El Diario NY

A rewind of the top political news stories

Impremedia — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 13:01:00 +0000

From the Republican takeover of Congress and Obamas action on immigration to the protests in Ferguson and the Ebola panic in the United States, there was plenty of political action last year. SEE ALSO: Year in review: Top moments that defined immigration reform for 2014 Heres a look back at some of the biggest political news stories of 2014. GOP takeover of Congress November 4 was a big election night for Republicans. They reclaimed the Senate majority after picking up nine Senate seats. They also gained 13 seats in the House, giving the GOP its largest majority in decades. Republicans are already gearing up to push for a number of legislations, but President Obama reminded Republicans earlier this month that he still has the power to veto any bill he doesnt support. Obama acts on immigration President Obama announced a series of executive actions on immigration. His actions include ramping up border security, reforming the legal immigration system, and granting temporary protection from deportation and work permits to millions of undocumented immigrants. Several polls found Latinos overwhelmingly support the presidents move. Meanwhile, Republicans were infuriated and accused the president of overreaching his executive authority. U.S. and Cuba restore ties Obama shocked many people when out of nowhere he announced that the United State would restore diplomatic relations with Cuba. What was also surprising was the role Pope Francis and the Vatican played in helping broker the U.S.-Cuba deal, which also included the release of U.S. citizen Alan Gross who had been jailed in Cuba for five years. The move is seen as the biggest shift in U.S. relations with Cuba in more than five decades. Jeb Bush running for president? Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, whos married to a Mexican native, announced earlier this month through Facebook that he has decided to actively explore the possibility of running for president of the United States. Now many are wondering if Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will still run for president. Thats because Rubio considers Bush a mentor, and they both share many of the same supporters and financial backers. Cantors shocking primary loss In whats considered one of the biggest political upsets in years, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor lost his primary election in June to an economics professor, Dave Brat, who often criticized Cantor for his stance on immigration. Brat came out on top with 56 percent of the vote, compared to Cantors 44 percent. The news shocked many on Capitol Hill. Cantor is now working for a Wall Street investment bank. Michael Brown and Eric Garner deaths Protests erupted following the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Missouri and the chokehold death of a 43-year-old Eric Garner in New York. In both cases, the police officers who killed the two unarmed black men were not indicted, which sparked debate over police brutality and racial profiling. The cases also grabbed the attention of Obama, who in November announced new steps his administration is taking to strengthen relations between local police and communities. Millions sign up for Obamacare Despite the embarrassing rollout of the presidents health care law, millions now have access to health insurance. Health and Human Service Secretary Sylvia Burwell said Tuesday that as the year 2014 closes out, its estimated that nearly 6.5 million people signed up for health insurance through the federal health insurance marketplace. It is also estimated that 8 percent of those whove signed up for health insurance are Latinos. Ebola reaches the U.S. The World Health Organization had been reporting on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa since March. But it took until September, when Thomas Eric Duncan became the first person in the U.S. to be diagnosed with Ebola, for most Americans to take notice of the outbreak. Duncan died on Oct. 8, and two nurses who treated him also caught the virus. That created an Ebola panic in the U.S. that eventually waned when the nursesand a doctor who also caught the viruswere cured. The rise of ISIL The rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which is responsible for the killing of three Americans, mobilized the U.S. to take military action and to rally other countries to join the fight. In August, Obama announced the U.S. would launch airstrikes against ISIL targets in Syria. Three months later, 3,000 troops were sent to Iraq to help fight off ISIL. Some experts say it could take years before ISIL is defeated and destroyed. CIA torture report The CIA torture report released in December by the Senate Intelligence Committee disclosed new details about the torture practices used after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The report revealed the CIAs interrogation practices were more brutal than the agency portrayed. It included waterboarding, sleep deprivation, rectal feeding and death threats. CIA head John Brennan defended the torture report, saying the interrogation technique provided information that was useful and ultimately helped in the operation to kill Osama bin Laden. SEE ALSO: Why Jeb Bush will be the first Latino president

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How would Kevin McCarthy deal with immigration reform?

Impremedia — Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:06:00 +0000

Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of California has quickly emerged as the favorite to replace Eric Cantor as majority leader, which raises the question: How would…

Cantor and immigration

Impremedia — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 16:06:02 +0000

The surprising defeat of the powerful Rep. Eric Cantor in Virginia’s primary election was an unexpected factor that makes it even less likely that there will be immigration reform in the House of Representatives.Cantor’s tepid support for the cause of the Dreamers was the main target that his challenger Dave Brat exploited, incessantly accusing the […]

Eric Cantor to step down: What it means for immigration reform?

Impremedia — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 13:06:00 +0000

Following a shocking loss in a primary election Tuesday night, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor will resign his leadership position. Several Republican sources told a…

Gutierrez: Immigration reform is dead if House doesnt act by July 4

Impremedia — Fri, 30 May 2014 12:05:00 +0000

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) said Friday that if House Republicans dont move on immigration reform by July 4, nothing will get done on the issue this…

Eric Cantor vuelve a retórica de amnistía

Impremedia — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 08:04:56 +0000

La postura política de Cantor es decisiva para el debate sobre la reforma migratoria

Cámara federal prohibiría financiamiento de abortos

EFE — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 10:01:56 +0000

El organismo votará la próxima semana una iniciativa legislativa a esos fines

Republicanos ya elaboran agenda legislativa 2014

Impremedia — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 09:11:36 +0000

Con pocos logros en 2013, republicanos de la Cámara de Representantes empiezan a elaborar agenda legislativa de 2014 aún sin definir si la reforma migratoria entra en sus planes

Reformas entrelazadas

Maribel Hastings — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 16:11:12 +0000

InmigraciónEn la era de las redes sociales, la inmediatez es dueña y señora. Acciones, declaraciones, reacciones, aciertos y metidas de pata están al alcance de un botón y de un celular; esa adicción a la inmediatez provoca una enfermiza impaciencia que en la política pública puede ser perjudicial.Pongamos por caso la ley de seguro médico […]

Republicanos preparan propia versión de reforma migratoria

Impremedia — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 16:10:38 +0000

No hay una reforma migratoria integral entre los planes de los líderes republicanos, sino una serie de proyectos que atacan parte del problema inmigratorio .

Cantor, difícil para negociar

Impremedia — Sun, 11 Aug 2013 19:08:09 +0000

Demócratas ven al líder de la mayoría como un 'obstáculo'

Republicanos exigen cambios en horas extras de trabajo

Impremedia — Mon, 06 May 2013 15:05:35 +0000

Los legisladores apoyan un proyecto de ley en el que los empleados disfrutarían el exceso de horas trabajadas en lugar de recibir pagas complementarias