Democrats’ Future at Stake in Budget Debate in Congress – The House of Representatives moved forward this week on a budget resolution that paves the way for a bill that will invest in the largest social spending since the Great Depression. The project will also include funding for immigration reform. Now everything depends on progressive and conservative Democrats coming together. According to observers, the bill could define President Biden’s agenda. It could also determine the political survival of the Democrats in next year’s election. José López Zamorano brings us the details from Washington.
Heated Debate Over Whether to Remove or Ratify California Governor – Despite being a small minority of California’s electorate, Republicans are staging a fierce battle in their bid to oust Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. California’s recall election is already underway via mail-in ballots and voting ends September 14. If the majority votes no, the governor will remain in office. A “yes” vote would mean the candidate with the most votes (from a list of nearly 50 individuals) will govern for the remainder of the term. Democrat Kevin de León, a Los Angeles city councilmember, and Héctor Barajas, a representative of California’s Republican Party, debated the issue on the program Línea Abierta. You can listen to the full debate in the archives of Línea Abierta for Monday, August 23 at radiobilingue.org.
Extreme Heat Wave Threatens Farm Workers’ Health – Increasing numbers of patients are going to emergency rooms in rural towns due to the heat wave in the Western United States. The unusually extreme temperatures this season have been putting farmworkers in grave danger. Laws protecting these workers fall short, even in California, the state with the strictest labor laws. To get an up-close look at the dangers faced by farmworkers, Heidi de Marco visited Thermal, a town in the arid Coachella Valley, which hit a record high of 122 degrees in August. This report was produced in collaboration with Kaiser Health News and California Healthline.
