Tweet
SEN. FEINSTEIN VISITS MONTEBELLO, TALKS JOBS, MILLIONAIRE TAX AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Whittier Daily News, CA
Oct 28 2011
MONTEBELLO - Sen. Dianne Feinstein spoke Thursday about jobs,
immigration and partisan gridlock in Congress before an audience
about 200 people at the Quiet Cannon.
She told the group, made up mostly of members of the East Los Angeles
Rotary Club, that a portion of President Obama's jobs plan involving
building up the country's infrastructure will come before Congress
next week.
Feinstein is not hopeful it will pass.
The blame for the gridlock lays at the feet of "outliers" who are those
on the extreme right and extreme left not interested in compromise.
"When you elect outliers with only one agenda, you can't move
forward," said Feinstein, who became the first female Rotarian in
the San Francisco chapter. She still pays Rotary dues.
She called her 18 years on the judiciary committee ample time to look
at the Constitution.
"What you learn is how good democracy is, but it depends on enlightened
people," she said.
"We used to be able to pass something by a simple majority," she said.
"That's the American way."
Feinstein, who was first elected to the Senate in 1992, lamented that
there is now a super majority requiring 60 votes.
"It stops legislation," she said.
Next week's vote on the $35 billion infrastructure bill would mean
the creation of jobs to repair the nation's bridges and roads.
Feinstein said the 138,800 jobs gained nationwide this year is more
than 2010.
"It's a small positive sign," she said.
But Feinstein warned that more definitely needs to be done to shrink
the country's unemployment rate.
In Los Angeles County, it's 12.2 percent.
"There are 3.9 million people who've exhausted their unemployment
benefits, nationally," she said. "With these numbers, hopelessness
sets in."
Feinstein also talked about the "dust up" in Congress earlier this
year about raising the country's debt ceiling.
"We passed the Budget Control Act, which created a super committee,"
she said. "By Nov. 23, they have to come up with $1.2 trillion in
cuts over the next 10 years."
She was not sure that a compromise could be reached.
"We need to come together to get something done," Feinstein said.
She also took questions from the audience.
Educator Josefina Canchola asked the senator to stress the importance
of passing a federal Dream Act (Development, Relief and Education
for Alien Minors) to President Obama.
"Put in his ear to take executive action," she encouraged.
The bill outlines a pathway for thousands of undocumented students
who graduate from U.S. high schools to gain legal immigrant status.
"We have invested in these children," Canchola said.
"I couldn't agree with you more," Feinstein said about passing the
Dream Act. "It's just tragic to waste these bright minds."
Before the luncheon, Feinsten laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide
Martyrs Monument in Bicknell Park.
It was unveiled in April, 1968 to honor the martyrs of the Armenian
Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government from 1915 through 1921,
as well as to honor all victims of crimes against humanity.
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_19209977
Whittier Daily News, CA
Oct 28 2011
MONTEBELLO - Sen. Dianne Feinstein spoke Thursday about jobs,
immigration and partisan gridlock in Congress before an audience
about 200 people at the Quiet Cannon.
She told the group, made up mostly of members of the East Los Angeles
Rotary Club, that a portion of President Obama's jobs plan involving
building up the country's infrastructure will come before Congress
next week.
Feinstein is not hopeful it will pass.
The blame for the gridlock lays at the feet of "outliers" who are those
on the extreme right and extreme left not interested in compromise.
"When you elect outliers with only one agenda, you can't move
forward," said Feinstein, who became the first female Rotarian in
the San Francisco chapter. She still pays Rotary dues.
She called her 18 years on the judiciary committee ample time to look
at the Constitution.
"What you learn is how good democracy is, but it depends on enlightened
people," she said.
"We used to be able to pass something by a simple majority," she said.
"That's the American way."
Feinstein, who was first elected to the Senate in 1992, lamented that
there is now a super majority requiring 60 votes.
"It stops legislation," she said.
Next week's vote on the $35 billion infrastructure bill would mean
the creation of jobs to repair the nation's bridges and roads.
Feinstein said the 138,800 jobs gained nationwide this year is more
than 2010.
"It's a small positive sign," she said.
But Feinstein warned that more definitely needs to be done to shrink
the country's unemployment rate.
In Los Angeles County, it's 12.2 percent.
"There are 3.9 million people who've exhausted their unemployment
benefits, nationally," she said. "With these numbers, hopelessness
sets in."
Feinstein also talked about the "dust up" in Congress earlier this
year about raising the country's debt ceiling.
"We passed the Budget Control Act, which created a super committee,"
she said. "By Nov. 23, they have to come up with $1.2 trillion in
cuts over the next 10 years."
She was not sure that a compromise could be reached.
"We need to come together to get something done," Feinstein said.
She also took questions from the audience.
Educator Josefina Canchola asked the senator to stress the importance
of passing a federal Dream Act (Development, Relief and Education
for Alien Minors) to President Obama.
"Put in his ear to take executive action," she encouraged.
The bill outlines a pathway for thousands of undocumented students
who graduate from U.S. high schools to gain legal immigrant status.
"We have invested in these children," Canchola said.
"I couldn't agree with you more," Feinstein said about passing the
Dream Act. "It's just tragic to waste these bright minds."
Before the luncheon, Feinsten laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide
Martyrs Monument in Bicknell Park.
It was unveiled in April, 1968 to honor the martyrs of the Armenian
Genocide perpetrated by the Turkish government from 1915 through 1921,
as well as to honor all victims of crimes against humanity.
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_19209977