Mr. Speaker. I request that the article titled "House May Chill Bushs Wooing of Latino Voters." by Charles Babington. published on June 30. 2006 in the Washington Post. be en(By Charles Bablngton) By pushing Englishonly policies and tough measures against illegal immigrants. House conservatives are endangering President Bushs goal of drawing millions of Latino voters to the Republican Party and helping realign ethnic politics for years to come. according to an array of analysts and officials. The latest blow to Bushs efforts to woo Hispanics came last week. when a band of EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS. Vol. 152. Pt. 10 House Republicans unexpectedly balked at renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act. partly because of a 30yearold requirement that many local governments provide bilingual ballots. The revolt. which forced House GOP leaders to abruptly postpone a vote. came as House Republicans are stiffening their resistance to Bushs bid to allow pathways to legal status for millions of illegal immigrants while also strengthening borders and deportation efforts. "Its sort of a double whammy." said Sen. Mel Martinez (RFla.). a Cuban native who is among the GOPs most visible Hispanic leaders. Under Bushs leadership. he said in an interview. "our party has shown a very welcoming approach to the emerging Hispanic vote." However. he said. "there obviously are those who feel thats not important.... I think there could be great political risks to becoming the party of exclusion and not a party of inclusion." While the stalemate over immigration legislation will be difficult to break. House leaders predict they eventually will quell the conservative rebellion over the Voting Rights Act and reauthorize the law for 25 years. But the depth of House GOP support for Englishonly policies was demonstrated Wednesday night. when an overwhelming majority of Republicans voted to end funding for the bilingual ballots provision.
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