked, whether they would support Walker and Pridemore's similar Arizona law. One thing for sure about this Republican Latino group, they expect for Walker to fullfill his promises, which includes signing a similar Arizona SB 1070 measure.
In January, ICE Secure Communities program will also be adopted by some county jails in Wisconsin. The program allows ICE to tap into the fingerprinting of illegal detainees and legal residents when they are processed and jailed for a minor or a felony violation.
In Madison, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney (D) was re-elected and will continue his policy to check with ICE, if suspected undocumented immigrants jailed in the Dane County jail are wanted in another country. Illegal inmates in Dane County are turned in to ICE.
In Milwaukee, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke (D) was also re-elected and is operating under an agreement to house illegal detainees and gets more than $350,000 a year from ICE. Under the agreement with ICE, by federal law Milwaukee County Jail has to check on the legal status of all inmates and those processed and booked for minor or felony violations in jail.
In July, Phoenix, Arizona - U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ruled to block major controversial parts of Arizona's SB 1070 making the state law useless. Bolton's ruling gave a big blow and setback to Governor Jan Brewer's anti immigration law, which required state and local police officers to ask for legal status, if they suspected someone was illegally in the country during investigations. The U.S. Department of Justice, Latino and civil rights organizations challenged SB 1070 because it's unconstitutional and infringes in the federal government's right to enforce immigration laws and the law leads to racial profiling.  The State of Arizona has spent nearly $1 million in state and donations to defend SB 1070, which in the end will have spent millions on a failed piece of racially motivated bill.
On June 26, Pridemore in his campaign website to get re-elected a seventh term vowed to introduce such a measure. He wrote, that he "sees no reason to back down on his plans to author a bill on illegal immigration, despite the threat of a legal challenge by the Federal Government to a similar Arizona law which asks the Federal government to enforce its own laws."
“This is a conversation that should have begun long ago before the illegal drug trade exacerbated the issue and now needs to be addressed ASAP,” Pridemore said, “The “status quo” is unacceptable in terms of law enforcement, crime, taxes and social benefits, along with a host of other social problems tied to the issue. To do nothing would simply sentence another generation of families to a life of hiding in car trunks, continuously looking over their shoulder and continuing to be slaves of their work environment,” Pridemore added.
“The legislation I will be introducing (1) requires law enforcement to act when they suspect a law has been broken and the perpetrator may be here illegally. (2) Prevent local governments in Wisconsin from providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants and, (3) make it harder for illegal immigrants to get benefits that they are not entitled to.” Pridemore continued, “However we will take strong measures to ensure that the bill does not promote racial profiling.” 

Update: Copy of Pridemore's Wisconsin illegal immigration bill (PDF) at link: http://bit.ly/eyjCGo

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Zamarripa, Democrat Elected Wisconsin State Assembly Representative, Republicans Gained Control Of Legislature

JoCasta Zamarripa

Republicans gained control of the Wisconsin governors seat, the state legislature and U.S. Senate seat in midterm elections 2010.

By H. Nelson Goodson
November 3, 2010

Milwaukee - On Tuesday, JoCasta Zamarripa, 34, (Dem.) of Milwaukee was elected state representative of the Wisconsin 8th Assembly District with 4,287 votes, 86% with 100% Precints reporting. Zamarripa defeated Ramona Rivas (Indp.) who received 678 votes, 14% of the vote. Zamarripa became the first Latina to be elected to the state assembly and will be sworn to office in January. 
Zamarripa a Democrat from the predominately Hispanic community South side of Milwaukee will be working with a Republican majority assembly, which gained 25 Republican seats.
In other races, Ron Johnson, (Rep.) was elected U.S. Senator with 1,107,360 votes, 52%, with 98% of Precints reporting, defeating Russ Feingold (Dem.) who received 1,005,480 votes, 47%. Feingold was the incumbent U.S. Senator for 18 years in the Senate.
Scott Walker (Rep.) was elected Governor of Wisconsin with 1,101,554 votes, 52%, 97% Precints reporting, defeating Tom Barrett (Dem.) with 986,627 votes, 47% of the vote. Walker was also celebrating his birthday on election day. Without a college degree, Walker joins several governors in the U.S. without degrees. He will become the 45th governor of Wisconsin on January 3.
J.B. Van Hollen (Rep.) was re-elected Wisconsin Attorney General.
Wisconsin voters decided they wanted change and Republicans were able to gain enough seats to control both the state assembly and senate. It was a major defeat for Democrats in Wisconsin.
In the South side of Milwaukee, Latinos on Tuesday came out in large numbers, more than 4,960 voted. Latinos became a voting and political empowerment block. In Nevada, U.S. Senator Harry Reid (Dem.) was re-elected and drew 2-1 of the Hispanic vote giving him the election. Reid defeated Sharron Angle (Rep.), an extreme conservative who avoided the mainstream media. More Latinos voted in the Nevada midterm election than in 2008.
In Congress, Republicans were able to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives by controlling 243 seats and  Democrats with 192 seats. Majority is 218 seats of 435 seats. Republicans gained control of the House. The Republicans have won at least 60 seats in the House, making it the largest takeover in 60 years for Republicans. Exit polls indicated the major issue was the economy and that Democrats hadn't acted fast enough to fix it. But, Democrats take credit for preventing a catestrophic depression, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Dem.).
With Republicans in control of the House, immigration reform, and the DREAM Act will be difficult to gain support by newly elected Republicans who ran anti-immigrant campaigns. The re-election of Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (Rep.) in Wisconsin, who is well known for his anti-immigrant stance will most likely reignite the push for immigration enforcement nationally with the Republican controlled House. Sensenbrenner's 2006 failed push to criminalize anyone that aided an undocument immigrant caused a major backlash from Democrats and Latinos nationally costing Republicans to lose control of both the House and U.S. Senate in Congress. Sensenbrenner will most likely influence Wisconsin's Republican control legislature and governorship to enforce immigration laws for the next two years. Walker, the newly Republican elected Governor of Wisconsin has vowed to sign a similar Arizona SB 1070, if passed by the legislature. Although, the Arizona SB 1070 has been challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice and key portions of the state law have been blocked by a federal judge pending the outcome of the case. SB 1070 allowed Arizona state and police to require proof of legal status in the U.S. from people they suspect are illegally in the country during investigations or traffic stops.
In the U.S. Senate, Democrats maintained 51 seats, including 2 Independent seats, which side with Democrats and Republicans with 46 seats. Republicans gained 6 seats. Majority is 51 seats of 100 seats. Democrats maintained control of the U.S. Senate.
Republicans hold 26 governor seats, including Wisconsin and Democrats 14 seats, including California where Jerry Brown (Dem.) defeated Meg Witman (Rep.) and 9 state governorships still undecided.
President Barack H. Obama addressed the nation on Wednesday from the White House, for full speech and video click at following linked: http://bit.ly/cPsdWq

PEW Hispanic Center reports:

The Latino Vote in the 2010 Elections http://bit.ly/bch1NH

Latinos and the 2010 Elections: Strong Support for Democrats; Weak Voter Motivation http://bit.ly/bBsHFI

Editors note:

Have to love America and Democracy, despite the Republicans gaining control of the House, the Latino vote was crucial in Democrats maintaining control of the U.S. Senate. There are 19 million eligible Hispanic voters in the U.S. On Tuesday, we showed America we are a voting and political empowerment block. Republicans have to break down their barriers and begin working in issues affecting Latinos today as well as Democrats. Every Latino vote counts regardless for who you voted for in the end. We are all Americans and one country. ;)

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