Ny Safidinao

Jeb Bush confronted one of the Republican Party's touchiest debates head-on Tuesday, telling Puerto Ricans that conservatives should be proud that America is "an immigrant nation" and value the contribution immigrants make to the country. The former Florida governor and 2016 GOP presidential prospect delivered a speech on economic opportunities peppered with Spanish, and his audience responded with hearty applause. He's fluent in the language, and often uses it in Florida, but it's rarely heard in Republican presidential campaign politics. Immigration is a delicate subject for Bush in the primacy race, with several potential rivals favoring a harder line on those who come to the U.S. illegally. But he took it up unapologetically in his remarks. "We're an immigrant nation and we should be proud," he said, as someone in the audience yelled, "Yes!" "We should create an immigration system that drives economic opportunity for all of us,...

Alexandra Lugaro wants to change things in Puerto Rico and break free from the shackles of a dysfunctional two-party system that has brought the island to its knees. Lugaro, a 33-year-old attorney and businesswoman, is running as the first independent for governor of Puerto Rico. The candidate's lack of party affiliation places her outside the political circles, but she aims to inject new life, hopes, and ideas into the territory's government. Born into a family that struggled economically, Lugaro credits education for her success, saying it offered her the tools to improve herself. She went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration at the University of Puerto Rico and later a Juris Doctor at the same school. She then earned a Master's in Laws, LLM from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and is currently finishing her Doctorate in Tax Reform at the same. Though the battle to Puerto Rico's presidential mansion, La Fortaleza, may be an uphill on...

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, who cosponsored Puerto Rico statehood legislation , received $18,035 in campaign contributions from 21 individuals in Puerto Rico in the first quarter, according to a campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission. Watch All Politics is Local blog for more details from the congresswoman's first quarter campaign finance report.   Maury Thompson thompson Stefanik receives $18K from contributors in Puerto Rico

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) is slated to visit Puerto Rico for a fundraising trip on April 28, local GOP leadership confirmed to El Nuevo Día . Local reports indicate the potential presidential contender, will make four appearances, including an event at local college Universidad Metropolitana, a meeting with local Republican leadership, a fundraiser held at the house of the official Puerto Rican Republican delegate Zoraida Fonalledas and another yet-to-be-determined town hall event. The college appearance and town hall event will be open to the public. Tickets for the fundraiser at Fonalledas' home will run $1000. Bush previously made a stop at the island with his father, former President George H.W. Bush, during the elder's campaign for the presidency back in 1980. He ultimately lost the primary to Ronald Reagan. Jeb Bush has not formally announced his candidacy for president, but has made several moves to indicate his plans to do so, including cutting business ties ...

The First Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order this morning declining to set oral arguments in the challenge to Puerto Rico’s same-sex marriage ban. Instead, the appeals court has asked for a proposed schedule for further proceedings in the case, to be filed within 14 days of the Supreme Court’s decision in the four marriage cases from the Sixth Circuit. That decision is expected in late June. Puerto Rico officials changed their position on the marriage ban, deciding not to defend it after they won their case in federal district court.. Several lawmakers have asked for the chance to defend the ban instead, and there’s litigation within Puerto Rico to force officials to defend the ban regardless of their changed position. Thanks to Equality Case Files for these filings By Scottie Thomaston Equality On TrialFirst Circuit: No arguments in Puerto Rico marriage case until Supreme Court decides issue » Equality On Trial

At just 33-years-old, Alexandra Lúgaro, a lawyer and business owner, is causing a big stir in Puerto Rico – becoming the first person to run as governor of the island as an Independent. If elected, she would become the youngest to ever hold the island's highest office and her ideas reflect her millennial sensibilities. She wants to legalize marijuana, same-sex marriages, and tax the island's churches. Lúgaro, a married mother to a 4-year-old daughter, believes it’s time for Puerto Ricans to get away from the two-party system – where voters in the commonwealth cast their ballots based on where the party stands on the issue of Puerto Rican statehood --  instead of voting based on a candidate's ideas. “I was tired of seeing our island collapse on TV,” Lúgaro said of announcing her candidacy for the 2016 gubernatorial race. “When I found myself thinking that I will probably have to leave my island to look for a better job opportunity in another place I told myself I have the...

Hillary Clinton is poised to formally launch her second presidential bid today, with a different approach from 2008 aimed at convincing voters through small-group settings that she has ideas for helping the middle class and the skills to govern. The long-awaited announcement is expected to come from a video shared via social media, according to the Associated Press, before Clinton makes her pitch in Iowa and New Hampshire living rooms. Her declaration will end deafening speculation and two years of less-than-subtle preparation: giving speeches, promoting the causes of the Clinton family's charitable foundation, and assembling a staff for the 2016 race. ONPOLITICS Hillary Clinton's tweets provide clues to her policy views ONPOLITICS 6 things to know about Hillary Clinton Clinton gave a glimpse of what drives her to reach for history as the first woman elected president of the United States, in the new epilogue she wrote for the paperback edition of   Hard Choices , her memoir ...