Hispanic Panel’s Report Gets Praise From Batt

Gov. Phil Batt was enthusiastic about the tone and direction of a progress report from the leaders of his campaign to boost the economic and social status of Idaho Hispanics.

“This is exactly what I had hoped would take place,” the governor told members of his Hispanic Initiative committee and its supporters. “It’s a regular fountain of ideas coming from Hispanics themselves.”

The group led by Jesse Berain, a former state legislator and longtime friend of Batt’s, was formed in July. On Wednesday it outlined goals and presented preliminary findings and recommendations on issues ranging from promoting business opportunities for Hispanics to ensuring their access to state programs and services.

Janie Aguilar of the state Department of Health and Welfare said one immediate concern is the impact federal welfare reform will have on Idaho’s largest minority group. The measure turning much of the responsibility for welfare back to states also will bar even legal immigrants from receiving food stamps.

With Idaho’s $3 billion agriculture industry so dependant on often poorly paid immigrant labor, much of it Hispanic, Aguilar said cutting off access to such programs is “an issue of humanitarianism and an issue of economic well-being.”

Batt said about 1,000 people in Idaho would be affected by the change. And while he agrees with the concept that people should not immigrant to the United States with the intention of going on welfare, “to deny the very human care that we all want to give is not the intention of any of us.”

The governor offered no answer and said the state clearly cannot make up for the loss of food stamps. However, he said, “we will not let this question go unanswered.”

Batt said he and Berain would meet to decide what steps to take next, but many of the initiatives discussed Wednesday require little or no state funding. Initial recommendations include:

Uniting the Hispanic Business Association with support groups to reach out to the Hispanic community, and teaching young Hispanics about the free-enterprise system.

Using technology to help Hispanics overcome barriers to employment through education and training.

Taking advantage of existing programs to increase the high school graduation, post-secondary admission and vocational-technical training participation rates for Hispanics.

Fostering development of skills in Hispanic youths and families that will enable them to avoid gang involvement and substance abuse.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Batt honored two Hispanics for their contributions to the community. Alma Gomez Frith is an artist and counselor at Boise State University cited for being a positive role model for Hispanic students, and Jim Torruellas was recognized for his work as leader of a Boy Scout troop at the Farmway Village farm labor housing complex near Caldwell.