Immigration Reform Key to GOP Future: BloombergJanuary 25, 2014
By DONNA CASSATA, Associated Press
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg said Friday that a Republican Party that ignores the nation's Hispanics and balks at immigration overhaul does so at its political peril as Republicans pressured the House GOP to act this year.

"If you are against the fastest-growing voting bloc in the country, you and your party don't have a future," Bloomberg said flatly at a forum on immigration with Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, who served in President George W. Bush's administration.

National Republicans insist that the party must pass reforms and address the issue of the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally to be competitive in presidential elections. In 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who suggested that immigrants "self-deport," won just 27 percent of the Hispanic vote.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and other GOP leaders are working on a set of principles on immigration that they expect to present to the Republican caucus next week at its annual retreat.

While the document has given new hope to immigration proponents, opposition still remains strong in the House, where many Republicans fear granting amnesty to those here illegally, worry about the political fallout in their districts and oppose giving President Barack Obama a long-sought legislative victory.

The forum sponsored by the Partnership for a New American Economy and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was a fresh reminder of the divide within the GOP between national Republicans and many in Congress. It marked one of the first public events for Bloomberg since he stepped down as mayor.

"We need comprehensive immigration reform. To be blunt, we have a dumb system," said Snyder, who described efforts in Michigan to grant visas to immigrants for work.

He said it would "turbo-charge" the economy in places like Detroit.

Gutierrez said that without immigration overhaul, "our workforce down the road doesn't grow," and argued that there was increasing recognition within the GOP that it must be the party of immigration.

The Senate last year passed a comprehensive, bipartisan bill that addressed border security, provided enforcement measures and offered a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally. The measure stalled in the GOP-led House, where Republican leaders have insisted that they will take a piecemeal approach.

"It's up to the leadership," said Bloomberg, a Republican-turned-independent, "if Boehner wants to get it done. He is an accomplished politician. He's been around a long time. He's got a tough hand, but that's what leadership is all about and his tactics will be what he's comfortable with."

Randy Johnson, vice president of the Chamber and the point person on immigration, said Boehner is working on a unified document that the GOP caucus could back.

Unclear is how the principles translate into legislation and how far it would go. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., the No. 3 leader in the House, expressed support this week for legalization for many of the immigrants here illegally while Democrats have pressed for a path to citizenship.

An unusual coalition of business, labor and evangelicals has lobbied hard for immigration legislation. Thomas Donohue, president of the Chamber of Commerce, has said immigration overhaul is a top priority this year. Donohue met with Boehner last week.

The issue is also crucial to several House Republicans whose districts have seen an increase in Hispanics and who are concerned about their re-election chances.

Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colo., who met with Boehner earlier this month, said the speaker is "very committed to getting it done and getting it done this year. He quoted Boehner as saying, "There's no good time to do it, so let's just get it done now.'"

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Original headline: Bloomberg: Immigration reform key to GOP future

Everyday I wake up and like yourself s I pray I make wise choices and do the right thing for those I do business with and of course with those closest to me. But I can not help feeling somewhat uneasy ... still.

2014 has so far felt like it will be a great year , yet I can not feel an immensely unsettling feeling that something may just switch things up for me and for all of us.
Business minded people should always feel positive but at the same time a bit on the edge. Not pessimistic , but just on the edge of something. 

So what do we do when we feel such uneasiness? Do we just quit , give up or brush those feelings of uneasiness? Well first I would react and in a positive way. Stay in tune with whats happening currently , seek ways to better my service and my business. I would definitely not give up! 

As business leaders we need to get involved and whether we agree or disagree with one another , we need to work together to make sure that decisions made by others affecting our businesses and lives are the best for us all. I'm talking about those in office.

My suggestion is one I took from an old dog in business. He said to me about 23 years ago , "Take into consideration their opinions but don't take them too seriously if you yourself can do something to help change things for the better.Don't be a wallflower , if you go to the dance , you better dance." ...simply be a participant in this world and get involved in the makings of progress. Don't whine , don't critique and don't make enemies. Stop feeling queasy and get out and do something about what others seem to be screwing up. Mr. Irelan was very wise. 

So Mr Irelan ... I look forward to 2014 with more gusto than ever. Thank you!

See you next week
Ana 

October 2013 brought us ACA aka Obamacare. January 2014 has brought 
the raising of the minimum wage. So far 13 states including ours is involved in this new subject.

To many both is a sort of blessing and to many others it is an annoying issue affecting the bottom dollar. But never the less it is a topic needed to place much attention to. Take a look below :
Arizona$7.90
Colorado$8.00 / Connecticut $8.70 / Florida $7.93 / Missouri $7.50 Montana$7.90 / New Jersey$8.25 / New York $8.00/ Ohio$7.95 / Oregon $9.10 Rhode Island $8.00 / Vermont $8.73 / Washington $9.32


Now the latest news is to raise it even higher to $10.10 by the President in the news this past week. But it is a hard pill to swallow for both the small business owner and the employee as well. 
The question here is will raising the minimum wage help workers be more productive ? Will this new surge allow them to pay into their not yet paid for healthcare? Will they spend more? Will it really take people out of poverty ? 


I remember one time asking this exact question to a woman who worked for the company I worked for in 1984. Minimum wage then was somewhere around $4.12 an hour. I simply asked her how did she survive with her salary? Her name was Aura and she was originally from Dominican Republic. She was one of our sample makers in the design room. She told me that her salary was ok , her husband worked as well and she did custom work for clients at home. Took in sometimes piece work at home and had two other women who also helped her. She was building a home in the DR and her husband would also drive a gypsy cab two or three times a week. But of course this is a long time ago , her rent was $180 a month , and for some reason she made it work without a HS diploma and with a language barrier. She received two weeks Christmas Bonus when companies did such a thing and a yearly raise negotiated by her Women's Garment Workers Union. But she worked in a large company. Now her best friend who also worked in the sample room made $210 a week. The reason for her higher pay , it was experience and tenure at the company. 


But my blog is should we or shouldn't we? This is something that has to be looked at seriously. One thing that I know is that these wage earners have the ability to receive better perks than many. Subsidies etc. Those in the higher tax bracket unfortunately do not. Like myself. But I went to school , received a great opportunity and have never really worked with a per hour salary , it has always been a flat salary with no overtime and now here in FL with zero raises and zero bonuses. 


I have always been a fan of a FLAT TAX theory and also of hiring someone based on their experience and schooling. But I am also an advocate for lowering prices or better yet lowering prices on items that can be lowered. But no matter how you flip it allowing people to better themselves I am all for it. But to allow those to goose the establishment , well I am not.


2014 is going to bring many to review their P & L's , their operational numbers. Deciding in hiring more personnel or give more hours to their current staff. Instead of subsidies for housing or food , how about lowering the prices on things like gasoline , food , mass transportation , etc. Opening the conversation on the pipeline , bringing more lost industry back to our shores and becoming more competitive in the worlds marketplace. 


Let's keep the dialog going on this issue. many will be looking to it become a positive situation.

Happy New Year to all! 

Now as we wind down from all the hoopla of the holidays , for many of us especially from Puerto Rico we still have Las Octavitas (8 more days of celebration before we get hit with LENT) Woohoo - Weehoo

But let's talk about those personal and professional resolutions you all have made for 2014. Usually we are so engrossed in making these plans for the following year we somehow become distracted and resolutions become more of a chore than a goal. 

I have always looked at leaving out the resolutions part of the new year and plan on solutions to items that just were left to an idea. This year I decided that I would get those around me to be part of the solution than be part of my resolutions. While eating my 12 grapes , by midnight on JAN 1, I decided internally to ask for the solutions I needed for all of my needs in 2014. 

First I needed to look at myself , because to me all planning and execution starts with thyself. Only you can get the ball rolling in any plan , at any stage of that plan you are the catalyst and the main star quarterback. Plan and execute. Go back to basics , go back home , since home is where security begins and the support we all look to so that all gets resolved.This year I look forward to milestones in both my personal and professional life. That only means I will need is a lot of patience and support from both of my teams.

My advise , set attainable goals , hold yourself accountable for your choices , enjoy your success small or large , explore and enjoy your family and friends. They are your lifeline of staying sane in this world. Make yourself a scrap book of your "POSSIBILITIES" and when those come to the surface or are achieved then replace the scrapbook images with actual photos of "REALITIES".

That is the Solution to A Resolution!

Happy planning
Ana Rivera 

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