Within the state Legislature, some lawmakers have sorted themselves into what’s called the “Latino Legislative Caucus.”
From its online description, the aim of the caucus “is to identify, promote and advocate on behalf of the professional, educational, social, political and cultural interests of the Latino Community.” That sounds innocuous enough.
But there’s a catch to the caucus’ rules: No Republicans allowed, even if they’re Latino and want to promote and advocate for the interests of the Latino community.
This restriction is particularly awkward considering the growing number of Latino Republicans in the California Legislature.
Representing at least parts of Riverside County and San Bernardino County include Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, Sen. Suzette Martinez-Valladares, Asm. Kate Sanchez, Asm. Leticia Castillo and Asm. Jeff Gonzalez.
They’re not allowed into the Latino Legislative Caucus because they are apparently the wrong kind of Latino. They’re those Latinos who think that thing called the Republican Party isn’t so bad and is in fact better than the Democratic Party.
Two years ago, Democratic Inland Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes, then chair of the caucus, swatted away the possibility of letting Republicans into the caucus.
“For 50 years, the California Latino Legislative Caucus has advocated for the nearly 16 million Latinos in California. The CLLC will continue as our founding memberships’ precedent set forth,” she wrote in a email. As an aside, we’re not sure how much advocating for the Latino community Cervantes has done in recent years considering she missed two-thirds of votes this year.
Well, the same issue has come up again this year, with Democratic Sen. Lena Gonzalez upset that anyone would ask why Republican Latino legislators aren’t allowed into the Latino caucus.
“This type of media sensationalism detracts from the real issues that our Latino communities are facing daily in California and beyond: inflation, immigration, housing insecurity and more,” she told the Sacramento Bee.
We doubt calling attention to this is why Gonzalez ahd her fellow Democrats have failed to do a remotely competent job of governing the state of California.
Perhaps if she and her fellow Democrats heard Latino Republicans out, they might learn something, maybe even pick up some good ideas.